New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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KnH
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New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by KnH » Thu Aug 27, 2015 4:40 pm

New to Cpap whats the difference in different brand of machines.
I going to have to pay out of pocket for an auto cpap, So is there a ranking of who to get and who to stay away from.

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BlackSpinner
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by BlackSpinner » Thu Aug 27, 2015 4:52 pm

Most people use RESMED or Resperonics machines.
There is free software available (Sleepyhead) for those machines, assuming you buy one that has tracking data.

If you are buying out of pocket check out our host cpap.com for the machines and buy your first masks at a local dealer so you can get fitted properly (If you are lucky).

Before you walk into ANY DME (durable medical equipment) gird yourself for battle - most are worst them your worst used car sales lot (at least the car salesmen usually know what they are selling!). Do your research online for prices.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by ChicagoGranny » Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:03 pm

KnH wrote:I going to have to pay out of pocket for an auto cpap
What was your diagnosis? What is your prescription for?

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KnH
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by KnH » Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:58 pm

The report says, lots of info ,not sure what it all means

Severe Sleep Apnea
cpap-9
AHI-76.75 events per hr
Sp02-91% room air
Sleep efficiency 91%
Significant sleep fragmentation
Arousal index 51.7/Hr

@9cmh20
AHI -0
Arousal index 7.1/Hr

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by ChicagoGranny » Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:44 pm

You most likely have obstructive sleep apnea which is the most common type. Do you see "central sleep apnea" or "complex" or "mixed" on the report?

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KnH
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by KnH » Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:46 pm

obstructive sleep apnea

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by ChicagoGranny » Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:58 pm

KnH wrote:I going to have to pay out of pocket for an auto cpap
I favor ResMed machines and recommend one of these from our forum host -

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... idair.html

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... chine.html

Philips Respironics also makes good machines and someone should give you a recommendation in this thread.

Cpap.com does match prices.

If you are interested in saving some money on the initial purchase price, we can recommend some sources of used machines and new-open-box machines.

If you go to a local DME (durable medical equipment supplier) for your machine and masks, you might find one who will give you some support and service and you might find one who is frustrating to deal with and will try to rip you off.

If I were self-pay, I would use an internet supplier and use the forum for support. You may feel different.

What type mask did the medical professions recommend for you? You can get an idea of the different types of masks from the headers on this page - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php

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KnH
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by KnH » Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:33 pm

Im not sure what brand of masks they used for the study, they had Nasal pillows and nasal mask.
I tried both masks at 4cm before the study started, the pillows felt flow restricted compared to the nasal mask, the therapist said it wasn't and most people liked the pillows more than the nasal mask.

During the study all I remember about the pillows, was that they caused some pressure point pain, deviated septum, The nasal mask leaked more and was more positional.

Always interested in saving some dollars, but I do want to make the right purchase the first time.
The local DME people have a bad reputation, I will start making some calls tomorrow to see what is local, not to optimistic.

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MarylandCPAPer
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by MarylandCPAPer » Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:58 pm

Are you having to pay out of pocket because you don't have insurance coverage or because you got prescribed a fixed pressure but want an Autoset machine?

If you have insurance and want an Autoset machine (which is what I would recommend, due to the flexibility to provide both constant and self-adjusting pressure), you would be prescribed an Autoset machine if your prescription included a range of pressures. Perhaps your dr. would be willing to revise your prescription to do that.

If you don't have insurance and are having to buy out of pocket, then the ideal machines to get would be either the Resmed machines referenced above or a Philllips Respironics Autoset, such as this one:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... tooth.html

With the Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset, a humidifier is included. It may be sold separately, but attaches to the CPAP machine, if you go with a Phillips Respironic Autoset.

I used a Phillips Respironics Autoset machine with a humidifier for 5.5 years. Its useful life was probably 5 years, and the last 5 months it was slowly croaking. However, it was a durable, reliable machine for 5 years of every day use.This looks like the one I had, which has the humidifier included.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -flex.html

I replaced it with a Resmed Airsense 10 (A10) for Her with Humidifier June 30, 2015.

Both are good machines. Both have SD cards that can be used with the free Sleepyhead software. Some people here prefer Resmed, some people prefer Phillips Respironics. There has probably not been a significant difference in my therapy between the two machines. There seem to be a lot more settings on the Resmed machines, such as 8 levels of humidity settings as opposed to 5 on the Phillips Respironics Autoset. Additional setting choices mean that there are more potential features that can be customized to meet your individual needs.

The Resmed machine FOR HER has an additional auto mode (the FOR HER mode) and can detect RERAs. which Phillips Respironics Autoset machines may not.

If you have insurance or Medicare, the typical time period after which they will replace a machine is five years. Some machines last longer, some don't. My PR machine made it to 5 years. I am hoping the Resmed A10 will too, but it has been out for about a year, so no one knows for sure.

There are other brands that a few people here use, but they may not be compatible with Sleepyhead software. Unless you have a sleep specialist doctor who you actually meet with, you are going to get most of your day-to-day support, information and questions answered on an online forum such as this one. I would go with either the Resmed A10 or R9, as recommended already, or a Phillips Respironics Autoset with Humidifier. My DME says that there have been some problems with humidifiers with newer Phillips Respironics machines. Reading the online boards, there have been some growing pains for the A10 and a few people have had their A10 machines replaced. Most of these machines come with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty.

