CPAP cleaners stink!

[5030]

Please do not think that I'm being callus...but it seems there is a lot of CPAP sufferers these days...If the machines are so important to health/lives...how come so many years ago you never heard much about it ??...

A skeptical person might get the impression that a lot of doctors etc. own stock in the companies that sell the machines/cleaners etc...

Because sleep studies and the ultra expensive equipment is a racket. No other way to describe it. I've had Sleep Apena for 20+ years. Been 2 sleep studies in that entire time, haven't been to one in the last 15 years. I bought outright 3 machines, one is a travel machine (S8) the others are nightstand machines. All are Bipap capable and I run them in Bipap all the time. When I bought my machines (Res-med) you could lease them through a health care provider that billed insurance (racket) or buy them outright. Bought mine. One, the cost isn't that bad and 2, I don't need anyone controlling my pressures, I set all my own machines myself (thanks to the Internet).

I bought enough supplies to last me at least 15 years. Little hint, you need a scrip to buy a machine (but they don't wear out and replacement parts are available, very simple internally as well) however, you don't need a scrip to buy masks and assorted parts if you buy them as replacement parts. Only time you need a scrip is if you buy complete masks which I don't. I buy everything online and I shop for prices when I do buy.

I wear the same mask all the time (Activa Mirage). I've never fell for the cleaner crap. Mine goes in the shower with me and gets washed every time I shower, but I use antiseptic soap scentless, when I wash my mask and hose.

Never had issue one and will never buy any nightstand cleaner, not interested. My nightstand machine has an external, stand alone humidifer (Fischer-Paetel) with a 2 piece humidifier bowl (stainless removable bottom). it gets scrubbed out and refilled with distilled water every other day. Been using the 2 piece humidifier at least 8 years now. No issue.

I know if you are on Medicare, they want the machine to be chipped so they can monitor it. I'm on medicare, never told them I have a machine(s). None of their business and never will be. I don't roll that way.

My regimen and it works for me. Your mileage may vary however.

 

[fried1765]

Because sleep studies and the ultra expensive equipment is a racket. No other way to describe it. I've had Sleep Apena for 20+ years. Been 2 sleep studies in that entire time, haven't been to one in the last 15 years. I bought outright 3 machines, one is a travel machine (S8) the others are nightstand machines. All are Bipap capable and I run them in Bipap all the time. When I bought my machines (Res-med) you could lease them through a health care provider that billed insurance (racket) or buy them outright. Bought mine. One, the cost isn't that bad and 2, I don't need anyone controlling my pressures, I set all my own machines myself (thanks to the Internet).

I bought enough supplies to last me at least 15 years. Little hint, you need a scrip to buy a machine (but they don't wear out and replacement parts are available, very simple internally as well) however, you don't need a scrip to buy masks and assorted parts if you buy them as replacement parts. Only time you need a scrip is if you buy complete masks which I don't. I buy everything online and I shop for prices when I do buy.

I wear the same mask all the time (Activa Mirage). I've never fell for the cleaner crap. Mine goes in the shower with me and gets washed every time I shower, but I use antiseptic soap scentless, when I wash my mask and hose.

Never had issue one and will never buy any nightstand cleaner, not interested. My nightstand machine has an external, stand alone humidifer (Fischer-Paetel) with a 2 piece humidifier bowl (stainless removable bottom). it gets scrubbed out and refilled with distilled water every other day. Been using the 2 piece humidifier at least 8 years now. No issue.

I know if you are on Medicare, they want the machine to be chipped so they can monitor it. I'm on medicare, never told them I have a machine(s). None of their business and never will be. I don't roll that way.

My regimen and it works for me. Your mileage may vary however.

Not quite accurate:
Medicare monitors a new machine for 13 months, to be certain that you are using it.
If you do NOT use it regularly in that 13 months, you will then be billed for the machine cost.
If you DO use the machine regularly for 13 months, Medicare will pick up the entire cost.
I'm cheap....and I need to use it anyway....why not?
Medicare will also provide a free replacement machine after 5 years.

