Its getting expensive !!

[silvercarper]

I am looking to renew the headgear on my F&P Forma mask but it costs £54 For just over double that I can get a new mask.

[Tigers Fan]

How much would a car cost if you bought all the parts to assemble yourself?

That said, headgear prices are a rip-off!

That said, PAP gear is a rip-off. Actually, it's worse than a rip-off in UK and not so much of a rip-off in US by comparison.

But what can you do?

Well, get a friend who lives in the States, for starters!

TF

[James @ Intus]

Mask parts have always been expensive unfortunately. It doesn't make much sense on the surface but can be explained when looking deeper in to the "why". It's both to do with economy of scale and the US insurance reimbursement scheme, all of which favours (in quantity) the complete masks being renewed. It puts the private buyer at a disadvantage basically because the government/insurance systems are inefficient. TF knows all too well how easy (not) it is to get a set of headgear from a clinic. They simply don't have them.

We've had plenty of discussions/arguments with our suppleirs that the parts prices don't make any sense. Filters, plastic bits, elastic straps etc. Some if it gets quite silly, I agree.

It often works out cheaper long term to just get a new mask, and salvage the spares from the old one. That gives you almost a complete set of spares for far less money than those spares would have cost on their own.

Putting it all in perspective, be glad you don't live in Ireland or Greece... They flock to the UK to get their gear 'cheaply'.

[Sparticus]

Berneta

Maybe its time Berneta started her own parcel delivery company

I have too admit it is rather nice just phoning my clinic and asking for a new mask and them telling me not a problem its on its way

[Barely Awake]

I can report two bargains...

For £2.33 I bought a Tesco mobile phone/MP3 holder that fits my oximeter and it now mounted on this flexible pod clamped to the bedside table.

And for a few pounds I bought some brightly coloured 'Rabbit' (tapered) bottle stoppers, that gently wedge into the outlet of my PAP machine when the hose is in the wash and keeps the dreaded thunderbugs out (they have been driving us potty here this week).

[silvercarper]

I suppose if I bought a new mask it might come with a valve which does not leak.
Last night the valve stuck open so I had little airflow in the mask as it was all rushing out from the valve.

[symmit]

It was the valve on the forma that eventually stopped me using it. If you contact F&P they may send you a replacement valve FOC, they did for me.

[silvercarper]

I think this is my third replacement valve.
Last night one of the flaps got stuck about 45 degrees from normal.
I had to swap over to my FX