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Bongo Rx instead of mask?
#21
RE: Bongo Rx instead of mask?
For me, the price of the Bongo turns out to be slightly less expensive than CPAP over 5 years. I found a deal for a starter kit (with 4 different sizes to try.) It reduced the cost from $199.00 to $159.00. Periodically, you can find deals like this. Here's the breakdown of my expenses:

$ 159.00 for starter kit
$1495.00 ($299.00 annual replacement @ 5 years)
$1654 total cost for 5 years.

By the way, the $299.00 annual replacement fee appears to be the standard cost, not a sale or deal. 

Bottom line for me: Even if I hadn't gotten a deal on the starter kit, I would gladly have paid an extra 1-time fee of $40.00 for it, bringing the total to 1 cent less than you paid for your fit package.
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#22
RE: Bongo Rx instead of mask?
I have no real skin in this (as it's completely incapable of managing my central apnea) but I'll just add that CPAP reduces my AHI by about 1/2 to 1/3 of no treatment. That results in a (sometimes) significant improvement in many of my symptoms. That said, even at 1/3 of my untreated AHI, that's still high enough to qualify as severe apnea (hence why I am chasing ASV). So symptom improvement is definitely a bonus, but it doesn't necessarily mean the numbers will look good.

It will be interesting to see what the next sleep study shows, though.
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#23
RE: Bongo Rx instead of mask?
I am not a full time Bongo RX user but my husband is. I really prefer the CPAP and full face mask because I was diagnosed over 10 years ago before all this EPAP stuff came out. 
I am considered severe and a doctor would not recommend Bongo RX for me because of my central apnea, but one if my husbands fit and I do wear it part time. Does it work? Yes. Do I know how well? No. That’s an issue for me. I don’t snore or wake up while using it but I really feel more secure in a full face mask. I will tell you this much that I do know...I cannot go with nothing. I cannot even fall asleep as I wake every 3 seconds feeling like I cannot breathe with nothing on, even sitting up in a chair. We lose power here and I need back up and discovered his Bongo worked alright and I could at least fall asleep and be OK. I do open my mouth a few times during the night, but it’s still a thousand time better than nothing.
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#24
RE: Bongo Rx instead of mask?
When wearing the Bongo Rx, you might want to tape your mouth to insure you breathe through your nose. That's what makes the Bongo work. Another advantage of mouth taping is no more dry mouth when you wake up.
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#25
RE: Bongo Rx instead of mask?
So, yea, I have a chinstrap I purchased years ago, but I really can get by without it. I only wear the bongo when we go to friends or we lose power. I will say that if you are mild or even not severe like me, this might be the way to go. My husband uses it as his nightly therapy and his sleep apnea hasn't progressed to severe. I with they would have had something like this when I started on cpap and was borderline. 
Kind of off the subject but does anyone have information on a surgical procedure called the Airlift here?
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#26
RE: Bongo Rx instead of mask?
Does your husband wear the strap that comes in the box with the Bongo? The one disadvantage for me is that sometimes the Bongo drops out of my nose when I'm asleep. I'm wearing a medium, and the directions say to go up a size if this keeps happening, so I may try the large. Or I may attach the strap to the medium.

Sorry but I don't have any info on the surgical procedure.
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#27
RE: Bongo Rx instead of mask?
Sara, Helsal, thank you for sharing your experiences with Bongo.
It appears much more convenient than CPAP and could be particularly useful for those who get CPAP treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.

Outside of a sleep study, a pulse oximeter could help show how well the device is working.

It looks like Apria Direct has a 14 day risk-free trial for Bongo.
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#28
RE: Bongo Rx instead of mask?
I'm really liking my Bongo and know I wouldn't be treating my apnea without it. I gave up on all the masks I tried, but got used to the Bongo very quickly and appreciate how unobtrusive it is.
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#29
RE: Bongo Rx instead of mask?
If you have severe sleep apnea, don't try to switch off the machine into a mandible device or BongoRx. Even if others say they successfully did, they’re not catching all their apneas if they’re severe.
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#30
RE: Bongo Rx instead of mask?
I keep my Bongo in using the headstrap.  It won't stay in otherwise, no matter what size I use (and small is best). On another note, I find that mucus collects in the Bongo while I sleep and sprays out onto my upper lip.  It wakes me up because it is cold and wet.  I have to blow my nose and clean the Bongo before I can sleep again.  I don't have any problem with mucus while I sleep when not using the Bongo.  Does this happen to anyone else?  Any thoughts please?
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