Sleep Apnea & CPAP

@BigWaylon , Post your thoughts on that new mask. I just started using CPAP little over a month ago and they started me off with the N20. I can't believe the difference it makes! Wish I would have started it years ago. While I have limited comparison, I find myself waking up briefly several times a night after I've moved around and created an air leak. They said because I'm a stomach sleeper I will have issues with leaks no matter what mask I use. @Geezer feel free to jump in and comment if you know a mask that works well for stomach sleepers.
Will do. Should be here Thursday. Probably won’t use it until Fri or Sat so I can have the time to get it set up right...and I have a lot of junk going on Thu-Sat this week.

I’ll give some first impressions and then try to follow it up after a couple weeks of use. That’s assuming it’s not a total disaster and I go back to my N20. :D
 
I figured I’d give it s shot, just to not have a hose running across my face. Definitely pleased with the N20, and wouldn’t hesitate to buy another one next month if the N30i doesn’t work out.
We have some people that really like the N30i. The shape of the face and nose determine a lot of who can and cannot use it. The N20 is more forgiving or easier to adapt to different faces. It's our "go to" nasal mask, it seems to work for most people.
 
I just found this thread. So, I was diagnosed last year. Stopped breathing like 58 times an hour. So I went to get a machine and the place tells me that they stopped taking my insurance not very long after me doing my sleep study (which they did take my insurance for). It pissed me off, so I told them to send me my prescrition (which took them a month) and I'd find one myself.

Any reccomendation on where to buy a machine? I've heard good things about the ResMed machine.
 
Geezer, I use nasal pillows and when I open my mouth it will wake me up. You are correct about learning not to open your mouth. About 12 years ago when I got my first CPAP I tried the full mask and could not stand it. I bought a travel CPAP that is great. You can set the pressure for a zone to adjust when needed more pressure. My older CPAP (5 years old) does not have that feature. Insurance will let me get another CPAP but I might wait until I am 65 to see how much Medicare will pay for the unit.
 
Geezer;
I've been using the ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset for several years with AirTouch F20 full face mask. I am considering purchasing the SoClean mask cleaner. Any personal experiences (pros/ cons of this unit) and possible suggestions of other alternative brands available would be greatly appreciated.
 
Geezer, I use nasal pillows and when I open my mouth it will wake me up. You are correct about learning not to open your mouth. About 12 years ago when I got my first CPAP I tried the full mask and could not stand it. I bought a travel CPAP that is great. You can set the pressure for a zone to adjust when needed more pressure. My older CPAP (5 years old) does not have that feature. Insurance will let me get another CPAP but I might wait until I am 65 to see how much Medicare will pay for the unit.
I'd wait until you go on Medicare. Once you go to Medicare, Medicare will require you start the process over anyway. Medicare will pay 80% of the machine and supplies. If you have a secondary insurance, they usually pick up the other 20%. And with Medicare as your primary, you're eligible to get new supplies every 90 days.
 
Geezer;
I've been using the ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset for several years with AirTouch F20 full face mask. I am considering purchasing the SoClean mask cleaner. Any personal experiences (pros/ cons of this unit) and possible suggestions of other alternative brands available would be greatly appreciated.
We use the VirtuClean by VirtuOx. https://www.virtuox.net/Products/VirtuClean We have sold close to 200 of them and no negative feedback from anyone. All I know about the SoClean is what I hear from others, and like with most things, reviews are mixed.
 
We use the VirtuClean by VirtuOx. https://www.virtuox.net/Products/VirtuClean We have sold close to 200 of them and no negative feedback from anyone. All I know about the SoClean is what I hear from others, and like with most things, reviews are mixed.

I bought one of these from @Geezer and I love it. It’s compact and will carry in my cpap travel case if I need to take it somewhere.
 