If you have any specific questions or preferences or features you want to make sure your machine has, ask. Within the Resmed and Phillips Respironics brands, be sure to get a machine that has Autoset in the model name, if you want the auto adjusting pressure capability, which you may need later on during the useful life of the machine, if not now. In order to be able to analyze your sleep data in detail using software such as Sleepyhead, you need to avoid models within those product lines that provide only compliance data (i.e. hours of usage), which are commonly referred to here as "Bricks."

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Started CPAP 12/18/09 Pressure 13. Changed to APAP 1/18/10, Pressure 10-16. 4/2014:Switched to AirFit P10 mask. PR System One REMstar Auto Series 550 with A-Flex for 5.5 years. 7/2015 to present: AirSense 10 AutoSet FOR HER. Range: 10-20

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archangle
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by archangle » Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:16 pm

Lots of info and links in the Useful Links at the bottom of this post.

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Please enter your equipment in your profile so we can help you.
Click here for information on the most common alternative to CPAP.
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KnH
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by KnH » Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:36 pm

The heaters seem to be the extra price item , my script says auto and all the boxes are checked for every type of mask.
Thanks everyone for all the info, lots of reading.

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Pugsy
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by Pugsy » Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:40 pm

MarylandCPAPer wrote:The Resmed machine FOR HER has an additional auto mode (the FOR HER mode) and can detect RERAs. which Phillips Respironics Autoset machines may not.
For your education and others who may not know the features on the Phillips Respironics System One machines...all the full efficacy data machines from 50 series and newer will flag RERAs. They were doing it long before ResMed added it to the new AirSense 10 AutoSet for her models.
Also when talking about the Phillips Respironics machines....they aren't called "autoset" as that is a ResMed marketing term. The PR System One APAP capable machines are just called "Auto CPAP".
KnH wrote:Im not sure what brand of masks they used for the study, they had Nasal pillows and nasal mask.
I tried both masks at 4cm before the study started, the pillows felt flow restricted compared to the nasal mask, the therapist said it wasn't and most people liked the pillows more than the nasal mask.
At 4 cm starting point most people will have a problem with any nasal pillow mask simply because there's not enough air moving to be comfortable. While we won't suffocate at 4 cm it can sure feel like we are and be very uncomfortable. So don't let that one experience sour you on nasal pillows if they are something that you find interesting. Often it is a matter of nasal pillow size and pressure that needs a bit of change to make nasal pillows more comfortable. Also..if they caused pain in the nose or nostril area...they were too tight...so not adjusted properly. Common error made when it comes to nasal pillow masks. People get those straps way too tight thinking that tight is better and actually too tight makes things worse as it causes pressure on the nose and pulls the end of the nose upwards (piggy nose syndrome) and also if the pillows are squished too much they can't inflate and that makes the suffocation feeling worse. They have to be able to inflate fully to work properly and they don't have to be tight at all.

I would target either the Respironics PR System One 60 series model 560 Auto CPAP or the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet (either the regular or the for Her).
Do get the heated humidifier with it and do get the heated hose because it allows for greater customization of the humidity delivered as well as the air in the hose temp. It's more than just rain out (condensation) prevention.

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MarylandCPAPer
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by MarylandCPAPer » Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:49 pm

Pugsy wrote:
MarylandCPAPer wrote:The Resmed machine FOR HER has an additional auto mode (the FOR HER mode) and can detect RERAs. which Phillips Respironics Autoset machines may not.
For your education and others who may not know the features on the Phillips Respironics System One machines...all the full efficacy data machines from 50 series and newer will flag RERAs. They were doing it long before ResMed added it to the new AirSense 10 AutoSet for her models.
Also when talking about the Phillips Respironics machines....they aren't called "autoset" as that is a ResMed marketing term. The PR System One APAP capable machines are just called "Auto CPAP"..
Thank you for the education.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Have also used Opus 360, Swift LT for Her, Optilife, and Breeze Nasal Pillows masks.
Started CPAP 12/18/09 Pressure 13. Changed to APAP 1/18/10, Pressure 10-16. 4/2014:Switched to AirFit P10 mask. PR System One REMstar Auto Series 550 with A-Flex for 5.5 years. 7/2015 to present: AirSense 10 AutoSet FOR HER. Range: 10-20

biz64
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by biz64 » Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:05 pm

I have a Resmed S9 Autoset for $550, a Respironics DS560 CPAP Auto for $475, and a Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset for $575. All are brand new machines, with zero hours, and have never been used. They all come with humidifiers, filters, SD cards, manuals, tubing, and carry cases. All you would need is a mask, and I have many of those for sale also. I have photos and references available. Prices do not include shipping, but I can ship anywhere. Let me know if you have any questions.

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KnH
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Re: New to Cpap, whats the difference in machines

Post by KnH » Fri Aug 28, 2015 4:01 pm

biz64 wrote:I have a Resmed S9 Autoset for $550, a Respironics DS560 CPAP Auto for $475, and a Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset for $575. All are brand new machines, with zero hours, and have never been used. They all come with humidifiers, filters, SD cards, manuals, tubing, and carry cases. All you would need is a mask, and I have many of those for sale also. I have photos and references available. Prices do not include shipping, but I can ship anywhere. Let me know if you have any questions.

Any one have any experiences with Biz64