British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hello fellow sufferers. Background: I first used CPAP (the Sullivan steam driven much noise & discomfort version) in the 80's then for a few years lately, didn't bother with it. I've recently been issued with the ResMed S8 Escape and am very happy with it. I was pleased to find the modern trial merely consisted of sleeping at home with a diagnostic/recording machine for a night and returning it to the clinic the following day, as opposed to the discomfort/inconvenience of the 80's examination.

I first raised the apnoea question with my GP at the suggestion of my brother's wife, who disclosed that he was a sufferer too but declined to do anything about it. That has remained the case all these years until now - she's put her foot down!

From the symptoms described to me over the years I know he is a fairly chronic sufferer and am glad he's finally following suit.

My brother works lengthy hours and has asked me for any tips about buying his own machine, given he'd rather not spend time with clinic referrals etc. In researching that, I found this excellent forum and have spent the last hour or two a. being reassured that there are so many others out there and b. how knowledgable many of you are. I will register and regularly log in.

Meanwhile I have arrived at a couple of basic assumptions that I'd be grateful for any correction/clarification of:

1. Avoid trying to buy the new Dyson product!!
2. A prescription is required to buy a new machine
3. It appears the ResMed is a well proven product and I'm leaning toward recommending it
4. Without benefit of clinical trials, an automatic model will be necessary e.g. the Autoset, which will supply only the pressure required
5. Is a humidifier beneficial? I only discovered today that they're available
6. Is there an obligation to inform DVLA? The techie at my clinic had to be persuaded otherwise

Most grateful for any contribution you may care to make.

Thanks, Dave

I use resmed, and yes it is a good machine, plus seams to be the nhs favourite, but over the years all machines have improved and whilst more and more of us hose heads are around, the machines will continualy improve.

I must point out though, although several of us users have bought there machines, if the nhs is to be taken seriously, along with the enduring cost of people health without efficient treatment, they should all be through the nhs, and if not free, the system needs to be efficient so we know what the costs before hand and able to look around, as it is we cannot buy them off the counter so to speak, often left at the one provider/shop with little guarantee of service and quality of material we can purchase.

Hi Dave - your brother might be intested in the home sleep study offered on this site. Go to the home page, on the main menu (left hand side) click on 'what is sleep apnoea?' Underneath will be a drop down 'home sleep test'. There is lots of information about sleep tests in general and the one this site offers (£235). Just thought you might find it of use especially if your brother is reluctant to go the NHS route.

Gail

Many thanks for the kind contributions above. I do have another question though:

It seems a particular style of prescription is required to purchase a machine; is there a site that a standard blank one can be downloaded from?

Cheers again, Dave

Now there's an understanding chap

Much gratitude