Quick first impression of the N30i:

Pros:
•very comfortable
•headwear doesn’t need to stretch much to put on (so it should last awhile
•really like the fact there’s no hose attached to the front...much better visibility
•facial hair didn’t seem to be an issue

Cons:
•when it fires up the first time, you’ll think you have a massive air leak due to the noise level; I don’t think it’s actually louder, but the air flowing where your ears hear it and skull pics up the vibrations makes it seem like a jet engine...I’m a heavy sleeper and it didn’t bother me during the night, and my wife didn’t mention anything this morning (she’ll usually say something if the N20 got skewed and allowed a leak or something...I’ll ask her in the morning if she noticed anything different)
•had a little raw feeling area between my nostrils this morning
 
We use the VirtuClean by VirtuOx. https://www.virtuox.net/Products/VirtuClean We have sold close to 200 of them and no negative feedback from anyone. All I know about the SoClean is what I hear from others, and like with most things, reviews are mixed.

How much do they cost? I've seen all kinds on Amazon but never sure what is a good brand.
 
Dam witch doctors got me doing a sleep test this month. Should I do one of my injections before bed so they have to look at a hard up half the night?



YES
 
WTH is this? Machines to sleep?
 
Was diagnosed about 2 years ago with "very severe" sleep apnea. Dr. Said I stopped breathing 130 times per hour. He put me on a bi-pap machine. My question is can I ask for a copy of my prescription on buy one somewhere myself? Also, would my insurance pay a portion of the expense. The next question is where is a good source for a bi-pap machine? New or used?
 
Uncle Yo, I am thinking that Bi-Pap machines are more expensive then CPAPs. The Bi-Pap forces are in and out from what I have been told. I have ordered CPAP machines from CPAP.com. The price is close to the insurance price but the insurance price make you draw out the payments for 10 months but do not count towards your deductible. Also, maybe 2 or 3 more BS doctors visits for the next 10 months. I can see that but if you have been on a CPAP for 12+ years there should be no question about it you are going to use it. If you met your deductible for the year, buy it through the insurance company. Might be paying 20% of the cost. If you have not met your deductible but close you might be satisfying a big part of a $1,000. Also, remember deductible expenses that are met the last quarter of the year carry over the the following year.
 
Three nights in...and I’m really liking the N30i. Mainly due to the open field of view. I sleep on my back and both sides, and haven’t had an issue with it breaking the seal on my nose so far. Wife says it’s not really any louder to her than the N20 was.
 
Was diagnosed about 2 years ago with "very severe" sleep apnea. Dr. Said I stopped breathing 130 times per hour. He put me on a bi-pap machine. My question is can I ask for a copy of my prescription on buy one somewhere myself? Also, would my insurance pay a portion of the expense. The next question is where is a good source for a bi-pap machine? New or used?
Uncle Yo, I am thinking that Bi-Pap machines are more expensive then CPAPs. The Bi-Pap forces are in and out from what I have been told. I have ordered CPAP machines from CPAP.com. The price is close to the insurance price but the insurance price make you draw out the payments for 10 months but do not count towards your deductible. Also, maybe 2 or 3 more BS doctors visits for the next 10 months. I can see that but if you have been on a CPAP for 12+ years there should be no question about it you are going to use it. If you met your deductible for the year, buy it through the insurance company. Might be paying 20% of the cost. If you have not met your deductible but close you might be satisfying a big part of a $1,000. Also, remember deductible expenses that are met the last quarter of the year carry over the the following year.
Yes, a big difference in cost from a CPAP to a BiPAP.
 
Several weeks in and still really liking the N30i.

Anybody using one?
 
Several weeks in and still really liking the N30i.

Anybody using one?
That's kind of expensive. Have you developed Phantom face yet?

Phantom-of-the-Opera-The_08_main.jpg

I was going to go with Kevin Bacon but thought this was better.
 
Not for $110...

Think my P-10 is like $70 complete and I just replace parts for much less as needed...
FWIW...the first place I looked just now had the P10 for $99 and the N30i got $109, so they shouldn’t be too far apart pricewise.

I bought mine as two separate pieces so no script required (even though they were on the same order). Same price as buying it as a complete mask.

And personally I’d pay $20-$25 more for this one without a second thought. Simply for the ease of watching TV or reading.
 
The N30i is starting to catch on with some of our patients but the ResMed N20 is still the most popular nasal mask we have.
 
Was diagnosed about 2 years ago with "very severe" sleep apnea. Dr. Said I stopped breathing 130 times per hour. He put me on a bi-pap machine. My question is can I ask for a copy of my prescription on buy one somewhere myself? Also, would my insurance pay a portion of the expense. The next question is where is a good source for a bi-pap machine? New or used?


