Moved from ResMed S9 AutoSet to Dreamstation AutoCPAP and having problems

[Decameron]

Hi all

I have just found and joined the site and also downloaded Oscar and my most recent data. I had a ResMed S9 AutoSet for about 5 years and was very happy with it getting my average AHI down to just under 2. As the machine was getting old my provider gave me a new machine - a Dreamstation Auto CPAP. This was about six weeks ago. I have struggled with the new machine and have been waking with headaches and not feeling as refreshed as I used to with the ResMed. I am currently getting average AHI figures of about 5. I have met with my medical person and they can't seem to provide any ideas about how to improve matters other than to give it more time. Its set on opti-start and ramp time is 0. I generally fall asleep in a couple of minutes. I have heated tube humidification and humidifier set around 3. Flex is turned off. I can't understand why I am finding it so different to my old ResMed, it feels like I am not getting as much pressure with the new machine and that its harder breathing in. I have a mirage FX mask. Could it be due to the different algorithms being used by Philips and ResMed? My current provider now only uses Philips machines and I don't know if I should persevere with the hope that things improve or if I should move to a provider who can supply me with a ResMed machine. Any assistance and guidance warmly appreciated. Snip of a daily result follows. Peter

Screenshot 2021-04-25 at 17.07.01.png (934.24 KiB) Viewed 1156 times

[Pugsy]

Turn off Opti Start for one thing and set the machine to regular auto mode.

Is EZ Start turned on? If so....turn it off.

What were your settings on your old machine? Do you know? Do you still have it?

[Decameron]

Thanks , I will turn off Opti Start and try regular auto mode. EZ start is off. The hospital took back my old Res Med when they gave me the new Dreamstation so I no longer have it and I don't know what settings it was on. Because I never had problems with the ResMed I never paid much attention to the settings I just left it to get on with its work. I could ask at my next hospital visit to see if they have details of the settings on my old machine.

[squid13]

You need to keep your old machine as a backup. If you paid for that machine they had no right to take it cause it's your's.

[Pugsy]

Where are you located?

[Decameron]

I am based in the uk and get my equipment through the NHS at no charge. I saw a technician yesterday and following a discussion they changed the settings on the machine. They told me the pressure has now been set to 10 but that it would go up and down three ie down to 7 and up to 13 as required. I tried it last night and had better sleep and an AHI of 2.8, which is a significant improvement. Looking at Oscar it shows that the pressure has just been set to run at 10 all night. It didn't go up or down. I presume if this works for me that I can just leave it at this fixed pressure without it having any bad effects in either the long or short term? The technician did say that if the new setting doesn't work for me I can go back to my doctor and ask to be transferred to a hospital that uses ResMeds. Copy of last nights Oscar results attached.

Screenshot 2021-04-29 at 21.06.20.png (902.62 KiB) Viewed 1070 times

[zonker]

I am based in the uk and get my equipment through the NHS at no charge. I saw a technician yesterday and following a discussion they changed the settings on the machine. They told me the pressure has now been set to 10 but that it would go up and down three ie down to 7 and up to 13 as required. I tried it last night and had better sleep and an AHI of 2.8, which is a significant improvement. Looking at Oscar it shows that the pressure has just been set to run at 10 all night. It didn't go up or down. I presume if this works for me that I can just leave it at this fixed pressure without it having any bad effects in either the long or short term? The technician did say that if the new setting doesn't work for me I can go back to my doctor and ask to be transferred to a hospital that uses ResMeds. Copy of last nights Oscar results attached. Screenshot 2021-04-29 at 21.06.20.png

unfortunately, either that technician is incompetent or s/he is telling porkies.

as you said, your machine staid at a pressure of 10 all night, per the pressure graph.

yet if you look at the events graph, you had several hypopnea events throughout the night and the pressure did NOT go up to combat said hypopnea. in fact, when there is but a single pressure selected and that selection is ten, the machine CAN'T vary in either direction.


the machine you are using is capable of being set up so you have differing lows and highs. that is, you could be setup to have say a low of seven and a high of twenty. with that kind of setting, your machine would be free to go wherever the pressure needs to go to vanquish those hypopneas and thus lower your ahi.

does that make sense?

[Decameron]

Thanks, yes this makes complete sense. I will give them a call and ask them to change the settings so it can go up and down a bit from the level 10 pressure. I am reluctant to try to change the settings myself if they can't get it right!

[Whale Road]

I am reluctant to try to change the settings myself if they can't get it right!

Huh?? The reason most of us are here is that we can get the setting right when the medical profession can't.

Learn to use OSCAR and take control of your own therapy. You will be happy you did.

[zonker]

Thanks, yes this makes complete sense. I will give them a call and ask them to change the settings so it can go up and down a bit from the level 10 pressure. I am reluctant to try to change the settings myself if they can't get it right!

i'm in agreement with whale road below. we mostly do the changing ourselves.

but i can understand your reluctance. in any case, please come back and let us know how you make out, okay?

good luck!

[clownbell]

I don't know about the laws in the UK. Here in the USA, it is most definitely NOT illegal for the user to change settings. When you think about it, the doc and techs don't have any skin in the game. If you don't sleep well or your symptoms are not mitigated, their life is unchanged. YOU are the person impacted, so YOU should be the person in charge. I don't know anything about the Dreamstation but I believe you can get the clinical manual and begin to monitor and change your own settings. Just remember YOU are the boss. The docs and tech get grumpy because their position of prominence is eroded, which is their problem not yours.