backup machine, does everyone have one?

2 B Sleeping Soundly wrote:The way I see it, you never know when something will get lost (if you travel), break at the worst possible time, or suddenly become worn out and be providing ineffective treatment and need to be replaced, so it is always good in my opinion to have backups. ... Due to the amazing effect that PAP therapy has had on my health and my life, I never want to spend one moment sleeping without it.

zoocrewphoto wrote:Keep an eye on craigslist. I found an S9 autoset for $200 after looking for about 3 months. I have seen some other models for less. If you aren't in a hurry and just keep looking, you will eventually find a great deal.

This is why I have an older, but perfectly functional, RemStar M Series BiPAP Auto I bought for $100 off Craigslist for a backup. I keep in a bag with a spare hose and mask and I take that with me when I will be away from home overnight. I don't know when one of my machines will malfunction, break, get lost or stolen while traveling, or god knows what else, but at least I know I won't be frantically hunting Craigslist while sleep deprived if it does!

I bought a travel unit several years ago, and have left my big old Remstar unit home ever since - meaning I never traveled with both machines. My second unit runs on a rechargeable battery, so if there's ever a power failure at home I could use the travel machine (after waking up to switch units). The smaller, battery-capable machine also has been used on overnight airline flights, and on a cruise.
I was lucky, or my insurer was careless, but I bought the second machine 3 or 4 years after buying the first machine and i was reimbursed.

surf_rower wrote:It seems wise to have a backup machine. Do most of you veterans have more than one machine? Does insurance ever pay for two machines, or are you on your own? I would love to have a small travel machine as a backup at home and primary on the road, and would be willing to pay for that, but am waiting to hear whether they've come up with one that is quiet.
Thoughts?

Go to the "Advanced Search" function and look for a topic called "Poll - How many machines do you own?".
It's been around awhile and was recently resurrected.
It'll give you an idea of how many have backups and how many machine some people have.
Most of us NEVER want to be in the situation of being without one.
Murphy's Laws apply to this therapy, too.
My insurance reimbursed me for 80% of my initial equipment purchase, but I've paid for all the rest (of everything) out-of-pocket.


Den

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I have been on the hose since 2011 this time, and have no back-up machine, & can't afford it. I should be able to get a new machine in about 2-3 years if I can meet my deductible when I need one. My deductible is $1500 now and I have slim hope of ever passing that magic number this year, and I expect the deductibles will only go up with Obama Care, that has made health care anything BUT affordable for me. My employer has only high-deductible ($1500) and higher deductible ($3000) plans, and the premiums aren't cheap.
I had an old round machine- don't even know manufacturer now, back in the 90s when they first diagnosed me with apnea, but I couldn't get used to it, & had the surgery on my palate & throat- it helped for about 6 months, and I gave my old crummy machine (a brick) to a friend who thought she wanted to try it. I didn't plan on ever using it again. I no longer speak to that friend and we have moved 3 times since then and to another state. Don't think I would use it as a back-up even if I had it, it was straight CPAP set at 15 cm and was noisy as a Mack truck, & had a pass-over humidifier that wasn't heated. I couldn't keep the mask on all night back then (masks were pretty crappy in the 90s), or got a headache when I tried. Hubby complained about the noise and after I ripped the mask off in my sleep, or opened my mouth while asleep, he turned it off so he could get some sleep. I didn't find this forum till 2011- the only reason I am able to use APAP now is this forum. I watch Craigslist and when I see one that is a deal I can't refuse I will probably get a back up/travel machine. I am hoping to find a used APAP for sale with heated humidifier that is smaller than my S-9. Traveling with the S-9 is difficult for me, but I like the amenities with this machine, with the exception of size for the nightstand or traveling.

I started off with a machine that didn't provide much data. I was able to purchase a machine from someone on this forum a data machine for a very reasonable price. I hold my initial machine as a back up.

The machine I have is on indefinite loan from a hospital. As long as I meet basic compliance, I can keep it. They check every six months. If I purchase my own machine I would have to hand that one back, which isn't such a bad thing. The mob that have loaned me the machine are a right royal bunch of PITA'S?

Imo if you can afford a backup machine, its a good idea especially if you have severe apnea.

I suspect a lot of people have an old PR M-series or an S7 in their closet and simply hope that they will get by with that. The reality is that machines do sometimes require repairs... think about your car or your computer, for example. Therefore it depends on the individual and how well they cope while stepping down one or two therapy notches. Also note that the time without your 'little beastie' could be for anywhere from a few days (overnight shipping <ouch>) to a few weeks - or possibly a lot more. How much is good sleep worth anyway? A recent CPAP repair tech told me they don't very often stock old circuit boards or parts due to cost/benefit analysis issues. Stuff sitting on a shelf for years isn't typically producing profit.

dvejr wrote:I bought a travel unit several years ago, and have left my big old Remstar unit home ever since - meaning I never traveled with both machines. My second unit runs on a rechargeable battery, so if there's ever a power failure at home I could use the travel machine (after waking up to switch units). The smaller, battery-capable machine also has been used on overnight airline flights, and on a cruise.
I was lucky, or my insurer was careless, but I bought the second machine 3 or 4 years after buying the first machine and i was reimbursed.

What kind of travel machine is this? Is it noisy, as many have said their travel machines are?

Wulfman... wrote: Go to the "Advanced Search" function and look for a topic called "Poll - How many machines do you own?".
It's been around awhile and was recently resurrected.
It'll give you an idea of how many have backups and how many machine some people have.
Most of us NEVER want to be in the situation of being without one.
Murphy's Laws apply to this therapy, too.
My insurance reimbursed me for 80% of my initial equipment purchase, but I've paid for all the rest (of everything) out-of-pocket.

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Thanks, yes, I had seen that thread before. I don't trust those polls after some of the veterans here complained about spam polls. I thought about posting my query as a poll, but figured the information would be skewed somehow, or I would be banned, or something.

surf_rower wrote:

Wulfman... wrote: Go to the "Advanced Search" function and look for a topic called "Poll - How many machines do you own?".
It's been around awhile and was recently resurrected.
It'll give you an idea of how many have backups and how many machine some people have.
Most of us NEVER want to be in the situation of being without one.
Murphy's Laws apply to this therapy, too.
My insurance reimbursed me for 80% of my initial equipment purchase, but I've paid for all the rest (of everything) out-of-pocket.

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Thanks, yes, I had seen that thread before. I don't trust those polls after some of the veterans here complained about spam polls. I thought about posting my query as a poll, but figured the information would be skewed somehow, or I would be banned, or something.

The data isn't necessarily skewed any more now than it was when the polls were started and were actively being posted to.
Some of the people who were "complaining" were just annoyed that the polls were being resurrected. Which was silly in my opinion. It just shows that there have been virtually no new subjects discussed on the forum. It's just like clothing styles......everything that's "old" becomes "new" again at some point. (Although I really hope the leisure suits never make a comeback.)


Den

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