CPAP headgear broke on a Saturday night

October 19, 2024 9:06 PM

Or a Friday, but anyway, here I am without a headgear that works. I just noticed it now at any rate.

Both of the local places I know are closed on Sunday. I can order off numerous places, but which will one will send it fast? (the cpap shop will sent for only $138 for next day delivery).

I am given to understand this is risky to go without (but I went without before I was diagnosed)

My question is: Can you help me find a quick solution to my mask breaking? Duct tape doesnt work in this situation.

It is broken where the strap meets the part that holds the nose pillow,

posted by intrepid_simpleton to Health & Fitness (13 answers total)

Have you looked on Amazon? I found masks, filters, hoses, and more that work with my machine.
posted by Ochre,Hugh at 9:09 PM on October 19 [1 favorite]

Missing a night will make you feel pretty crappy, like going back to the time before treatment started. But for most people one night without it isn't a huge risk. The CPAP forums get this question from time to time; consensus is, for those with lots of apnea events it'll make you feel as bad as having the flu. But missing a night is also a positive reinforcement of how much good the treatment is doing.

Depending on the mask, you may be able to secure it with a thin bandana tied over your mouth. As long as the vent holes at the front of the mask aren't completely blocked (tie the bandana with just a bit of slack), this could do in a pinch.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 10:09 PM on October 19

I've bought resmed nose pillows over the counter at CVS Pharmacy.
Surprised me: no prescription check or anything.
posted by the Real Dan at 10:39 PM on October 19 [2 favorites]

Oh no. I’ve used a hair elastic to tie two broken parts of my CPAP headgear together when it broke in the middle of the night. Worth a try? I knotted it very tightly. Also success might depend on the materials you’re trying to join in that part of the mask. Is it two bits of fabric? Plastic? Fabric to fabric? Or plastic to plastic?
posted by t0astie at 12:47 AM on October 20 [1 favorite]

I've bought resmed nose pillows over the counter at CVS Pharmacy.
Surprised me: no prescription check or anything.

The fact that the machines themselves require a prescription is weird. I too have purchased CPAP accessories directly at pharmacies.

Don’t worry about going a night without. You won’t feel great, but the serious damage that apnea causes is cumulative and happens over a period of months and years.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 1:05 AM on October 20

I am so close but so far away from getting my cpap - I bought these a few weeks ago expecting very little, and was somewhat pleasantly surprised

These work decently well. I have been doubling up nose strips + nose dialator at night and it makes a small difference from baseline.
posted by seemoorglass at 4:25 AM on October 20

You'll be fine, if annoyed, for a couple of nights sleeping with out.

That said, if you know anyone locally who uses a CPAP, you might ask them to see if you have compatible machine/parts. Personally, although I don't keep spare headgear for my main machine, I have a travel CPAP and a fresh set of mask/headgear for that which I'd happily lend to a friend if they wanted to borrow it for a little while.

EasyBreathe is generally good for ordering parts, but I haven't looked at their overnight options.
posted by Stacey at 5:12 AM on October 20 [2 favorites]

Yeah, where are you and what model?
posted by wenestvedt at 6:38 AM on October 20

Response by poster: It is broken where the strap meets the hard part that holds the nose pillow (plastic to plastic). Sure wish technology let me sketch it here! Do only a nub on one side.

It's a dream station.

I already have my list of two folks to call in real life. For reasons I can't get into here I don't reveal my exact location.
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 7:57 AM on October 20

Response by poster: It looks like Amazon can get it to me by tomorrow. I am still calling the one drugstore on the edge of the world as well as my two-known-CPCP wearers.

You all are great.
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 8:16 AM on October 20 [2 favorites]

Just in case: CPAPForum is an old-school forum that in the past has been full of people who are willing to help out in situations like this--obviously it's easier if you're near a major metro, and it is more or less US-focused. Just mentioning it in case other things fall through. Possibly ApneaTalk (and maybe some subreddit?) too.
posted by wintersweet at 9:22 AM on October 20

As a temporary solution, you can always Velcro (tm) it or just tape it enough to be used.
posted by kschang at 1:39 PM on October 20

Crazy glue the parts together? If they are both plastic, you could consider melting them together for a night.

You're a new user, but what I have done is, when I get new supplies or new headgear, I do not throw out the most recent one so that in an emergency, I can go back to the old one for a few nights. Does not help you now, but consider it for the future.

I also have seen in my local CVS a whole section of headgear and supplies for CPAP that does not require a prescription. Expensive, but in a pinch... I would also chime in that missing a night or two makes me wake up feeling more tired than when I went to sleep, but not long term affects. The next night when I wear it again, I am back to feeling only a little tired.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:29 PM on October 20