Time for a new Auto CPAP machine

Long time lurker. 5+ year user of Auto CPAP.

I have been using my Respironics System One REMstar Auto 560 Auto-CPAP Machine for 5 years. I would like to get a new machine and have spoken to my doctor (general internist not a sleep doc) to get the ball rolling on it. Will follow up with him later in the week. He is pretty good about just writing what I want on the prescription pad (last 4 years I bought masks and other supplies from Cpap.com and not dealt with insurance.

Anyway I think over all I am doing decently with my current machine. Certainly better then I was doing prior to getting one. Took me a couple months before I really took to it and used it every night. My brother just was diagnosed with sleep apnea and got a new Dream Station (400 series so not Auto CPAP). I like the design of it. Specifically like my machine the hose comes out the top of it vs the back. But here and elsewhere I see the more popular machine is the Airsense Auto Set 10. The only potential negative I have seen with it is now the humidifier is built in. So if it fails the whole machine needs to be sent for service. I also have a 12 volt battery that works fine with both my current machine and Dreamstation without any adapters or extra cables. Not a big deal to buy the appropriate cable though.

So my question is should I switch to the Resmed Airsense 10? Or should I get a DreamStation 500 series (Auto CPAP)?

Has anyone regretted switching from Philips to Resmed? Any other things I should take into consideration?

Or am I overthinking it and either would be just fine for me?

Thanks, Jim

As you have been using the Respironics for the last 5yrs with great success I would get the Philips as your replacement, your used to its algorithm

I would suggest to stay with Philips. Both (Philips/ResMed) are excellent machines.

Sheriff

jimc2 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 18, 2018 7:25 am

Long time lurker. 5+ year user of Auto CPAP.
...
So my question is should I switch to the Resmed Airsense 10? Or should I get a DreamStation 500 series (Auto CPAP)?

Has anyone regretted switching from Philips to Resmed? Any other things I should take into consideration?

I'm in exactly the same situation - I've been using a 560 for 5+ years and am due for a new machine. I will almost certainly get a DreamStation. Respironics has the advantage over ResMed when using on battery power - it doesn't require a 12/24 volt converter ($85 and another thing to carry around), and it appears the ResMed uses a lot more power. These are not issues for normal use, but if you use batteries when travelling or have power outages at home this might be a concern.

CapnLoki wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:57 am

I'm in exactly the same situation - I've been using a 560 for 5+ years and am due for a new machine. I will almost certainly get a DreamStation. Respironics has the advantage over ResMed when using on battery power - it doesn't require a 12/24 volt converter ($85 and another thing to carry around), and it appears the ResMed uses a lot more power. These are not issues for normal use, but if you use batteries when travelling or have power outages at home this might be a concern.
<e>

I don't camp or even travel very much but with the winters we get here in the North East and bad thunderstorms we seem to get enough outages. I finally broke down and recently bought an expensive battery. Just seemed like a cleaner solution then lawn tractor batteries. And I had some money in my FSA I need to spend. Charged it up the day it came. A week or so later I woke up at like 2am and was gasping for breath. 2 hour power outage. Disconnected my water tank/humidifier and connected the battery. Was able to go back to sleep. Will probably hook it up inline with the new machine.

I was sort of leaning towards the Dreamstation already and thanks to all the feedback so far I am going to go that way. Just called my doc and he hasn't contacted the insurance company yet. Today or tomorrow hopefully he said.

Is it enough for him to write a prescription for Auto CPAP machine of choice or should he be very specific down to the model number?

Last DME I dealt with provided me with the 560 but I didn't care for them overall and will use someone else. Plus I had different insurance then so they might not even take my insurance anyway.

My son just went from a PR system 1 to the Dreamstation auto, he loves it BUT had to buy the new plug-in adapter to use on battery... the one he used with the system one was not compatible. It didn't cost him very much though so not a big problem. If you go camping you can take the humidifier off and have a much smaller unit and much smaller to pack around.

Cheers
Nan

In general, you have more success if you know what you want and have that put on the script.

jimc2 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 19, 2018 8:32 am

...woke up at like 2am and was gasping for breath. 2 hour power outage...

I have a power outage alarm plugged into the same circuit as my APAP so I wake up immediately during a power outage (lots of styles/options): https://smile.amazon.com/POWER-RELIANCE ... tage+alarm

Yeah I have considered getting one of those alarms. Perhaps that very one. I woke up before the ceiling fan stopped spinning so I wasn't sleeping without the CPAP for but a few seconds.

My wife hates beeping alarms so while it would probably good for me I could see it stressing her out (is it a fire? is it Carbon monoxide, is water etc.). Probably just having the battery inline with the machine would work well for me. The adapter I need is less then $70 at cpap.com anyway and my brother could borrow it if he doesn't have power and I do.