I was tagged up with a local medical device supplier and outfitted with a ResMed Airsense 10. It has a CDMA cellular card to perpetually tattle on your usage. Initially dispensed with an F20i full face mask. Not happy with that. Purchased the N30i. Better, but can slip off the nose. Final config is P30i with the pre-heat hose.
I'm paying $91/month for 13 months of "rental". The payments stop and I own the device on the 13th month. Periodic "supplies" are billed and delivered. Nose pillows. Head frames. Heated hose. Filters. I purchased an ultrasonic cleaner and an ozone sanitizer. Ozone is fast, but stinky. Ultrasonic takes time to haul the device to the kitchen sink, fill with hot water, add sanitizer tablets and equipment, then run for 20 minutes. Drain and dry the equipment and return to storage. Ultrasonic does a better, nice smelling job of cleaning, but takes more effort.
BTW, it appears the penalty for ignoring the sleep apnea is a measurable (by blood test) impact on my left ventricle. I should have acted 10 years ago. My best friend from college was found cold and dead in his favorite chair at home. It appears sleep apnea finally caught up with him.
I just recently happened upon a website called SleepHQ.com. It's run by a fellow out of Australia, and he also has a YouTube channel called "CPAP Reviews." I highly recommend it. Since CDMA/3G went bye bye, data is no longer transmitted to ResMed, or anyone else. The only way now to upload data is via the SD card in the machine through your computer, and that's what I do with that website.
When I did, I saw that my early AHI levels were through the roof. It really scared me. Now after a couple of years of using it every night, my levels are regularly between 0.9 to 2.0, though during my hospitalization in Feb 2022 the AHI levels were closer to 10.0, and this past December when I was ill, it was close to 4.0. So I'm now taking this very seriously.
OH, and I forgot, right before I retired last year a co-worker and friend also died from severe sleep apnea. He also was found dead on his couch by his wife one night. Something else I didn’t know is that not only do you stop breathing, but your heart will also stop beating. THAT’S SCARY!
Be careful using the ozone sanitizer. I was advised that if the ozone is routed through the machine tclean the humidifier, it will destroy the electronic components of the machine. I learned this after trying to have my CPAP repaired when it stopped working. Now I only use the ozone for the hose and mask…
For about 700 bucks you can buy one.
I stopped using insurance and the “rental” years ago.
Take a look at CPAP.com for prices.
Well one advantage of hubby having tricare for life is they seem to cover all of it.