Airsense 10 or Philips Dreamstation

[stephenn]

There was a whistle or whine in the dreamstation which kept me wake. I cleaned the seal on the humidifier and made no difference. What to do?

[stephenn]

An update, round 2 got another Airsense 10 and Dream station and will try again the next couple of nights.
A question was told the airsense has a special feature, the ramp can be on auto and can sense when you are asleep and then turn to full pressure. Does the dream station have that feature? Also I was told the airsense has a softer breathing function but only available on the auto version. I was also td the Philips has a softer breathing pattern, but you maybe more at risk at centra apnoa more than Airsense has anyone heard that.
Cheers
Steve.

[Pugsy]

I was also td the Philips has a softer breathing pattern, but you maybe more at risk at centra apnoa more than Airsense has anyone heard that.

The Respironics machines have always had, what some would call, a "softer" breathing pattern meaning it is a bit slower/less aggressive to respond to apnea warning signs when compared to how quickly ResMed machines might respond.
As to whether or not it makes a person more at risk for centrals...that's something I have never heard of.

Your questions about the Smart Ramp and what does one machine have over another.
You probably should get both provider manuals and compare them.
You can request the manuals here.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

[andycole]

stephenn - RAMP feature controls when the machine starts increasing pressures. It is supposed to be used if you have trouble falling asleep. I have turned mine off. I don't believe there is any machine which can tell if you are asleep.

[Julie]

Actually, all machines can tell when you're asleep - not by looking at you but because your breathing patterns are diff. when awake - that's how Cpaps work and if they couldn't tell the difference, wouldn't do their job.

[mummmz]

I have the Dreamstation. The ramp goes on for 30 minutes and if you are not sleeping you can press a button right on top to start the ramp again. The DME told me the Airsense does not have that button so you have to go into settings to restart ramp. I used ramp for a few days but I don't anymore.

[palerider]

Actually, all machines can tell when you're asleep - not by looking at you but because your breathing patterns are diff. when awake - that's how Cpaps work and if they couldn't tell the difference, wouldn't do their job.

well, they could, but none are programmed to do anything with that except the F&P machines with their optional sensawake to reduce pressure when they think you're awake, and the resmed air10 machines with their optional smartramp to not start raising pressure till they think you're asleep.

and, like everything else, some people like and some people dislike those optional features.

[palerider]

I have the Dreamstation. The ramp goes on for 30 minutes and if you are not sleeping you can press a button right on top to start the ramp again. The DME told me the Airsense does not have that button so you have to go into settings to restart ramp. I used ramp for a few days but I don't anymore.

you don't go into the settings, you just stop and start the machine.

[mummmz]

No palerider. While the machine is running I can press the smaller ramp button next to the on/off button to select another 30 minutes of ramp.

[avi123]

See the difference between a Resmed and a Respironic machine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaXfzgo0x4A

[palerider]

No palerider. While the machine is running I can press the smaller ramp button next to the on/off button to select another 30 minutes of ramp.

no mummmz, I was referring to your allegation: "The DME told me the Airsense does not have that button so you have to go into settings to restart ramp."

you, as I said, do not have to go into any settings to restart the ramp.

[stephenn]

Just used the two machines last night. The dreamstation this time was a lot quieter, however I found I was breathing to fast with it as if I was racing, the Airsense I felt I wasn't getting enough air - more force myself to breath. Any thoughts on that.
I think then airsense is a touch quieter than the deamstation. Looks like I will have to get use to it, I am a very light sleeper and still not much sleep. Someone told me to try a Fisher and paykal or a Wenmann prismalab machine - any thoughts? Are they noisey or do I keep perisiting?
Thanks all.
Cheers
Steve.

[Pugsy]

the dreamstation this time was a lot quieter, however I found I was breathing to fast with it as if I was racing,

Probably because the Flex exhale relief was set to 3 which makes it seem like we are breathing too fast. I experienced this also...for me the setting of 2 was a perfect match to my own respiration pattern. I suggest you play around with the other Flex settings to see if it makes any difference.

the Airsense I felt I wasn't getting enough air - more force myself to breath. Any thoughts on that.

Without knowing your pressure used...was ramp used and what the exhale pressure relief was set at (if it was even on) there's no way we can come up with much of an idea as to why you experienced what you did.
Though it sounds like the starting pressure was 4 cm and that will make a lot of people feel like they aren't getting enough air. They won't suffocate but it sure can feel like it. Easy to remedy by starting with more pressure and adding EPR (if the starting pressure is 4 then EPR won't work even if it is turned on)

From my understanding the ResMed and Respironics machines are the quietest of the machines out there.
If you are being offered a Weinmann (which is made in Germany) then I guess you must be outside the USA...like in Europe or something.
It's not a machine that any of us here in the USA are familiar with.

[stephenn]

Talked to clinician set on auto ramp on Airsense starting at 5, and 2 for exhale. Also dreamstation on 2 for exhale starting at 5 for ramp. So will try those settings tonight. I was told should use ramp before sleeping as probably getting to much oxygen initially creating difficult breathing issues.
Cheers
Steve.

[Pugsy]

I was told should use ramp before sleeping as probably getting to much oxygen initially creating difficult breathing issues.

Bunch of bullshit. The machine doesn't/can't produce oxygen...it just blows room air at whatever oxygen that room air contains.

You get the same amount of oxygen no matter what the pressure...but it can feel like you aren't getting enough air movement (at those lower pressures) or suffocation feeling but in actual terms of how much oxygen you are getting...it's the same because the air is the same either coming into the machine or exiting the machine through the hose and mask to your face.

Flex relief on the Respironics machines doesn't even engage until the pressure is at least 6.
EPR on the ResMed machine won't do anything if the pressure is 4 cm and it can't go below 4 cm so even if EPR is set to 3 if you are using 5 cm starting pressure the machine can't go below 4 so you are only getting 1 cm drop during exhale. It's the drop (or amount of drop during exhale) that affords the relief during exhale.