Does AutoSet mean "Auto" Set

I don't have the time or desire to go through the hoops for an Rx. Cost isn't an issue, so I'm looking at a second hand / like-new Resmed S10 Airsense AutoSet. Will the AutoSet allow me to not worry about setting the pressure correctly (i.e., will it auto-adapt or automatically dial in to whatever pressure I need)? Or will it at least make it easier to self-tune? TYIA

That's the theory, but not the reality. When you set "wide open" pressures--that is from a low of 4 cm/H2O to 20 cm/H2O with the idea that it will treat any apneas that occur, in reality you miss a lot of apneas because the machine has to chase them. It stays at a low pressure until there are several apneas in a row, in which case it will slowly start to build pressure to stop the apneas. (APAP machines respond SLOWLY by design). Because it takes a while for the machine to respond, you tend to have more apneas and need more pressure to quell them. Whereas if the machine is set properly for your needs, the low setting may be high enough to catch the apneas early on and not need to build pressure to get to the point where it can adequately treat the apneas.

A second problem with the machine having to go higher to treat apneas is that it can cause issues with the mask because people usually fit their mask at a very low pressure and experience leakage or blowouts as the pressure rises. This can be very disrupting to your sleep.

That's where data from the free, open source software Sleepyhead comes in. You may leave the pressures "wide open" for a few nights to see what happens, and then using the data as a guide you can slowly dial in a more optimal pressure.

Keep in mind that not everybody does best with a variable pressure. Some people sleep more comfortably and get adequate treatment from a steady pressure. But it's still important to have an auto, to be able to see what's happening and when and if a pressure adjustment may be warranted.

kaunakakai wrote:Or will it at least make it easier to self-tune? TYIA

Not disagreeing with anything Jan said, the short answer is yes.

kaunakakai wrote:I don't have the time or desire to go through the hoops for an Rx. Cost isn't an issue, so I'm looking at a second hand / like-new Resmed S10 Airsense AutoSet. Will the AutoSet allow me to not worry about setting the pressure correctly (i.e., will it auto-adapt or automatically dial in to whatever pressure I need)? Or will it at least make it easier to self-tune? TYIA

Will the AutoSet allow me to not worry about setting the pressure correctly (i.e., will it auto-adapt or automatically dial in to whatever pressure I need)?

"No". It doesn't "know what you need".
They just respond to breathing characteristics (increases or decreases) which are programmed in the algorithms. Pressure ranges (and changes) work for some folks and for others they disturb their sleep.

Or will it at least make it easier to self-tune?

Theoretically, "Yes".

You will absolutely NEED to use software to monitor your therapy.
Wide open settings can be a disaster and the minimum pressure needs to be set to where it eliminates almost all of the events.


Den

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Wide open settings (4 to 20) can work just fine if a person only happens to need around 6 or 7 cm pressure and the machine never even wants to higher.
Doesn't work so great if a person needs something much higher because it can take too long to get to where it needs to be.
That minimum pressure is actually a pretty important setting. The maximum maybe not so much important unless it is going somewhere that is causing problems and it doesn't really necessarily just have to be up there.

to emphasize and reiterate, no, it doesn't do it all for you, yes it makes it much easier to fine tune the settings, download sleepyhead software, read the data and tweak the settings for your needs, and you should have it good in a week or two.

Auto set works best if you have sleepyhead software installed and can check your progress.
It will show the Min and Max pressures as well as the medium and 90-95 % pressures used to treat your Apena events.
You can then use this data to find the pressures you need to treat your condition.
Many people will help you on this Form if you post your sleepyhead graphs.

I don't seem to need a lot of pressure, but the initial ramp up setting starting at 4 from the DME seemed uncomfortable and hard to breathe. It has been said before that you should probably start at 6. That is what I moved mine to to get to sleep easier and may move it little higher.