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Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
#11
RE: Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
Hi Dooley,

I am fairly new to CPAP and I finally got a sleep test done after many years of being on some invisible "list" the specialist doctor put me on.... I found a place called "sleep dynamics" but there are other sleep places around I am in Tassie so unsure of what the mainland has. It cost me $50 for the take home sleep unit and all I needed was a referral from my doctor (who btw had no idea that there was an option like this...he is now referring all of his patients with possible sleep apnea there!) and I am renting a RESmed auto with mask etc. for $20 / month ... first month was $80 and that included the mask fitting and consultation. I have access to advice and help for free during this time as well. My advice is find one of these providers they seem to be around more now.

I am looking at purchasing my own unit very soon and as I have extra's cover with BUPA I get up to $1000 for a machine so I will have to pay very little as the elite resmed is under 1000.

Hope this helps but it sounds like you are being overcharged compared to what it has cost me!
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#12
RE: Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
Thanks for all of the great replies everyone! Every bit of it helps.

Starting with JJJ, I'm all over the Vitamin D thing. In winter I take 5000iu and 10000 alternating daily. I got my level up almost too high last year, and can't say I felt any notable difference energy wise.

BabyDoc, your point is well taken. I've always seemed to need more sleep than most, and I never felt rested even when I got a lot. Obviously I know why now.

I was hoping that with using CPAP I would be able to get by with less sleep since it should be better quality, but so far there are no signs of that. Last night I slept for 7 hours and it was the best night I had had CPAP-wise. I only partially woke a few times to an itchy nose under my mask, which I promptly addressed and then went right back to sleep. However, I felt incredibly tired today. It's the dead of winter and very gray and cold here, plus I have allergies this time of year, so that all contributes, but I would still hope to feel more rested.

Ulrika, your post is very interesting. I wish I had known that about the sleep study arrangement, and your rental price is amazing. I paid $200 for a month!!

JJJ, for purchasing something, everything is more expensive down here due to small market size, high labour costs (the minimum wage for an adult is around $15/hr), high commercial property lease rates, etc. The difference in renting costs I can't begin to explain!

Zonk, thank you for the encouragement to purchase a gently used system from the US. At those prices it's definitely a no brainer.

Cheers, Dooley
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#13
RE: Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
(06-18-2012, 09:25 PM)Dooley Wrote: I guess I should bite the bullet and go ahead and buy a machine, but there's a part of me that still isn't certain I'll be able to tolerate this long term. Thinking about renting for another month or two, but that seems like money down the toilet.

Dooley

Hi Dooley! I'll trade you seasons. I'm already sick and tired of the heat and looking forward to Fall. I'm writing because it distressed me that you are questioning your ability to tolerate this long term. Feeling this way is going to make it difficult for you to succeed because you've already given yourself an out. People with obstructive sleep apnea are woefully short on options and I've found that with myself, attitude is everything and attitude is something I have control over. If people can learn to successfully overcome the loss of a leg or an arm, I can certainly learn how to sleep with this alien strapped to my face and by god, I'm going to do just that, no matter how long it takes! Honestly, it sounds like you are on the right track and I would hate to hear that you have given it up. It does sound as though you would benefit from using the humidifier unit too. Works wonders for dry mouth/throat. Your lowest setting seems awfully low. My original script had me starting at 5 and I thought I was going to suffocate. If you can change settings, you might consider raising it to, say 6. With all that extra breeze on your face, imagine you are standing on the bow of a sail boat and enjoying the wind on your face. Imaging helps so much! Pick one that is pleasing to you, and don't give up, never give up. Your life may depend on it.

Suz, who probably just used up her quota of words for the day! Big Grin
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#14
RE: Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
(06-21-2012, 06:35 AM)Dooley Wrote: Zonk, thank you for the encouragement to purchase a gently used system from the US. At those prices it's definitely a no brainer.

