Dream station auto vs Resmed Air sense 10?

[Jackie1]

On Wednesday, I have a choice to get either a:

Dream station auto or a Resmed Air sense 10. I think my air settings are between 9 and 15.

I just wanted to hear some thoughts and opinions on both before I have to pick one this Wednesday?

[Pugsy]

Assuming the ResMed AirSense 10 is the AutoSet model since you are stating a range of pressures...
I would suggest the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet and maybe even the "for Her" AutoSet even if you are a guy.
The "for Her" model has an extra apap mode. See the manual
https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf

and a couple of other reasons.
The AirSense has been out in the market for over a year and the DreamStation was just officially released this month. Less chance of newness "bugs" with the ResMed.
The AirSense currently has software available so you can monitor your therapy in detail. The DreamStation will eventually have compatible software but there isn't anything now.
Finally...if you spend much time up around that 15 cm pressure...I think that the exhale relief available on the ResMed machine would likely be a little nicer for someone with pressures in the teens.

Both are nice machines but for right now if I were in the market for an APAP machine..it would be the AirSense 10 AutoSet and I would try to get the "for Her" model just in case I ended up maybe wanting/needing that extra apap mode. It might come in handy and I have always thought it was better to have something and not need it than need it and not have it.

[Jackie1]

Thanks for the reply! I'm a male and not sure if insurance will let the medical company give me the for her model. I'll ask. They told me both would be AUTO models, whichever I pick (since the sleep place said 9-15). I looked at the pdf you posted, but am not sure what exactly the for her model adds? What does the extra mode do on the for her model?

Very cool on the software with the AirAense that's available now you said. Good to have. I also like that the AirSense is black, as my dresser, etc, is all black anyway.

Also, when I did the sleep study a month ago, I hated the air pressure blowing in my nose (nose masks is what I slept with) when I was exhaling through my nose. Sounds like the AirSense exhale relief would kinda be like the bipap machine to some degree. I wanted that one (because I hated the air pressure blowing in my nose when breathing out thought my nose) but they said everyone had to start with the cpap first, and if it bother them, you can switch later to a bipap.

[n2it]

I have the Air Sense 10 Autoset. I can't say enough good things about it. And the Expiratory Pressure Relief is a great feature. However; this is the only machine that I have used so I really can't compare it to any others. Good luck!

[Pugsy]

Sounds like the AirSense exhale relief would kinda be like the bipap machine to some degree.

It feels more like a bilevel machine and it will go to 3 cm reduction during exhale where the Respironics exhale relief is a little different and only goes to a maximum of 2.

The "extra" apap mode which has been marketed towards women is what I would call a kinder/gentler apap mode with a different algorithm. It is explained in the manual. Whether you would benefit from it is anyone's guess.

Insurance companies don't pay by model brand or name...they pay by insurance HCPCS billing code and the code for all cpap/apap machines is E0601.
DME is going to use that code no matter what brand or model.

[Jackie1]

Sounds like the AirSense exhale relief would kinda be like the bipap machine to some degree.

It feels more like a bilevel machine and it will go to 3 cm reduction during exhale where the Respironics exhale relief is a little different and only goes to a maximum of 2.

Is there a big difference between 3 and 2? Like on a fan in your house, you have low, med, and high, and each one makes a huge difference. So I'm guessing the 3 vs 2 makes a difference.

Thank you again. You know your stuff. I'm new to all of this, and it's good to hear from real world use on here.

Can any of these be put inside a drawer, or must they all sit on top of a dresser, etc?

[Pugsy]

The difference between 2 and 3 can seem quite large for some people and minimal to others.
Plus the difference between the 2 brands is more than just the 1 cm..it's how they go about offering the reduction. The Respironics machines base the amount of reduction on how forceful you breathe so if you don't breathe real forcefully you might not even get that 2 cm relief at the setting of 3.
ResMed machines just reduce it straight away and that's what makes it feel more like a bilevel device.
Respironics machines using their EPR doesn't feel like a bilevel device.

I have used both brands and also apap and bilevel devices. Trust me...the ResMed machine will feel more like a bilevel device and if you had some issues exhaling against the pressure I think that you will like the ResMed better.

Any of these machines can be put in a drawer on a night stand but I wouldn't use them in a drawer unless there was a lot of ventilation in the back (holes in the back of the drawer) because they need to be able to suck in nice fresh air through the air intake on the back.

Now if you were just thinking of daytime storage...unless the drawer is real shallow any machine will fit in it.

[SewTired]

The For Her model of the Airsense is the SAME PRICE, so there is absolutely no reason why your insurance company shouldn't cover it. Your gender is irrelevant. They have an extra algorithm that while marketed towards women's breathing patterns, can be beneficial for some men as well. For the same reason, some women aren't going to benefit from the For Her algorithm and will want either the regular algorithm or maybe even straight pressure. All options are on that model.

[Jackie1]

Sounds like the AirSense exhale relief would kinda be like the bipap machine to some degree.

It feels more like a bilevel machine and it will go to 3 cm reduction during exhale where the Respironics exhale relief is a little different and only goes to a maximum of 2.

The "extra" apap mode which has been marketed towards women is what I would call a kinder/gentler apap mode with a different algorithm. It is explained in the manual. Whether you would benefit from it is anyone's guess.

Insurance companies don't pay by model brand or name...they pay by insurance HCPCS billing code and the code for all cpap/apap machines is E0601.
DME is going to use that code no matter what brand or model.

