Hi! I'm new.. and so confused.

I was diagnosed about 6 years ago when I was 17 but I wasn't able to afford it.. Now 5+ years later I'm 23 and I have been without a CPAP machine and it's really getting to me.. but I'm still not able to afford it and I'm honestly very overwhelmed with it all. I don't have anyone to really go to for help and seeing a doctor is a pain and costs too much at this point.. I was hoping and I'm sorry if you get this question a lot but I was hoping someone out there would be kind enough to help me find some kind of solution to my problem? Is there some way to get a CPAP machine when you have no money or very very little?

Yes , you can google "Secondwind Cpap". Hope this helps.

Janice

Can you get your hands on a RX for cpap therapy? It will be required for any online sellers.

There are ways to find good equipment in the secondary (private party) market but you need to know for sure which model machine does what.
You would need a full efficacy data machine for sure so you could monitor leaks and therapy effectiveness.
An auto adjusting pressure machine (APAP capable) would be nice but not the end of the world if you had a straight cpap machine as long as it collected full efficacy data.
You would need to get a machine that has easy to obtain and use software (free of course) so that will limit you to probably the PR system one model 450 or higher...or a ResMed S9 Elite or AutoSet. The PR System One machines will cost you less and are just as good. I wouldn't look at any others. We can get an older machine but they often require either pricey and hard to find card readers or smart cards that will drive up the price. Might as well put the money into a new model that does what you need. Besides the level of data gathered on the newer machines is superior for someone trying to manage their own therapy.

Secondwindcpap.com is a great source for gently used machines that would work well for you but they will require a RX.

Finding a machine that is going to meet your needs optimally that is going to be donated free...going to be hard to do.
I have heard that the Reggie White Foundation can help but I don't know anything about them or what hoops you have to jump through to get help.

Start looking now on the insurance exchange for health insurance. If your income is low you will probably qualify for a full subsidy. There is NO excuse for not having insurance after January 1st, and with insurance you can be retested and probably get equipment covered.

Janknitz wrote:Start looking now on the insurance exchange for health insurance. If your income is low you will probably qualify for a full subsidy. There is NO excuse for not having insurance after January 1st, and with insurance you can be retested and probably get equipment covered.

Great post! I don't think people have had a chance to do research and really understand this program. Hopefully, more and more will.

The Intellipap has not been mentioned as a possibility here. It seems to not be mentioned with machine recommendations, especially when cost is a big factor. The Intellipap line has a straight cpap and the Autoadjust. Sleepyhead (free software) works with this machine and it gives excellent therapy and costs quite a bit less that the "big 2". Secondwind has some of these machines as well.

Hawthorne wrote:The Intellipap has not been mentioned as a possibility here. It seems to not be mentioned with machine recommendations, especially when cost is a big factor. The Intellipap line has a straight cpap and the Autoadjust. Sleepyhead (free software) works with this machine and it gives excellent therapy and costs quite a bit less that the "big 2". Secondwind has some of these machines as well.

The DeVilbiss at secondwind don't appear to have the module needed for using the software. So that's another expense. $145 more.
They don't give flow rate graphs either. The other brands are more comprehensive in what they offer in terms of data.
The Auto model is $490 and by the time we add the module for using the SD card the price isn't any less than the other 2 major brands.
I just prefer to work with the software and data available from the major 2 brands especially when pretty much starting from scratch.

There is a low hour 550 PR S1 available for 369 and another 70 for the humidifier. A 560 for 389 plus 90 for that humidifier.
There's a brand new 460 PR S1 available that includes humidifier for 499. It has apap mode for 150 days.

I know the DeVilbiss is a great machine but I don't care for the software and the added expense when the module is needed and the data that is gathered could be more comprehensive and when dealing with someone who is pretty much DIYing on their own I just prefer to have all the tools and data that is out there at my disposal.
They aren't that much cheaper...the Standard with Smartflex is 325 add another 145 for the module ...and we are right up there with the PR S1 machines. Even if we got the module from cpap.com without the software for $100 there is not that big of a savings.

When recommending a machine I look at the whole package cost and that includes the necessary equipment need to obtain whatever data the machine gathers plus what the machine offers in terms of data. Since the module is a separate and significant cost it has to be a big factor. I don't like the idea of self titrating base on the smart code only data. Yeah, it can be done but I don't like it and even with the module the data isn't as comprehensive as I prefer. I like to be able to see flow rate if I want to.

So that's why you don't see me including the Devilbiss equipment in situations like this with the machines I would recommend.
It's not like their package is half the cost of a PR S1 full data machine anyway.
When a 560 APAP machine with humidifier costs 479 and I compare that to the Standard CPAP Devilbiss at 425 with the module from cpap.com
or the Auto at 490 plus the module cost making it 590 and more expensive (yes, it's new but they don't have any used Autos)...the PR S1 machines are still a better deal for what a person gets.

Thanks Pugsy. Yes, the module is extra on the Intellipap. You are correct, also, that it does not give as much data detail as the "big 2".

You can use the SmartCode from the machine online though and get some pretty good data. Certainly not as much data but for someone who is cash strapped, it would be enough to get a very good start on cpap.

I did not look at the Secondwind site before I posted so was unaware of the "big 2" machines available there right now at a comparable price. A person could get a good deal there in one of the "big 2" right now. Thanks.

Hannahbananerz,
Money is not a valid reason to go w/o cpap. There must have been some denial going on. There are social services options as well as older cpaps which are often donated to places like Goodwill. I know many members here have given machines away also.

I would bet the majority of cpap users do not check data. It is useful but not required. So getting started with any machine is more important then having the perfect machine. Is your apnea weight related? That's hard to know actually, but weight loss never hurts. Good luck to you.
CN