ResMed versus Respironics

[ChrisD]

Since day one of my sleep apnea journey in November 2011, I've been on a Phillips Respironics System 1 APAP (model 550p). It currently has 22074.2 hours on the blower and is my daily driver. I have a Phillips Respironics System 1 APAP (model 550p) as a backup machine as well.

I have only known the PR machine and I like it. It does what it needs to do and my AHI is consistently below 1. Nothing has really ever come up (yet) that I can think of for why I'd change manufacturers.

I count myself among the lucky with my therapy and to have found this forum early in my SA journey.

Chris

[colomom]

My son was the first in the family to be diagnosed with OSA, he was given a Dreamstation. By the time I got an OSA diagnosis I had learned a lot more about sleep apnea and decided I wanted to try out a ResMed. For whatever reason the DME’s in my area don’t seem to carry ResMeds, so I had to wait for them to order one in. I had my doc specify the ResMed in my prescription, the doc wasn’t knowledgeable about the differences between the machines and was happy to prescribe the machine I preferred.

I definitely prefer the ResMed to the Dreamstation. We live in a dry climate and we have to run a stand alone humidifier in my son’s room otherwise the Dreamstation runs dry partway thru the night. The ResMed has a larger water chamber, my ResMed has never run dry. The ResMed is quieter than the Dreamstation. The ResMed has a much better travel case, I like that there are individual compartments for the different components in the ResMed case. Another nice feature on the ResMed is that after you shut it off it runs for about 10 minutes without the humidifier which drys the hose nicely.

The Dreamstation is a pretty good machine, but I wish I would have gotten my son a ResMed. For us the differences between the 2 machines aren’t enough to justify paying out of pocket for a different machine, but when my son is eligible for a new machine i plan to get him a ResMed.

[Brounmoney]

I was given the DreamStation, and while I am still getting use to a CPAP machine, I do the like the DreamStation. Being new though, I am curious as to what people here mean by the Resmed "just works"? What about it is better and "just works" better than the DreamStation? I see the comments about it being in line with your breathing, but I have had no issues with my doing the same. I have the auto set on mine, and while I think its mostly me getting use to a machine and mask, what would the Resmed do so much better with the auto setting that the DreamStation doesn't? Is my therapy working less because my Doc gave me the DreamStation and not a Resmed, or is this more like an Apple vs Android argument? Genuinely curious as I know very little, but would like to learn.

[chunkyfrog]

Most people stick with the first brand they ever had.
(Ford/Chevy preferences run in families.)
Likewise, Apple gave hundreds of computers to SCHOOLS--it was brilliant!
Many of these people became Apple cult members for life.
The same brand loyalty exists for many xpap users.

[Brounmoney]

Most people stick with the first brand they ever had.
(Ford/Chevy preferences run in families.)
Likewise, Apple gave hundreds of computers to SCHOOLS--it was brilliant!
Many of these people became Apple cult members for life.
The same brand loyalty exists for many xpap users.

That's what I figured, but people here have been talking like the DreamStations don't offer the same therapy you get from the Resmed. It makes it sound like I am not treating my sleep apnea to the fullest because I am using the DreamStation. If there is a legit evidence to support that, I would love to know because I want the best treatment I can get.

[chunkyfrog]

Some members are invererate experimenters and do much research.
If what you have is doing the job--good.
If not, then you have an idea what to try next.
Only you can decide.

[Brounmoney]

Some members are invererate experimenters and do much research.
If what you have is doing the job--good.
If not, then you have an idea what to try next.
Only you can decide.

Of course, but suggesting one does not do the necessary job that the other does. That is something entirely different.

I am don't know if mine is working for me entirely. Only a month into therapy and still struggling to sleep, but not sure how much that has to do with me, the machine, or the mask. To my knowledge though, the machine is working as it should.

[jnk...]

I personally find ResMed machines more comfortable for me to use. But I have used Respironics machines and have verified that I can get effective therapy from that brand as well.

Believe me that if Respironics machines were total crap, this forum would be all over that in getting the word out. That is not the case. What is being discussed is mostly detail involving comfort, convenience, and ease of use, and only partly things such as algorithm and overall approach. We harp on those things, not because Respironics is bad, but because those aspects of PAP treatment often make the difference between success and failure for many starting out who never find the help available in forums such as this one. These discussions aren't really so much intended to be brand bashing but are intended to be helpful to anyone deciding for himself what he should know and look for when he is spending his own money out of pocket.

. . . people here have been talking like the DreamStations don't offer the same therapy you get from the Resmed

There ARE differences in the nature of the therapy. But BOTH approaches have been found to be effective for most in the middle of the bell curve.

It makes it sound like I am not treating my sleep apnea to the fullest because I am using the DreamStation.

DreamStation is fully capable of treating sleep apnea well for most.

Only a month into therapy and still struggling to sleep, but not sure how much that has to do with me, the machine, or the mask.

Getting the best sleep possible has to do with all three. You may still need more time to adapt to PAP therapy in general. Your machine needs to provide efficacy data in order to verify it is taking care of your condition. And the mask is key to your lasting comfort and needs to be the best mask for you personally. (Mask is generally considered much more important than machine as far as comfort and good therapy, but the machine needs to be set up properly for you too.) Be assured that this forum will be of help to you no matter what machine and mask you use and no matter what your personal attitude or ethic is, though. We assume the best about you and will do our best to help you get the best sleep possible no matter what equipment you use.

What you are experiencing in reading these threads reminds me of the old days when it was ResMed getting bashed because some people misunderstood the industry papers on the AutoSet algorithm and tried to convince everyone that ResMed APAPs were incapable of treating anyone with obstructive events that occured during treatment pressures above 10 cmH2O. Also, people argued that ResMeds were no good because the reported trending data "overcounted" hypopnea. During the old tank days, we ResMed users took a lot of flack. Now it has flipped a bit.

