New CPAP machine not working as well...

Hi all,
I recently got a new CPAP machine; a Philips Respironics Dreammachine. My old machine was from 2010 and was a ResMed machine but not sure of the model. The old machine didn't have any modem capabilities or anything. I got the new one based on some recommendations I saw indicating a machine should be replaced every 5-7 years.

From 2010 to 2018, the setting on my ResMed machine was set at 6. I never snored and never had any problems using my machine. When I got the Dreammachine, originally set to 6, I felt like I could not breath due to lack of air, I was snoring and having fitful sleep. I worked with my doctor and respiratory therapist over the course of a couple of weeks to try and adjust my machine to work like the old one. I am currently set to variable between 7 and 15 and typically hover between 10-15 when using it. The problem is that I still snore sometimes when sleeping on my back and it just doesn't work as well as the old machine.

The questions I have for the community are:
1. Why doesn't a 6 setting on the old machine match a 6 setting on the new machine? The therapy place is suggesting my sleep habits have changed but I have switched back to the old machine and I sleep perfectly well at the setting of 6 - so there much be a machine difference or something.
2. I've looked at all of the documentation and settings for the new machine and I don't see anything that could be wrong - does anyone have a suggestion from an equipment perspective to check/try?
3. Is there a known difference between Repironics and ResMed? Should I be attempting to replace my new one with the same brand as my old?

Any help is appreciated.

PSULion wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 07, 2018 10:55 pm

...
3. Is there a known difference between Repironics and ResMed? Should I be attempting to replace my new one with the same brand as my old?

ResMed and Respironics used different 'breathing' patterns for inhale and exhale...I'm told they fell different. One is likely to feel more like your own breathing pattern. Some might not notice the difference, for others it's like fighting the machine all night long. Sound like you are in the latter category.

PSULion wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 07, 2018 10:55 pm

1. Why doesn't a 6 setting on the old machine match a 6 setting on the new machine? The therapy place is suggesting my sleep habits have changed but I have switched back to the old machine and I sleep perfectly well at the setting of 6 - so there much be a machine difference or something.
2. I've looked at all of the documentation and settings for the new machine and I don't see anything that could be wrong - does anyone have a suggestion from an equipment perspective to check/try?
3. Is there a known difference between Repironics and ResMed? Should I be attempting to replace my new one with the same brand as my old?

Any help is appreciated.

1) The answer to that depends on what you had, and what you've got. there are many different models of Dreamstation, and many many more models of Resmed machines... to even have a hint of what the difference is, we'd need to know what you had, and what you've got.

2) see above.

3) Yes, many differences, and yes, sticking with Resmed would likely feel much more familiar.

[quote=PSULion post_id=1279018 time=1544244932 user_id=89237
3. Is there a known difference between Repironics and ResMed? Should I be attempting to replace my new one with the same brand as my old?

Any help is appreciated.
[/quote]

welcome to the circus! yes, i've used both resperonics and resmed. there is definitely a difference between the two. i've been able to increase my minimum pressure and thus increase the efficacy of my treatment.

all in all, a good thing for me!

good luck.

Thank you for the replies. The story is long and painful but here is the summary. I finally got to a respiratory therapist who listened to my issues. She reduced the flex setting on my machine to 0, which was previously an unavailable selection for me. This seems to have increased the exhale pressure and really helped me. It still doesn't work as well as my old machine but it is good enough that I don't complain about it all the time. haha I think the other setting she changed was to increase the starting point of the ramp up so that it doesn't take so long to ramp up to the usable pressure. Thanks for all the feedback, it helped in my conversation with the respiratory therapist.

For many people the ramp isn't needed, I've used mine 14 years without the ramp. After as many years as you have on XPAP I'm surprised you still use it. There is a difference between how brands but in the end if set correctly they both can do the job. Jim