Comments on: CPAP Cost Breakdown

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:15:59 +0000

@Darryl: if I’m feeling a bit stuffed-up, I take a Listerine Breath-Strip just before putting the mask on. I find the eucalyptus-menthol-whatever-else-is-in-those-things clears things up just enough to allow me to get to sleep… and then the positive pressure itself is enough to keep things cleared up through the night.

By: David

David — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:15:43 +0000

I’ve been wearing mine for almost 4 years now, and most nights I don’t have a problem keeping it on.. although early on I often found it tied in a knot on the floor in the morning!

I had no luck with a mask, even a nice one like the Mirage as I found turning my head would break the seal. I use a Nasal-aire ‘mask’ and I found it much more comfortable and less intrusive.

http://www.mergenetsolutions.com/innomedinc/na2.htm

@Darryl - As a bonus, I found that when I had a bit of a cold, the airflow directly in the nose tends to open my nasal passages. Sometimes I only know I’m stuffed up when I take the device off in the morning.

By: Eilonwynn

Eilonwynn — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:37:14 +0000

@ Darryl - this has almost definitely been suggested, but what my doctor told me was to just crank the humidity as high as it would go. Did the trick for me.

By: darryl

darryl — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:52:06 +0000

You’re lucky Joey. A year later and I’m still trying to find the reason why I can’t keep mine on for more than 75 minutes. My nose gets congested. No amount of cleaning, nasal rinsing — and I’m not an allergy sufferer — can solve the problem. Even the manger at the CPAP store is mystified. Her son has had the same problem for over a year.

But, it’s true, my situation is rare. Most see results in the first night.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:23:04 +0000

I will refrain from making a snarky comment about the temperature of our home-away-from-home in Massachusetts.

By: Joey deVilla

Joey deVilla — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:05:44 +0000

@Eilonwynn: A couple of people had me sold on the heated tube even before I’d set foot in Advacare’s office. It was an easy sell.

The guy at Advacare showed me an insulating jackeet by ResMed, then steered me towards the heated tube. I resisted the urge to say “I’ll take the jacket; I could use one for my bong.”

It’s been ages since I’ve been put in an ice cold hotel room (a newly-constructed but not-exactly-ready-for-occupancy Ramada Inn, Seattle, early 2001), so I figure I’m due for one soon.

By: Joey deVilla

Joey deVilla — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:01:25 +0000

@darryl: In addition to the preventative benefits of CPAP (espeically in the cardiopulmonary area), I think a reason the medical profession happily promotes CPAP is that it gives visible results after the first night for many people. There aren’t too many treatments like that.

By: Eilonwynn

Eilonwynn — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:02:34 +0000

The people who sold me mine were doubleplus awesome. A lot of student plans only cover 80%. The other thing is that health canada will fork over that fee again to cover a replacement machine every few years as well.

Although I went with the resmed machine, after a night of cold water going STRAIGHT UP MY NOSE in a freezing hotel room, i’m incredibly jealous of the heated tube - I just made an insulating cover out of a couple layers polar fleece.

By: darryl

darryl — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:48:50 +0000

Note that most companies have benefits that cover the remaining 100%, but best to check with your specific plan to find out.

Not sure what happens if you’re unemployed, but the dealers who sell the machines are often willing to figure out inventive ways to get a discount (e.g. selling a demo mask or machine), and your doctor is sure to provide advice.

In general, I find that those in the medical community are more than happy to make sure they can do ANYTHING to get you on CPAP (assuming you need it).

I think it’s based on the assumption that “an ounce of prevention today will afford us a pound of cure tomorrow.”