 

[woody]

I have an A-pap and like some people was real sceptical of it until I tried it and got use to it. we have had this discussion at work about it seams everybody at work uses some type of c-pap but it looks like it is not confined to my line of work, after reading this thread it must be big business but because it does make a noticable difference in how people sleep it is necessary. We went camping recently and I made the remark that I was just going to leave mine at home and my wife said if it stays so do I it seams she don't get much sleep if I don't use it. I do have a soclean and I use it about 60% of the time the smell is not unpleasant to me but then I do like the smell of things like clorox I know some people don't. it just runs like 10 minutes but you are supposed to let it sit for four hours and I do let mine run a few minutes before I put it on. That's my experience and thanks for sharing yours.

 

[/pine]

I honestly was not aware (ignorance) that these machines have been around so long...again I was not being callous...I based the comment on the fact that up until say about 10 years ago I never saw or heard anything about them being used...I was aware of different sleep studies but it was not until all the TV commercials about the machines and cleaners started appearing every ten minutes...
...The advertising started about the same time that big pharma started shilling their drugs to the public...before then I always thought that ones doctor should be recommending the best medicines to treat ailments etc...(not the other way around) I still think it's absurd that laymen decide what medications they should take based on advertisements...What's even more absurd is the fact that there is more time spent in the TV spots listing the possible side effects than the actual sales pitch...!

 

[WM75Guy]

I honestly was not aware (ignorance) that these machines have been around so long...again I was not being callous...I based the comment on the fact that up until say about 10 years ago I never saw or heard anything about them being used...I was aware of different sleep studies but it was not until all the TV commercials about the machines and cleaners started appearing every ten minutes...
...The advertising started about the same time that big pharma started shilling their drugs to the public...before then I always thought that ones doctor should be recommending the best medicines to treat ailments etc...(not the other way around) I still think it's absurd that laymen decide what medications they should take based on advertisements...What's even more absurd is the fact that there is more time spent in the TV spots listing the possible side effects than the actual sales pitch...!

Only the United States and New Zealand allow direct marketing of prescription drugs to consumers. That and keeping lobbyists employed is part of what contributes to the high cost of drugs in the United States.

As of February the FDA is going after CPAP cleaning devices for marketing non-FDA approved devices claiming they provide a medical benefit. The FDA has received reports of injuries from being exposed to high levels of ozone.

 

[Alan W.]

Ive had my BiPap machine for about ten years. I use the nose pillows which will seal well even if you have facial hair.
To clean it I use hydrogen peroxide then a water rinse.
My oxygen level was dropping to the low 70s during the night.

 

[5030]

Not quite accurate:
Medicare monitors a new machine for 13 months, to be certain that you are using it.
If you do NOT use it regularly in that 13 months, you will then be billed for the machine cost.
If you DO use the machine regularly for 13 months, Medicare will pick up the entire cost.
I'm cheap....and I need to use it anyway....why not?
Medicare will also provide a free replacement machine after 5 years.

Wasn't sure of all the particulars. No matter, I don't need anyone monitoring my usage. I have enough 'big bruthers' looking out for me now.

I'm still using the original Res-Med machine I got way back when. Should be in the CPAP hall of fame, she has 45,000 hours on her and runs like a top.

 

[5030]

M y brother in law was having a bad time sleeping, a weaver and a chainsawer. Told him he needed to see an RT. Came home with an oxygen bottle, been on a machine ever since.

His wife has thanked me many times.

BiPAP is sop for me and always will be.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

About 5 or 6 years ago, my wife complained to my doctor about my snoring. He scheduled me a sleep study. After sleeping in a 'sleep center' twice, and about $3000, I was prescribed a cpap machine, which cost another $1300.

About 3 months later, I ran into a friend who said he had just got a cpap machine. In his case, a different 'sleep center' sent him a machine and he slept with it one night and sent it back to them for a total cost of about $300.

About a year later, the 'sleep' doctor called me for another annual appointment. I said 'no thanks'. I still use the machine most nights. I order parts online. It does help me sleep better, but I can sleep without it if I sleep on my side. And I do snore more without it.

One other thing is that it seems that EVERYONE who does a 'sleep study' WILL be prescribed a machine.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Funny how that works. Worse than a FREE BRAKE INSPECTION!

