Prescription for all masks now? Was it always this way?

Hi everyone,

Nice to see all the usual suspects. I have been out of the loop with products, I have gone through so many different setups and I am now using a Swift II with cut pillows, and 2 chin straps AND just started taping last night. Some nights better than others. I have been having a problem with the swift leaking from the sides where the little blue gaskets are located. I have been thinking its time to buy a new mask, don't know which one but I see good things about the Swift fx.

I see that I need a prescription for this, I don't have a regular sleep doc and I have no clue where my prescription would be. I really don't want to pay to see another doctor, I am still paying off 2 sleep studies. My last sleep study took me from a pressure of 18 down to 10, which really shows the difference in comfort at sleep studies.

Anyway, question. Has there always been a script needed for masks?

Another question, Is there a place that bends the rules (feel free to PM me so as not to incriminate anyone). I was really hoping to place an order tonight, kind of discouraging.

If anyone has info, I would appreciate it. I will keep hunting around the boards for answers.

Hope you are all doing well.

Ben

if you are leaking at the end cap (this was swift 2 I believe you said), try paper first aid tape or teflon plumber tape (I put it in all the seal on original Swift)

last I knew cpapauction.com didn't require an Rx for masks - cpap.com instituted a policy several months ago - if you have a machine rx that should work for cpap.com

you might be able to find parts for a mask here from people in the forum cheap if you post what you want / need

NO! At one time the government didn't have total control over your lives. The people let it happen by not stopping it. Jim

I thought cpapauction required them too. Am I wrong? Ben, this suggestion may be highly suspect, as one might expect from a suspect , but Craigslist doesn't require a script, and you may find something local so you don't have to commit to something unseen. Just gotta be careful. But I've done some selling and buying on there with good results. But if it being new and unused is important to you, maybe you have a family doc who will write you a mask script without a visit.

From cpapauction's FAQ:

"No, a prescription is not required to purchase non-machine items. You may bid on and purchase masks, tubing, humidifiers, filters, etc without a prescription."

And there are several Swift FX's listed right now.

I just bought a mask from cpapaction.com last week. I did not need to send them a script. Saved over $100 on a brand new Quatro FFM.

I would think you can call the last place you had a sleep study to have them send you a copy of your prescription--you should not need to see the doctor again.

I have purchase several masks through cpap auctions in the past 3 months. Never needed a prescription. I went to bid on a mask today and was informed that I must email my prescription to them so they have it on file. I was in the DME business for 20 years and never had to get a prescription for a mask unless I was billing the customer's insurance for them.

Has something changed that I am not aware of? I fully expect we will need prescriptions for EVERYTHING once OBAMACARE is up and running. But I had heard that it wasn't going to be implemented until after the next presidential elections (although they will begin collecting the taxes right away).

Big Brother is watching you.......taking care of you......providing for your every need. It just costs us a little bit of our freedom every time a new program is enacted.

I guess you can tell I am an independent conservative (haven't been a republican for many years). Please no flames. If you disagree with my views, it is your right as an American to do so and I would never take that away from you.

In the U.S. you were and are required to have a prescription to purchase masks, hoses, software, etc. for x-pap.
Maybe so on-line vendors did not completely enforce it in the past - it seems that maybe the powers to be are getting more sticker on enforcement.
Here is a FAQ from cpapauction.com:

What CPAP equipment requires a prescription on CPAPAuction.com?

You must have a valid prescription on file with CPAPAuction to bid on or purchase masks, humidifiers and machines.

You always required a script for masks, etc. The script did not have to be for a accessory itself like a mask or hose, you could just use your original x-pap script to buy accessories. Customers on cpapauction.com who also were customers on cpap.com had their prescriptions auto linked. If they purchased anything on cpap.com with a script then the script was good on cpapauction.com
However either something broke this week or policies had changed.

It seems that since cpap.com went live with their new look my RX link to cpapauctions.com is broken.
I was bidding a few days on a mask, was out bided, went to place a higher bid and I was informed that no bids would be accepted by me until I had a valid RX.
I went to my account, I am still a verified cpap.com member so that was ok, I tried to "pull" (a new function that cpapauction.com has?) my script from cpap.com but with out any luck - this "pull" function does not work.
I not only lost the auction but I can no longer make any bids.
I sent an email to cpapauction.com and I am waiting on a response.

Deleted.

This link may help explain it;
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=48633&p=444332#p444332

Brenda

Hi Everyone.. I tried taping the other night and did in fact wrap a piece of tape around the both sides of the swift, whoa what a difference. I was a bit concerned that I might have inadvertently covered up vents that were supposed to help with purging the air, so I was a bit nervous that I might not wake up , but it worked wonders.

I still want another mask, I really want the latest swift. I actually had a guy that I met on craigslist who sold me some brand new masks for great prices, I think the hybrids were $50, but I have lost track of him and I don't think he had a wide selection to chose from.

The fact that we need a prescription for masks is absolutely ridiculous. RIDICULOUS!. I suppose I will have to contact the place that give me the prescription, unfortunately we are in a bit of a billing dispute and I have found I have very little use for sleep doctors, several thousand dollars and the only good info I have ever received was from this website, thanks DSM (hope you're still around).

I will check out cpapauction.I have read about it but I dont think Ive ever been there. I need to buy a small cpap machine too, it turns out the prescription for a VPAP was totally unnecessary, actually, I should just sell it. I think I will put it up for sale right now.

Thanks guys and gals.

Hello, HelpMeBreath! (Not you?)

Item: 2 New Mirage Swift LT Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear - All Size Pillows (S, M, L) Included
Unfortunately, your bid cannot yet be placed. You must have a prescription on file to bid on this product. Once your prescription is on file it does not expire. Here are several quick and easy ways to get your prescription to us:

When I ordered my new mask from bestcpapprice.com about a month ago, I did not have to submit my prescription to them. Of course that may have changed by now. I placed an order at the beginning of March (I think!), and when I realized ResMed was flipping the script about internet pricing, I went back to place an order before March 15 to get a replacement cushion. I didn't have to submit my script either time. I'll go and check and see what their policy is now.

Well, color me wrong! I just went back to the website, and surprise, surprise! The statement reads that ResMed masks now require a PRESCRIPTION! What??? Now that was not true when I placed my order a month ago. These people are crazy....My prescription is 4 years old, and is at my dr.'s office. I guess it's a good thing I went ahead and ordered a replacement cushion. I have also decided that it's time to take charge of my sleep therapy. I never once discussed my sleep study results with my doc...shame on me! I've been really slack about using my cpap, and I think my elevated bp is a direct result of it. I may be crazy, but that's what I think. I got a sinus infection two weeks ago, and when I went in, of course my bp was elevated. Well, it was back in Dec., when I went in for the same thing. Now my doc wants me to have an echocardiogram and a stress test. Ummmm....no. For one thing, I can't afford it right now. Another thing is I've been monitoring my bp at home and it has not been that high since. I'm not sure what the deal is, but I personally think it has a lot to do with the OSA. I want to see (not that I'm a big fan of experimenting w/my health) if all of this is related to my not being compliant w/my cpap. I also want to know those study results, and I'd also like a new prescription for an autopap, one that gives data. I am interested in finding out how many apneas, if any, I have during my sleep periods, and I can't do that with this particular machine. BCBS has informed me that they won't replace my machine unless it's "broken". But....wonder if they'll replace w/a new prescription for a different kind after 4 years. If not, oh, well....Mine works fine, esp. since ResMed replaced the flow generator w/in a couple months of me having it....something to do with them catching fire???? I will be compliantIwillbecompliantIwillbecompliantIwillbecompliantIwillbecompliant...........