What's the best CPAP machine?

[sleepyirish]

Hey
I'm sure this question has been asked/answered a thousand times -but I can't find it on the forums so I hope you don't mind me asking.

I just had a sleep study where I was diagnosed with OSA - 9 events per hour, oxygen in the 80% range.

I'm going back next Monday to choose a machine and a mask and do another study and get the pressure adjusted etc.

So - what is the best machine? Or rather are there any to avoid? I can rent or buy a machine so I guess I will rent for a few months at least.

And what is the best most comfortable mask to get? Any to avoid?

Thanks

[jencat824]

Here's a link that might help in your decision making:

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

Post any other questions, someone will help. Once you get your machine, be sure to list it under the User Control Panel.

Jen

[sleepyirish]

Great thx

[jdm2857]

Since the ability to access detailed data while you sleep is very important if you want to take control
of your therapy, the best brands to get are either ResMed or Philips Respironics. Both of these brands
produce machines that collect full data, and the software to analyze this data is easily available
for these two brands.

Not every machine from these companies collects full data, however.

From ResMed, you want either the
S9 AutoSet (can automatically adjust pressure) or
S9 Elite (straight CPAP -- no auto adjustments).

Avoid the
S9 Escape and
S9 Escape Auto.

From Philips Respironics, you want either the
System One RemStar 60 Series Auto (Model 560 --automatic) or
System One RemStar 60 Series Pro (Model 460 --straight CPAP) are the ones you want.

The 3-digit model number can be found on a label on the bottom of the CPAP machine.

Avoid the
System One RemStar 60 Series Plus (Model 260)
System One RemStar 60 Series "No name" (Model 160) This very basic model does not have a name of its own.

[Pugsy]

Masks...mask preferences are very individualized. What works for one person may not work for the next.

If you can normally breathing through your nose just fine then I would suggest that you look at the nasal pillow mask.
They have the smallest footprint on your face and have less area to have to deal with sealing and fit.

Swift FX
Aloha
Opus 360
are some popular ones.
There is a new one called the Tap Pap that I recently changed from my prior Swift FX to it.

If you simply can't breathe through your nose very well and can't keep it clear so that you end up mouth breathing a lot then you will need a mask that covers your mouth and nose which would be called a full face mask.

Some people prefer the mask that covers the nose..and not the nasal pillow masks. Again you need to be able to breathe through your nose just fine to use it.

There are many makes and models in each mask category. I can tell you what works great for me but it may not work great for you. That's just the way masks go.

If at all possible when you go to pick up your machine they should allow you to try on several while hooked up to a machine at your pressure to get the best idea how they fit and if you like it.

Also...be sure to have the DME make it clear as to what their mask swapping policy is in case the one you take home you end up hating. Most of the mask manufacturers offer a 30 day trial but DMEs often make their own rules and they don't have to abide by the manufacturers policy if they don't want to. So make sure you know the rules ahead of time.

[sleepyirish]

Thanks everyone

I'm in the sleep lab currently - about to have my first night (I'm in Ireland )on cpap (they use an S9 auto with no humidifier and a std Resmed nose mask)

I thinking about renting either the Resmed "S9 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine" or the Respironics "PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP Machine with A-Flex".

Which is the best one?

Also I noticed when they hooked me up to the S9 earlier for 5 minutes, that I could hear a whooshing noise from the machine when I was breathing in and out - but a lady also having a study in the sleep lab tonight told me that only you can hear that. Your partner can't. Is that true?

My partner is a really light sleeper so the quieter the cpap the better. We sleep in separate rooms right now but hopefully that will change.

For that reason I might go for the nose mask as it seems quieter than the nasal pillows. The exhaust on the Resmed nasal pillows seems noisier. Anyone else found that?

thx
looking forward to getting some sleep!!!!!!

[caffeinatedcfo]

Also...be sure to have the DME make it clear as to what their mask swapping policy is in case the one you take home you end up hating. Most of the mask manufacturers offer a 30 day trial but DMEs often make their own rules and they don't have to abide by the manufacturers policy if they don't want to. So make sure you know the rules ahead of time.

+1 to this advice!

Also I noticed when they hooked me up to the S9 earlier for 5 minutes, that I could hear a whooshing noise from the machine when I was breathing in and out - but a lady also having a study in the sleep lab tonight told me that only you can hear that. Your partner can't. Is that true?

I've had my S9 autoset since March 27 and my wife has not complained about noise - only thing she's ever mentioned is once I turned close to her and the air from the mask exhaust post blew on her face.

[Tombo22]

Hey sleepyirish.

I'm new to CPAP but was diagnosed with a 17 AHI on my side and 60+ when on my back in rem sleep. Am currently on a tryout with a resmed s9 autoset with humidifier.

What I like about the s9 is the humidifier, which stops me having a dry, sore airway in the morning and the ability to download the data to my PC which reminds me just how good these things really are at controlling my apnea. I can hear the whooshing of the machine when it's on the bedside table, but not when it's on the floor. My wife hears nothing at all... And I don't snore anymore!