Anyway, try not to get distracted by any brand wars. Use the online forums to improve your therapy with what is available to you.

[Bertha deBlues]

I am don't know if mine is working for me entirely. Only a month into therapy and still struggling to sleep, but not sure how much that has to do with me, the machine, or the mask. To my knowledge though, the machine is working as it should.

All I've known in my 3+ years of therapy is the DreamStation. I did struggle at first, but it was from dealing with an entirely new experience. It took time (weeks? a month or two?) before I was comfortable with the process. My biggest struggle was finding the mask that works best for me. I can't imagine changing anything, including machines, because I'm very happy with the results of my therapy. And, as I said earlier, I have not had any of the problems with my machine that others mention.

[palerider]

Most people stick with the first brand they ever had.
(Ford/Chevy preferences run in families.)
Likewise, Apple gave hundreds of computers to SCHOOLS--it was brilliant!
Many of these people became Apple cult members for life.
The same brand loyalty exists for many xpap users.

That's what I figured, but people here have been talking like the DreamStations don't offer the same therapy you get from the Resmed.

They don't
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzCCgNLya_g

plus, there's multiple studies floating around, one that Capnloki likes to point out, that determined that the respironics machine didn't manage to get the AHI under 5.0 on the test rig.

It makes it sound like I am not treating my sleep apnea to the fullest because I am using the DreamStation. If there is a legit evidence to support that, I would love to know because I want the best treatment I can get.

See above video. Respironics machines ignore events, don't raise pressure until you have several of them, so you end up needing a higher minimum pressure, sometimes much higher.

[Brounmoney]

I personally find ResMed machines more comfortable for me to use. But I have used Respironics machines and have verified that I can get effective therapy from that brand as well.

Believe me that if Respironics machines were total crap, this forum would be all over that in getting the word out. That is not the case. What is being discussed is mostly detail involving comfort, convenience, and ease of use, and only partly things such as algorithm and overall approach. We harp on those things, not because Respironics is bad, but because those aspects of PAP treatment often make the difference between success and failure for many starting out who never find the help available in forums such as this one. These discussions aren't really so much intended to be brand bashing but are intended to be helpful to anyone deciding for himself what he should know and look for when he is spending his own money out of pocket.

. . . people here have been talking like the DreamStations don't offer the same therapy you get from the Resmed

There ARE differences in the nature of the therapy. But BOTH approaches have been found to be effective for most in the middle of the bell curve.

It makes it sound like I am not treating my sleep apnea to the fullest because I am using the DreamStation.

DreamStation is fully capable of treating sleep apnea well for most.

Only a month into therapy and still struggling to sleep, but not sure how much that has to do with me, the machine, or the mask.

Getting the best sleep possible has to do with all three. You may still need more time to adapt to PAP therapy in general. Your machine needs to provide efficacy data in order to verify it is taking care of your condition. And the mask is key to your lasting comfort and needs to be the best mask for you personally. (Mask is generally considered much more important than machine as far as comfort and good therapy, but the machine needs to be set up properly for you too.) Be assured that this forum will be of help to you no matter what machine and mask you use and no matter what your personal attitude or ethic is, though. We assume the best about you and will do our best to help you get the best sleep possible no matter what equipment you use.

Thank you so much!! Finally got a mask I like in the F30, and just trying to get use having something on my face at night. I keep taking it off for periods of time durning the night. I have also been using the OSCAR program to track my therapy, so I am really trying to stay on this thing. My main point with these post was to see if I was missing something by using the Dreamstation. Sure don’t want that, but it sounds like it’s more about preference. Here’s to hoping I can get more than 5 hours of sleep soon!

[jnk...]

Personally, I don't put a lot of stock in tests involving simulations of breathing as thrown at of wide-open devices. But I respect those who do.

[Brounmoney]

I am don't know if mine is working for me entirely. Only a month into therapy and still struggling to sleep, but not sure how much that has to do with me, the machine, or the mask. To my knowledge though, the machine is working as it should.

All I've known in my 3+ years of therapy is the DreamStation. I did struggle at first, but it was from dealing with an entirely new experience. It took time (weeks? a month or two?) before I was comfortable with the process. My biggest struggle was finding the mask that works best for me. I can't imagine changing anything, including machines, because I'm very happy with the results of my therapy. And, as I said earlier, I have not had any of the problems with my machine that others mention.

Yeah, finding a mask was the hardest part thus far. I am sticking with the F30 after shopping 3 other mask. Works best for me, and hoping that the DreamStation will do me well here soon.

[jnk...]

Some do better on one brand over another, no doubt. But getting full data and getting the right mask are, to me, much more important for most than which brand of blower is being used, when it comes to plain vanilla OSA.

Hey, just me.

[Brounmoney]

Most people stick with the first brand they ever had.
(Ford/Chevy preferences run in families.)
Likewise, Apple gave hundreds of computers to SCHOOLS--it was brilliant!
Many of these people became Apple cult members for life.
The same brand loyalty exists for many xpap users.

That's what I figured, but people here have been talking like the DreamStations don't offer the same therapy you get from the Resmed.

They don't
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzCCgNLya_g

plus, there's multiple studies floating around, one that Capnloki likes to point out, that determined that the respironics machine didn't manage to get the AHI under 5.0 on the test rig.

It makes it sound like I am not treating my sleep apnea to the fullest because I am using the DreamStation. If there is a legit evidence to support that, I would love to know because I want the best treatment I can get.

See above video. Respironics machines ignore events, don't raise pressure until you have several of them, so you end up needing a higher minimum pressure, sometimes much higher.

Is that so? Why I have I not had over 1 AHI in auto mode with an 8 hour sleep session then?