Canadians

James · Post by **James** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:03 pm

Hello I am new here and was wondering if there are any fellow Canadians here and if so where do they get their products from.
I orginally bought my machine and masks from Medi Gas in Richmond B.C. but I am out of all the original masks I bought which worked great until the were discontinued and they sent me a substitiute which is horrible.
So now after a few months of having a lousy mask which leaves a dent in my forehead and leaks like a sieve I am need of a new mask desperately!

Cheers,
James

Hugh Jass · Post by **Hugh Jass** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:46 pm

I'm from Quebec. (Does that count ?)

I bought my Mask and am renting a CPAP from a local supplier (I suppose similar to Medi Gas).

Since I have insurance, money was not a big issue.

However, for any replacement masks I intend on buying them from CPAP.COM.

Canadian prices are absolutely ridiculous, and with the current value of the US dollar, you can get a great deal.

I would suggest using the Puritan Bennet Breeze with large pillows.

I started using this about a week and half ago, and I'll never switch back to a mask.

My supplier has a deal with manufacturers where they can return masks after a month. You may want to ask about that option. I tried a few masks and brought them all back until I decided to keep the Breeze.

Regards

CraigC · Post by **CraigC** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 9:34 pm

I am from Vancouver, I get all of my supplies from Essential Respirary care
ESSENTIAL RESPIRATORY CARE
805 Broadway West 605, Vancouver, BC V5Z1K1
(604) 875-1171

Barry is teh therapst there and he has been very helpful, he takes the time to explain things for you and helps you as best as he can

ldemmery · Post by **ldemmery** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:45 am

I live in Ottawa. I got my supplies from Access Therapy. Where as they were probably not the cheapest choice, their service was up and beyond. I had a 30 day free trial and during that time I changed masks about a 1/2 dozen times, calling them and getting an appointment at the drop of a hat. They also helped me with my insurance above and beyond probably what they should have.

Lynne

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:48 pm

I'm in Toronto, Ontario.
LOTS of equipment providers here offering machines from PB, ResMed, Respironics and DeVilbiss. I hane not found any that will allow a mask to be trialed and returned -they all cite SARS as their fear. VitalAire did, however, allow me to rent a mask as part of the rental of a Spirit. They told me that they simply disinfect the mask the same as they do the hose.

Hope you have good success with your treatment.

seanconnery · Post by **seanconnery** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:17 pm

James wrote:Hello I am new here and was wondering if there are any fellow Canadians here and if so where do they get their products from.
I orginally bought my machine and masks from Medi Gas in Richmond B.C. but I am out of all the original masks I bought which worked great until the were discontinued and they sent me a substitiute which is horrible.
So now after a few months of having a lousy mask which leaves a dent in my forehead and leaks like a sieve I am need of a new mask desperately!

Cheers,
James

Hi there!

I am new (2 months into CPAP) and live in South Surrey. I deal with Sleeptech on 152nd and #10. His name is Russell and is very good at a patient centred relationship - he's in this for the loang haul and I appreciate his opinions and anecdotal info in addition to his regular spiel. I think he would be able to source anyhting for you in addition to offering his technical opinion. Good luck.

unclebob · Post by **unclebob** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:46 pm

Hi James and other responders,

Really appreciate this thread as I want to purchase my 1st x-pap and am having trouble with the red tape. Sleep MD will not give me a script unless I buy in Ontario. Had 2 studies and I do need therapy plus am not really making it day to day - very tired, yawning all day etc - you know what I mean.

Saw my family MD today and he thinks there is no good reason to buy outside Ontario (prov funding to $780) plus if I need repairs or X-pap adjustments they can do it here and provide a loaner if needed. If I buy outside Ontario ie CPAP.com, the unit will not be serviced here leading to additional cost re boarder charges and no loaner.

Recently saw 2 suppliers who didn't seem to have the latest equipment such as Resmed Spirit and had not heard of the Resmed C8 or even the Respironics Auto C-flex about to come on the market. Maybe they have access to it but don't know it. One supplier said not to go with the C-flex as they are prone to break down.

My insurance will provide 50% of cost to max $1000.

Not sure which way to turn and am anxious to get started. Spiritus advised to forget govt. funding and buy on line as is cheaper. I am still concerned that local service may be best even if they don't have latest equipment.