I can't talk to the Philips much, although my sleep specialist said that the resmeds are more popular whilst the Philips has a newer and cleverer algorithm in the software.

As for masks... it's probably a personal fit issue. I've used a swift nasal mask, which I found sometimes worked really well, but put pressure on my nose a bit, and with a deviated septum that was enough to have trouble breathing. I'm trying a pillows mask now (the swift I think) and love it. I hardly even notice I'm wearing it. BUT my wife prefers the nasal mask because the pillows mask seems to have a constant stronger, more directed blast of overpressure air out of the front of the mask and straight into my wifes neck.

Given the price of these things... you should be able to try out a few options. My dealer offered AU$200 for a 2 month trial and as many mask swaps as I wanted, with the $200 deducted from the purchase price afterwards. I can't complain at the $2k purchase price either, since after 3 weeks use... it has changed my life.

Good luck.

[CpapWife]

caffeinatedcfo - Yup, I get that stream of air in my face at times also But a tiny thing to tolerate to extend my hubby's life.

SleepyIrish, thanks for posting this, I was about to ask the same. We are buying our second Cpap currently.
I don't know where you are in the process, but having the choice of software is good (I like to see and track things and make sure things are on target, hubby is slowly buying into this idea for oximeters and blood pressure monitors and cpap). Also, humidifiers I think are a must (maybe not where you are now but you might move), we have used humidifiers in 3 states with varying air humidity (10-70%) and while hubby might have had sinus issues prior to cpap (in a dry state got sinus infections 1-2 times a year), this is important to him with his cpap.

There are few responses, so I am guessing what Pugsy posted was good info and will check out those machines.

[chunkyfrog]

Even when bought out of pocket (OOP), cpap is often more bang for your buck than the average mattress.

[CpapWife]

A bit of info, I was trying to see the difference between the two machines everyone recommends.
The differences are hard to tell as ResMed does more of a sales (it is wonderful) info on their web page vs technical talk on features.

Respironics does their flex for inhale/exhale a little difference, seems more natural (a timing issue vs a pressure reduction).

A DME (Lincare) told us that they only do respironics as it has a removable water tank, is better built - the resmed has some plastic parts like the tubing between the water tank and the machine that tends to break, and the support staff at respironics is outstanding.

We are switching DMEs as we struggle to get any intelligent info from Med One that we have been using and they have made tons of big mistakes. So we are going to move to the Lincare as there is at least one intelligent person there. Which means we will be getting the PR System One REMstar Auto with A-Flex and not the series 9.

[drj130]

A DME (Lincare) told us that they only do respironics as it has a removable water tank, is better built - the resmed has some plastic parts like the tubing between the water tank and the machine that tends to break, and the support staff at respironics is outstanding.

Well, I know that both types of machines have a removable water tank. If it wasn't removable, then you wouldn't be able to replace or clean it or even drain the water out for when you travel with it.
I got my S9 in Jan of 2011 and I've had it apart many times for traveling/cleaning and I've never had anything break on it between the humidifier and the blower sections.

I think that Pugsy will back me up on this when I say both machines are almost the same when it comes to putting the two together. The "tubing that hooks the blower to the humidifier to the blower on both machines is of a hard plastic on both machines and nothing like what is used to mate your mask to the machine.

Heck, both machines are almost 99% plastic. One difference between the two that I know of is that the water tank for the S9 has a bottom that is all metal, while the PR has a metal disk in the center.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not putting down the PR system at all. But I think that person was trying to blow some extra air your way.

Just my two cents.

David

[msla]

I have been using my cleanable Resmed H5i water chamber since I ordered it in August of 2010. It seems durable to me. I suspect your DME gets a better deal from PR and does not want to bother much with ResMed.

[CheBella]

DeVilbiss collects full data as well.
Moreover the machines come with a 5 year warranty instead of the 2-year that is industry standard.
AND they are less expensive for the same features.

Many DMEs have a relationship only with ResMed or Philips Respironics, so you don't see many DeVilbiss machines around.
But, they've been in business 80 years.

Right now, I'm having a problem with my machine, so I'll let you know how the warranty thing works!

[Pugsy]

I suspect your DME gets a better deal from PR and does not want to bother much with ResMed.

I think that person was trying to blow some extra air your way.

That's my first thoughts also. Better price on the Respironics so promote it and diss the ResMed.
I have used both in the bilevel pressure model. The diss comments about the Resmed simply aren't true but it isn't like the Respironics is a piece of junk. It's great machine. There are minor pros and cons to either machine but none are deal breakers.
The S9 tank is indeed removable and easily cleaned especially with the newer tank version. So that isn't true. Haven't heard of any breakage of any of the parts on the S9 and we have a large number of S9 users here who are very happy campers.
I suspect that the real reason is wholesale price. Insurance companies pay by HCPCS code and not brand...so which ever brand offers best price gets promoted as the latest and greatest.