tubing replace

[vacman]

My Doc says every 3 months to change mask and tubing only from him of course, seems cleaning well could get u by a bit longer, he was upset I had purchased a more comfy mask elsewhere, what is rule of thumb? I clean mask weekly

[justMongo]

I use a full-face mask and change the cushion every 4 to 6 weeks. The mask frame lasts a long time.
I clean it twice a week with white vinegar.

How long a hose lasts depends. If it gets twisted and tugged upon (or R_G's puppies chew on it), then life is short.
I usually get 6 months out of a hose -- but I always have a spare (or two.)
I should clean it more often; but don't. I just rinse mine with white vinegar then water. I sling the water out of it; and hang it to dry.
(I have considered using a 12 gauge bore mop and rod)

[archangle]

Your doc is a scam artist. Doctors should not be allowed to have a financial interest in the equipment supply business.

Medicare and some other plans are starting to crack down on this. I think you have a right to buy equipment anywhere you want to. Check to see who's in-network for your insurance.

If you don't use a heated hose, you can buy authentic Respironics hoses for cheap on ebay. My last purchase was 4 hoses for $20 delivered.

I suggest to get 2 or 3 good hoses and swap them out every week or so. Give the hose you've been using an extra good cleaning, and hang it up some place for a week or so. Hopefully, drying out thoroughly will help keep germs down.

Buy new hoses and other items like masks and water tanks as your insurance will pay for them and accumulate them until you have one or two good spares. Then rotate them like the hoses so they can dry out well. Reorder a new one whenever you discard an old one.

As to how often replacement is needed, it's hard to say. More frequent replacement is almost certainly cleaner than using the same equipment forever, especially if you don't clean it well.

Funny how the medical mafia always errs on the side of profit, though, isn't it?

Supplier #1 and some others sell "Control III" disinfectant that's good for killing off germs. Read the directions and dilute it properly. It doesn't kill everything, but it appears to be pretty good. If it makes you feel better, a good sanitizing with that every few months might be worth it.

[justMongo]

In certain Metro areas, Medicare requires the use of a bid winning supplier for them to pay.
It's their attempt to control costs -- still Medicare is more than generous with frequency of getting supplies.
I object to the DME sending me thin, flimsy, off-brand, cheap filters that really don't quite fit the filter housing.
For less that Medicare pays for those filters, I can buy genuine parts out of pocket.

[zonk]

My Doc says every 3 months to change mask and tubing only from him of course, seems cleaning well could get u by a bit longer, he was upset I had purchased a more comfy mask elsewhere, what is rule of thumb? I clean mask weekly

The doctor is right according to "Coverage under Insurance and Medicare"
Most health care insurance and Medicare programs cover the cost of CPAP. This includes normal CPAP replacement supplies. Common replacement schedules are: http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...6_Medicare

I have few mask frames but replace the headgear once a year and the cushion anything from 3 months to 6 months
As for cleaning the mask ... daily recommended to remove facial oil and keep the mask squeaky clean for a better seal

[Evpraxia]

I use a full-face mask and change the cushion every 4 to 6 weeks. The mask frame lasts a long time.
I clean it twice a week with white vinegar.

How long a hose lasts depends. If it gets twisted and tugged upon (or R_G's puppies chew on it), then life is short.
I usually get 6 months out of a hose -- but I always have a spare (or two.)
I should clean it more often; but don't. I just rinse mine with white vinegar then water. I sling the water out of it; and hang it to dry.
(I have considered using a 12 gauge bore mop and rod)

Good one!

[Evpraxia]

My Doc says every 3 months to change mask and tubing only from him of course, seems cleaning well could get u by a bit longer, he was upset I had purchased a more comfy mask elsewhere, what is rule of thumb? I clean mask weekly

The doctor is right according to "Coverage under Insurance and Medicare"
Most health care insurance and Medicare programs cover the cost of CPAP. This includes normal CPAP replacement supplies. Common replacement schedules are: http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...6_Medicare

I have few mask frames but replace the headgear once a year and the cushion anything from 3 months to 6 months
As for cleaning the mask ... daily recommended to remove facial oil and keep the mask squeaky clean for a better seal

Or if using nasal pillows, as I do, I clean them daily using baby shampoo. Let them air dry and put them back on the head gear just prior to use.

[Evpraxia]

Interesting about rotating usage of hoses, etc. as the RT at Providence Medical specifically suggested NOT rotating usage of gear. She thought it better to thoroughly clean the "in use" gear and have the new stuff waiting until the "in use" gear needed to be replaced. My sleep specialist thinks rotating usage through 2-3 sets of gear is better.

How is a person to know which is better??

I am thinking I will go with through cleaning of one set of gear and keep the new gear new until the current gear needs to be replaced.

[archangle]

Interesting about rotating usage of hoses, etc. as the RT at Providence Medical specifically suggested NOT rotating usage of gear. She thought it better to thoroughly clean the "in use" gear and have the new stuff waiting until the "in use" gear needed to be replaced. My sleep specialist thinks rotating usage through 2-3 sets of gear is better.

How is a person to know which is better??

I am thinking I will go with through cleaning of one set of gear and keep the new gear new until the current gear needs to be replaced.

I think something that's wet 24/7 for 6 months or so is going to grow a lot more germs than something that is allowed to dry out completely for a whole week every other week and then used for 12 months or more.

[Galactus]

I find the question of how often to change things an interesting one. Whatever happened to the good old days when one used something until it was no longer useful? Do we change the water faucet every six months? Do we change drinking glasses every six months?

A filter filters so ok we replace it as scheduled intervals. That makes sense I think.

But a hose is a hose, we don't replace radiator hoses every 6 months. My original hose is going on 6 months now, still works just fine, still is a good nice fine looking hose as hoses go. Yes my insurance keeps sending me new hoses, and yes they are in the box, why haven't I changed it then? Because I just don't see the reason to throw away a perfectly good working hose.

My swift fx just made the 6 month mark by a wing and a prayer, the back was destroyed almost just as soon as the replacement P10 came in the door.

My P10 nasal pillows, they sent me enough to change it twice a month, that was 3 months ago, I'm still using the second pillows. I used the first till they didn't seem to seal right then I went to a new one, and tossed out the old one.

Me personally I see no reason to toss out things that work perfectly well. But hey that's just me and I'm bat crazy as we all know.