suggestions please - your opinion counts

Sleeping With The Enemy · Post by **Sleeping With The Enemy** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:59 pm

trying to get some opinions on masks for a stomach sleeper - new to cpap. Wondering if I should try to get a machine that automatically adjusts to my needs instead of a fixed rate. My rate is 12.4. Thanks every opinion will help RE: masks

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:10 pm

hhunt, I'm not a doctor, but I do believe an autopap that varies the pressure "as needed" throughout the night is better than a machine set at one straight pressure.

loonlvr · Post by **loonlvr** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:21 pm

I agree that you should get an auto. I had a machine with straight pressure. Used it for over a year(2000hrs).. Just got an auto. Like the fact that it only pumps the pressure you need. Also get the the software. Then you can see whats happening while your sleeping. The old straight pressure machines are obsolete as far as i m concerned.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:28 pm

hhunt,

Unless the additional cost would prevent you from getting a machine at all, an auto-pap is a must. In the long run an auto-pap will actually cost you less. Many people on fixed pressure machines find after 6 months to a year they don't feel as good in the morning... off they go for another sleep study to find they need the pressure bumped up a little. At this point you've now spent more than if you would have bought an auto to start and had all that hassle besides. You sleep 3000 +/- hours a year and a sleep study is just one small snap shot of your sleep experience. The auto-pap will minute by minute make adustments as required to resolve your breathing obstructions. Sounds better doesn't it?

As far as masks for stomach sleepers, that's a tough request. Take a look at the links below to see which of the following might work for you. These are the ones most often suggested/tried by side/stomach sleepers. Below is also a link to an accessory called the PAPillow. It may also give you some options to keep your stomach sleep position with "the hose".

Link: Breeze
Link: Swift
Link: NasalaireII
Link: PAPillow

RubyKat · Post by **RubyKat** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:13 pm

wading thru the muck! wrote:Unless the additional cost would prevent you from getting a machine at all, an auto-pap is a must. In the long run an auto-pap will actually cost you less. Many people on fixed pressure machines find after 6 months to a year they don't feel as good in the morning... off they go for another sleep study to find they need the pressure bumped up a little. At this point you've now spent more than if you would have bought an auto to start and had all that hassle besides.

Depends where you are. For me, in Australia, a plain CPAP machine cost about $1000, the auto-cpap was about $2000 -- and the sleep study cost $80. (That's Australian dollars, natually). I bought the plain CPAP.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:27 pm

RubyKat,

At the risk of starting another endless healthcare funding topic, $80 is what you paid for the sleep study, not what it costs. I guarantee you the cost is much more than the difference between an auto-pap and a straight cpap.

As far as the Auto machine, the Puritan Bennett 420E, at cpap.com is $599 USD = $773 AUD. Where are you shopping that charges $2000?