Mine wouldn't. My machine was $1200 back in the day. Found the exact same one for $400 on line. Talked to the insurance and they said I could buy it but they would pay nothing on it. So I had a choice. let insurance pay $800 and I pay $400 or I pay $400 and the insurance pays nothing. Guess which one I picked.
 
For those of you who have had sleep studies done, is there a place that you would recommend? I had a study done a couple years ago and they said absolutely nothing happened, I slept like a rock.
I would really like to have another study done because my sleep(lack of it) is getting ridiculous.
 
For those of you who have had sleep studies done, is there a place that you would recommend? I had a study done a couple years ago and they said absolutely nothing happened, I slept like a rock.
I would really like to have another study done because my sleep(lack of it) is getting ridiculous.
Home Sleep Tests are now available. A doctor will have to order the HST. A company will mail you the test equipment and you take the test for one, two, or three nights, depending on the order and the company. Once you complete the test, you mail the equipment back. The results are calculated and the results are sent directly to the ordering doctor. The HST is much cheaper than going to a sleep lab.
 
I purchased a CPAP cleaner from @Geezer last week. Used it twice so far and I really like it. Thanks Geezer and if anyone is thinking about it. Send him a PM, I think you’ll be happy you did!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Home Sleep Tests are now available. A doctor will have to order the HST. A company will mail you the test equipment and you take the test for one, two, or three nights, depending on the order and the company. Once you complete the test, you mail the equipment back. The results are calculated and the results are sent directly to the ordering doctor. The HST is much cheaper than going to a sleep lab.

I might have to look into that. I know going for the first sleep test was awful. I could hardly sleep for all the wires they had hooked up to me.
 
FWIW...the first place I looked just now had the P10 for $99 and the N30i got $109, so they shouldn’t be too far apart pricewise.

I bought mine as two separate pieces so no script required (even though they were on the same order). Same price as buying it as a complete mask.

And personally I’d pay $20-$25 more for this one without a second thought. Simply for the ease of watching TV or reading.

Fair enough. I keep the parts in my Amazon cart. It is about $85 total at the moment for all the parts. I watch the price and buy parts when cheap. Effectively they work the same for reading/TV. I will watch the N30i and see how the price goes... I am curious about the pillow type nasal masks. I do get a little soreness on the edge of my nostrils sometimes with the P-10. Not sure what the seal on the N30i is like, and what effect it would have on my nose.
 
Last edited:
Not sure what the seal on the N30i is like, and what effect it would have on my nose.
FWIW...before I used the N20, I used the Swift LT, which looks to be fairly similar to the P-10. It had inserts that went up into your nostrils, and occasionally made them irritated. The N30i does not go into your nostrils at all. The pics aren’t real clear on that portion. It sits flat under your nose and just has openings that allow the air to enter.

With most of the other ones I’ve used I’ve had the piping run through a loop at the top of the headgear, so it always ran down in front of my face. That’s what’s gone with the N30i for me.
 
FWIW...before I used the N20, I used the Swift LT, which looks to be fairly similar to the P-10. It had inserts that went up into your nostrils, and occasionally made them irritated. The N30i does not go into your nostrils at all. The pics aren’t real clear on that portion. It sits flat under your nose and just has openings that allow the air to enter.

With most of the other ones I’ve used I’ve had the piping run through a loop at the top of the headgear, so it always ran down in front of my face. That’s what’s gone with the N30i for me.

Gotcha. I could never wear a mask with the hose across my face. That's why I love the P-10. There's almost nothing to it. A single small strap to hold it in place and the cones that contact the edge of the nostrils. Unfortunately there's always going to be some contact and probably some irritation along with it...
 
Gotcha. I could never wear a mask with the hose across my face. That's why I love the P-10. There's almost nothing to it. A single small strap to hold it in place and the cones that contact the edge of the nostrils. Unfortunately there's always going to be some contact and probably some irritation along with it...
The P-10 is about as minimal as it gets.

For irritation use some Burt's Bees or something similar on your nose. It creates a little buffer between the pillows and your nose. Just don't use anything petroleum based.
 
Ordered one of the VirtuCLEAN units today. Found them on sale and a 10% off code that stacked onto the sale price.
 
Back
Top Bottom