Cpap Recall woes

Philips Cpap Recall problem presist.

This all started in June 2021. The foam used in their Cpap machines was breaking down and causing several health issues. This prompted a massive recall of over 3 million machines.  The process didn't begin until September 2021 and a date to complete the recall was  September 2022. In the mean time,  patients were instructed to stop using the machines and seek input from your doctor.  Talk about a rock and a hard place.... Stop using the cpap and risk mayor problems, or continue to use... rolling the dice that the foam doesn't  release carcinogenic material or fumes directly into your lungs. Well it's now April and the vast majority of recalled units have not be replaced, and the new date is now by years end,  December 31. 
Recall replacement units. Some people have gotten the brand new Dreamststion 2. Most are getting a reconditioned Dreamstation 1 that were turned back in in exchange for the recall. So,  you are most likely to get a reconditioned DS1, which could have 4-5 years of previous use,  verses your DS1 that had much less use time.  And the wait goes on. 
Reconditioned units... Philips is replacing the Black foam, which is breaking down,  with a new white foam,  yet to be proven safe.  Really? 

Personally, I got my new DS2 in January. Comparing the DS2 to my previous unit, the DS1, I'd have to say that I prefer the DS1. Much better unit in every way. The DS2, after years on development, seems to be a cheaper made unit with negative design issues. Of course this is based on my personal preferences. I don't care for the water chamber setup, the location of the filter,  the exhaust portal location, the controls, the lack of therapy settings, and it is extremely noisy when running. The DS2 has a sleek look, but beyond that it is certainly a cheaper unit. So I wish I had my DS1 back. 

Personal opinion... since Philips knew about the foam issue several years earlier, they started producing a cheaper unit quicker, knowing that there would be a recall coming in the future.

  

 Another issue that has popped up.  Some people that are getting the recondioned DS1s are finding that they are not cleaned up, and they can see the black particles from the black foam that broke down still in the exhaust port. It was reported on one of the Fb cpap sites that some received the old DS1 reconditioned unit, opened it up, and it still had the black foam.  Not good!  

In any event,  the entire process is questionable.  From years before the recall, knowing there was an issue,  and making cheaper replacement units ( personal oponion), to the June 2021 recall.... And the entire conditioning recall and it expanding time frames.  

Some people have experienced problems on getting scheduled new equipment.  Most insurance will replace the unit after five years. They were within a year from getting New equipment via insurance,  but because Philips gave them a reconditioned DS1, that could already be 3-4 years olds,  the insurance says that their 5 year clock stars back to day one. So they are stuck with an old DS1 and still having to wait another 5 years for a new unit.  And the nightmare continue. 

Disclaimer: This information was shared from other cpap users,  and should be considered with caution. No hard facts,  just other people's input.  But I'd have no reason to question their experiences. Check it all out on the several Facebook cpap pages.  

Now... Add to all of this... Philips will not be making cpap masks for a while due to certain undisclosed issues. So there will be a shortage of masks.