 

[fried1765]

I can't breath through my nose worth a crap at night, but don't want to go down this road. Kind of like all those people on antidrepressants, forever, but it was just supposed to be for that little bump in the road.

If you think you might ever want to change your mind about this, better try now to get on an appointment wait list.
As I am sure you know, it can often take MANY months to get Dr. (particularly specialists) appointments in Canada.

Your really should rethink your position on the CPAP.
It is a VERY useful device!

 

[robstaples]

I have the SoClean machine. It has a timed process that defaults to start at 10 am. I’m up and gone from the bed room and I hear it run if I’m in the house, but the ozone is long gone by evening. It had a charcoal filter to capture the output. I don’t use it as the room is a little fresher that way.
Not recommended it, just saying how their design works and solves some other issues.

 

[5030]

Funny how that works. Worse than a FREE BRAKE INSPECTION!

That is funny right there.............

I have to say at 70, my brakes were shot a long time ago... Other things too.:laughing:

 

[Industrial Toys]

I always hated appendages. Never liked glasses, never got a mouth guard to stop grinding my teeth. Don't like Jewelery, piercings, watches or anything on the body. So, I would prefer not to spend the rest of my life sleeping with a machine. But am curious what a decent nights sleep might do for me too.

 

[5030]

I take my S8 on hunting trips I usually sleep in a tent and pack in with mules so no juice comes along, sort of. I have a pair of Li-Ion battery packs that will run the S8 for 3 days with no humidifier. I carry a folding solar panel to charge the packs with and if I'm careful (and there is sun), I can go a week off grid. For humidification, I built a pass over, passive humidifier box from a Plano lure box and some CPAP hose fittings. Works very well.

If I didn't have my machine on a hunt, in 2 days I'd turn into a zombie.

 

[5030]

I always hated appendages. Never liked glasses, never got a mouth guard to stop grinding my teeth. Don't like Jewelery, piercings, watches or anything on the body. So, I would prefer not to spend the rest of my life sleeping with a machine. But am curious what a decent nights sleep might do for me too.

Might make some of your posts more palatable.............:laughing:

I don't like glasses either so I got the lenses in both eyes replaced. You can do that here and Medicare pays 100% of it. Totally painless surgery and takes about 5 minutes. It's the prep that is a pain (in the butt).

 

[Industrial Toys]

There just might be a nice guy in there somewhere.

 

[JDAOWNER]

I RECENTLY HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DOC ABOUT MY MACHINE ( NEW THIS YEAR--2ND MACHINE) SHE TOLD ME TO PUT NEW WATER IN THE TANK EVERY DAY. I ASKED IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEND ME SOME. SHE SAID DON'T FILL IT ALL THE WAY UP. I MUST SAY NO ONE ON THIS THREAD CLEANS THERE MACHINE AS INFREQUENTLY AS I DO. ABOUT EVERY 3 OR 4 MONTHS. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. CLEAN IN THE KITCHEN SINK WITH DISH SOAP AND GOOD RINCE. THEY ALSO WANTED ME TO LET THEM INSTALL A PROGRAM THAT WILL MONITOR MY BREATHING AND CHANGE THE AIR PRESSURE AS NEEDED, AUTOMATICALLY. I TOLD THEM NOT AT THIS TIME. WHEN I HAD MY SLEEP TEST, THEY TOLD ME ANY NO. HIGHER THEN 5 MEANT NEEDED A CPAP. MINE WAS 45. AFTER I USED THE NEW MACHINE, IT WAS 4.5. IT HAS GONE UP A LITTLE, THATS WHY THEY WANTED THE NEW PROGRAM.

 

[5030]

I set my own parameters. You can get the medical access to just about any machine on the Net. I can run mine low or crank it up and spray paint with it if I want to.... I don't.


Don't need any RT getting rich from me. I can do just fine on my own and have been for many years.

The trick' if you want to call it that is consistent, every night use. Took me a while to get used to a mask but now, I cannot zee out without a mask on. 45 is spray paint level. You'd need to chain your mask on....lol