Cheers, Dooley
I saw a new (zero hours) S9 Autoset with humidifier for $799 plus $65 shipping to Aus. Warranty issues might be a concern but used machines comes with 6 months warranty and 2 years for new machines, you might want to contact them first to see whats involved. Yesterday received my order from them took less than a week to arrive. they send me the wrong size mask and when emailed them about it they apologize and going to send me the correct size with a label to return the wrong one. They,re reliable source. I paid $88 for my mask from seconwindcpap, its $275 here even its made over here ...
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#15
RE: Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
(06-21-2012, 06:35 AM)Dooley Wrote: I was hoping that with using CPAP I would be able to get by with less sleep since it should be better quality, but so far there are no signs of that. Last night I slept for 7 hours and it was the best night I had had CPAP-wise. I only partially woke a few times to an itchy nose under my mask, which I promptly addressed and then went right back to sleep.

CPAP therapy is weird like that. The problem is that by the time we start we are so sleep deprived that we have this huge sleep debt to pay back.

For me it's been 7.5 months of progress at a snail's pace. But that progress accumulates, and adds up to nothing short of a miracle. There is nothing I've ever done that has had such a positive impact on my overall well being. I realize how cliche that sounds, but it's so true.
Sleepster

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#16
RE: Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
I hear you Suz, I don't like being hot either. Even though I don't like the gloominess of winter, I'd rather be in cold weather than really hot - you can always put on more clothes!

Don't worry, I'm pretty well committed. It just takes time to get used to the idea of sleeping like this for the rest of my life, especially when I'm not feeling the benefits yet. However, it does seem to be getting a tiny bit better every night. Last night I slept like dead, and only woke once needing to scratch my nose.

I don't understand why I would want to raise the starting pressure? I'm reasonably comfortable now that I've found a mask that fits me decently, and my AHI has been below 2 every night I've used it. My average pressure checked on the machine each morning is in the 7-8 range.

Okay, I think I'm going to order the $549 special from Second Wind. My question is: What else should I order supply-wise while I'm at it?

I'll be paying shipping to Australia, and everything is so darned expensive here, I want to stock up for about a year. I usually make a trek to the US every northern summer, so can get more stuff next year and bring it back.

Cheers, Dooley
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#17
RE: Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
(06-23-2012, 01:33 AM)Dooley Wrote: Okay, I think I'm going to order the $549 special from Second Wind. My question is: What else should I order supply-wise while I'm at it?
Good choice, add $65 for shipping. secondwind don,t sell mask parts and if you just need spare cushion/headgear for the Quattro FX, hoses or spare water tank then go to 1800cpap (supplier#10). Guess what S9 filters cheaper cpapaustralia (Supplier #13) Happy shopping

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#18
RE: Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
(06-23-2012, 02:46 AM)zonk Wrote:
(06-23-2012, 01:33 AM)Dooley Wrote: Okay, I think I'm going to order the $549 special from Second Wind. My question is: What else should I order supply-wise while I'm at it?
Good choice, add $65 for shipping. secondwind don,t sell mask parts and if you just need spare cushion/headgear for the Quattro FX, hoses or spare water tank then go to 1800cpap (supplier#10). Guess what S9 filters cheaper cpapaustralia (Supplier #13) Happy shopping
Also you need a plug power adapter which you can buy from Dick smith or any other store

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#19
RE: Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
I wanted to report back on my buying experience. I bought a "gently used" Resmed S9 Autoset w/ humidifier, tubing, case, etc. from vendor #2 and have had a terrific experience.

Mark, the owner, has been very helpful via email (best way given the time difference to Australia). My order was shipped promptly and arrived in good order in 5 days!

Even better than that - it had only 17 hours of use recorded, and I paid $550 + $75 shipping. Nearly new!! The same set up purchased new here in Australia would have cost me at least $1800!

My DME (or Australian equivalent) got really snotty with me when I told him I had bought a machine overseas. Somehow he got it in his head that I was obligated to buy a machine from him because I had rented one for $200 for a month! I intended to at least throw him a bone and buy a mask from him, but since he got kind of nasty, I nixed that. How to lose any future business in one easy step.

Cheers,

Dooley
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#20
RE: Confused in Australia - Trying to sort out the system
Congrats


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