Ok, I just returned home with the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet. I looked at both that one and the Phillips Dream station. I instantly like the ResMed, liked how the power plug comes out of the back, liked the color display, loved the black color.

I mentioned the "for her" model, and the guy told me it's white with flowers on it. That kinda bothered me, but they didn't have one at the location I was at, and it would take another few days to get one. I google imaged the "for her" model and didn't want the white color with flowers on it, and didn't want to wait a few more days to get it, so I went with the black model. He also said they only ever had one person do the "for her" model so far.

Here's the "for her" version:



Now, I asked him about the DreamStation EPR feature and told him what you said. He said you could make the Dreamstation EPR feature work just like the ResMed, because the DreamStation has C-flex and A-flex options? Not sure if he is correct, or this is something new they added. When I was playing with the DreamStation, the EPR went up to 3 also. I thought you mentioned DreamStation only went to 2?

He also mentioned that the DreamStation does have software that tracks the device use, etc (I keep reading people saying it doesn't yet, or maybe that was 3rd party app stuff?) DreamStation has bluetooth and Resmed doesn't. I don't think that's a big issue. Again, I appreciate all your help.

[chunkyfrog]

If I disliked the white cabinet on mine, I could easily cover it with "duck" tape,
I think it comes in around 50 designs, including several shades of camo.
Just be careful not to cover the light sensor. or the card door, or the vent!!!
I would reduce the tacky area to edges only with paper or plastic, in case I felt like a change.
Too bad those Skinit guys bailed on us, but their prices were too silly for me anyhow.

[Pugsy]

I mentioned the "for her" model, and the guy told me it's white with flowers on it.

Well....there's more to it than flowers or colors but if the guy doesn't know the difference...he's got no business explaining the machines.
I mention the "for Her" model because it sort of covers all potential bases...now whether you need all those bases covered is unknown.
If it bugs you to have flowers on your machine...that's okay to I suppose. I was trying to cover functional aspects of things because to me that's more important than aesthetics.

He said you could make the Dreamstation EPR feature work just like the ResMed, because the DreamStation has C-flex and A-flex options? Not sure if he is correct, or this is something new they added. When I was playing with the DreamStation, the EPR went up to 3 also. I thought you mentioned DreamStation only went to 2?

You cannot make a Respironics machine work like a ResMed machine in terms of exhale pressure relief. It cannot be done because each brand goes about the exhale relief in a totally different manner.
Respironics Flex relief is NOT the same and doesn't work the same as ResMed EPR relief.
Respironics Flex relief...the most you can get is 2 cm reduction at that 3 setting.
The settings of 1, 2 and 3 on the Respironics machines do NOT represent per cm reduction like the ResMed machines.

At this point it doesn't matter what the Respironics machines do since you went with the ResMed and I mention it only for clarification for potential other newbies who read this thread and think that your "guy" is right..he isn't. Doesn't surprise me since he thinks that the only difference in the "for Her" model is the color and flowers. He doesn't know his equipment or how it works.

He also mentioned that the DreamStation does have software that tracks the device use, etc (I keep reading people saying it doesn't yet, or maybe that was 3rd party app stuff?) DreamStation has bluetooth and Resmed doesn't. I don't think that's a big issue. Again, I appreciate all your help.

The only "software" that works with the DreamStation right now is SleepMapper online website or the app if someone wants to use bluetooth.
No graphs at all...just numbers...AHI, event category, some sort of leak number and some sort of pressure number. That's it. It's better than nothing but pales in comparison to what real software shows.
Eventually Respironics will release a version of Encore software that will work with the DreamStation and SleepyHead will eventually work but we don't know when either of those things will happen.

The end result is you preferred the "black" one for a couple of reasons and I suspect it will do just fine for you. When I make recommendations ....I think primarily of function and potential needs and not how it looks in the bedroom....they all look the same with the lights out.
I do predict that you will be very happy with your choice though. The chance of you needing that special apap mode are really pretty slim.

[Jackie1]

You cannot make a Respironics machine work like a ResMed machine in terms of exhale pressure relief. It cannot be done because each brand goes about the exhale relief in a totally different manner.
Respironics Flex relief is NOT the same and doesn't work the same as ResMed EPR relief.
Respironics Flex relief...the most you can get is 2 cm reduction at that 3 setting.
The settings of 1, 2 and 3 on the Respironics machines do NOT represent per cm reduction like the ResMed machines.

Ah, I understand now! Thanks again. I really do appreciate all the info and details. I've re-read your posts and understand what you meant about the 2 cm reduction at the 3 setting, and how the DreamStation does it differently.

The guy knew about the other mode "for her" but didn't know much else. I hope to try this out tonight or very soon. I hope it's not as bad as the one I used at the sleep study place. Took me hours to even fall asleep.

[Jackie1]

Another quick question., I registered on the MyAir Resmed website to see progress. Is there an iphone app for this? Or do you just go the website in your mobile phone browser?

[n2it]

While the My Air is a great tool for a quick review of how one performed it is also very general as I have learned from this site. You are going to want to download the Sleepyhead software and get acquainted with that to actually monitor your true progress.

I thank Pugsy for referring me to the software and for her great write-up concerning the same. Check our her link at the top and do yourself a favor and download the software. If you are computer literate at all you will have no issues operating the software.

[erbowman]

Does sleepyhead app work on android phones