It's likely that your local DME's prices for any desired extras will be significantly higher than you will pay if you buy them online. Your needs also may be significantly different from those posting to this thread.DeeMax45 wrote:I see the doctor tomorrow for the results of the titration study. I would imagine that I will be meeting with the respiratory therapy people to get the machine and mask sometime this week. I'm not sure what kind of supplies/accessories I should buy for cleaning and maintaining the equipment. I did find this item that looks like it would be a good thing to have <http://tinyurl.com/aozumkb>. Does anybody use this brush or is there something better?
My suggestion is that you keep it simple to start. Focus on the things that you absolutely need to get started with xpap, sticking as much as possible to items that your insurance will pay for. Once you get some experience with xpap, then you'll determine what extras you might need and can purchase them later.
My suggestions for what you need up front include:
- the xpap, hose, a mask, and a few spare filters for the xpap. Get these from your DME. Heed the warnings of others on the list to get a fully data capable machine and not a brick that DMEs want to give you.
- mask cleaner (a clear, liquid dish soap works well), a gallon of distilled water (for your humidifier), and a jug of white vinegar (for use as a disinfectant). You can get all of these from your local grocery store
- It's a good idea to get a surge-suppressor to protect your machine from any electrical surges that might occur. Any good hardware store carries these, as does home depot, radio shack, etc.
Soon after you've started your treatment, you'll likely want to either make or buy a hose cover and a proper hose management system.
Later, as you gain experience with your treatment, you can decide for yourself what you need to make it more comfortable, easier to manage, and more effective. Make or buy what you need from a reliable online supplier. This will save you money and minimize the stuff that get's thrown in that box in the closet that holds all the stuff that someone else thought would be a good idea for you to buy. (We ALL have one or more of these boxes)
