Hello everyone... My first posting. I've been using an oral device for about four months. In the end it didn't provide enough improvement, and now I have to resort to a CPAP machine. Is there anyone in Toronto who can tell me his/her experience with any of the various companies supplying CPAP machines in the Toronto area? I'm particularly interested in Canadian Home Healthcare and the Sleep Management Group.

My husband used Shoppers.  The mask fitter wasn't very good but they did replace the mask when one of the connector pieces broke after several months.

I have had no experience with the others although I do recognize the names.  What about them interests you?  Have you considered Therapists Choice? Or Medigas or Vitalaire (I think that's the name).  We're not supposed to use the commercial names on this site so if there's a problem, PM me if you have anything else to say.

Thanks, Frances. These names are simply the ones that my doctor gave me -- a list of about seven. The first name you mentioned is not on the list, but I think the other three are.

Is the one you don't recognize Shoppers Home Healthcare or Therapists Choice? Shoppers has several stores in Toronto, ours is in Lawrence Plaza.  Therapists Choice is on Lawrence West just beyond Dufferin and is towards the back and a little difficult to see from Lawrence.  I have to say that I wouldn't know who to recommend.  We weren't thrilled by Shoppers but have had no experience of anybody else.

I would suggest that you learn as much as you can about machines and masks before you set out to buy and then talk to more than one place before you decide.  Neither my husband or I were as knowledgable as we should have been when he got his equipment.  This is going to take you a little time and some effort but I think you will do better in the end.

My husband has a Fisher & Paykel CPAP machine, a 402 (?), the low end anyway.  It has worked well and is very quiet but has compliance info only (which he has never used).  F & P do not make an APAP or BiLevelPap.

His mask is a Resperonics Comfortfull 2 (a full face mask).  He had considerable difficulty getting it adjusted originally, including the very common sore nose, was not told about the adjustments available for the forehead piece, and it turned out that the forehead piece was not put together correctly.  Also it turned out that it was the wrong size because when the connector broke and he went for a replacement he decided to change the size and that worked so much better.  As you can tell, we weren't thrilled with the fitting.  

If you have any more questions for me or anyone else here, please fire away.  This can be a difficult adjustment and the more you know the easier it will be.

Thanks, Frances.

The other suppliers are Vitalaire, RestAssurwe, Pro Resp, Medigas, Advacare, and Breathing Solutions. They're all on the fringes of Toronto or in Mississauga, so it would be a bit of a trek for me to get there.

I will keep your information on file and look through the rest of the posts to get a sense of what might be best for me. Do you find the ones the people in the U.S. discuss are usually available here?

If those place are a bit distant for you, whereabouts do you live?  (We are near Bathurst and Lawrence).  And I assume that you drive and that you have a prescription just waiting to be filled.  

There's MRC Healthcare (mrchealthcare.com).  They appear to have 2 or maybe 3 locations, one of which is down around Bay and Bloor.  They claim to be a small outfit that specializes in sleep apnea only.  I was always intrigued by them and, when I thought I might have OSA too, planned to talk to them.  Turned out, I didn't so never got there.

Canadian Home Healthcare has a place in Leaside, on Laird Drive (and they have a website).  And, of course, Therapists Choice is on Lawrence near Dufferin (they also have a website but the last time I checked it was very out of date).

And, of course, there's Shoppers Home Healthcare.  I think they only have one person for all the stores so it hardly matters which one you try, if you want to try.  But you you should check that and not take my word for it.

All the masks that are available in the US are available here but may not be in stock.  As far as I know, none are made in Canada.  If you would just like to gaze at some masks without getting into the buying, Shoppers Home Healthcare usually have several on display.  Ditto for the machines.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that the providers try to discourage you from wanting something has to be special ordered.

The most popular and the most flexible machines are Resperonics and ResMed and they make all three varieties.  Fisher & Paykel makes only CPAP machines and is a little on the large side but it is quiet and has been reliable.  There are also DeVilbiss and Goodknight.  If you travel by public tranportation much, look for a small machine; by car it doesn't matter.  Somewhere on this site, there is a list of makers.

All the manufacturers have websites.  Visit them all and study their product.  Believe me, it will pay a big dividend if you are as familiar as possible with as much as possible.

Okay, this is getting a little long.  But we're still here awaiting more questions.