Please help - any suggestions you have regarding my first purchase in the Toronto area are very important - I want to get on with this!

helen_b · Post by **helen_b** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:21 am

OMG, what a snake pit.I won't get to try a machine of any kind until my second sleep study in April. I live in a border city, and shop in the US all the time, order on line and have things shipped to a US address, etc. Canadian prices are high on just about everything. I bought a Lightbook last year, and got it for $200 US instead of $400 Canadian plus 15%tax. It had not occurred to me that I'd better do my research right away about the CPAP. I have two friends using machines, so I guess I'd better pick their brains. I was so shocked at my diagnosis, even though I've had the symptoms for years, that I was lulled into thinking my doctor knew best, and I would just buy whatever he told me to. I hadn'teven thought about things like breakdowns and servicing. Next week I see a dentist to discuss the oral appliance he designed for sleep apnea; hard to have an appliance break down!

Hugh Jass · Post by **Hugh Jass** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 7:34 am

Helen_B.

Exercise caution with Oral appliances used for treating sleep apnea.

My sleep doc told me that they have a very low success rate, and can often cause other problems down the road, like TMJ Disorder. My own research has indicated to me that she was right.

Of course the dentist is going to show you statistics of how well his/her product works, but we must remember that this is how they earn their bread and butter.

I would double check any claims being made before spending any money.

Searching Google groups is often a good way to find out what others have experienced.

Regards

Popinka · Post by **Popinka** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:40 pm

Hi. I am from London, Ontario.

I am two nights into CPAP and am on respirotics c-flex. My last two nights are not quite as favourable as my sleep study w/ CPAP (after which I woke up sooo awake). I question the pressure. I wonder whether an autopap will help.

My initial prescription was for a 1 month trial ($410.00). In terms of purchasing I am trying to do my research. The supply companies in this area seem like total gauge artists (the CPAP machine will be $700 something under OHIP & an addition $1200 by me for the machine & obligatory package). Does anyone know how much an autopap is?

Both my husband and I have private insurance. I hope they don't jerk me around.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:51 pm

Popinka,

Check out cpap.com You will be able to buy (without insurance) all the equipment you need (including an auto-pap) for less than the $1200 CND copay.

Link: Puritan Bennett Auto-pap w/Heated Humidifier, Software & Accesories

You may even be able to get your private insurance to pay for it, I did.

Hugh Jass · Post by **Hugh Jass** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:53 pm

$ 410.00 per month is a total rip-off if that's only of the rental.

I paid $ 150.00 for the month here in Montreal. That was for a REMSTAR Auto with Humidifier, etc.

I did have to buy the mask up front. (A whopping $250.00 beans)

Is that how you came up with $410.00 ?

A just bought a REMSTAR Auto with C-Flex, and after all is said and done, the total bill is $ 2030.00 . My insurance paid for $ 2000.00

If I didn't have the insurance, cpap.com would have been where I bought it since I would have saved about $ 800.00. (It's good with the current exchange rates)

Regards

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:01 pm

Yes it did include the mask.

How do you service it, change pressure if you buy it online? Can you buy online with a CDN prescription?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:03 pm

Yes it did include the mask.

How do you service it, change pressure if you buy it online? Can you buy online with a CDN prescription?

Allmusic · Post by **Allmusic** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 9:39 pm

I am from Hamilton, Ontario. My Sleep Doctor sent me to Medigas. My cats have found that there is condensation in my hose and I have had to replace 2 hoses....duct tape works but not for long. Medi Gas charged me $51.00 for a new hose. So I went on the internet and found a firm in BC called

http://cpapdeals.com/

I bought 2 hoses with delivery charge for the same money that MediGas charged me for 1 hose. There are better deals out there. The only bonus with going with Medigas is that they will wait for your insurance company to come through with the money.

And the cats don't bother my hose anymore, since I made a cloth cover for my hose. I attach the cover with 2 hair elastics.

I use a RemStar Plus, with the comfort Classic mask. I do have a dent in my forhead from the gel pack, but anything is better than keeping the whole house awake. I have been using the cpap machine for almost a year now this Feb 2005. You'd have to fight me to take it away. LOL

Canadians

Canadians

Canadians

Canadians

Re: Canadians

Canadians

Canadians

Canadian CPAP user