Nervous about swapping to Resmed from Philips

I'd be much more nervous if I were forced to use a Philips machine again. I didn't do as well with those.

Ugh, a secondhand machine from a smoker? Can they not be sanitized so you can no longer tell? If not, they should be thrown in the bin. It’s amazing we don’t hear about bacterial infections related to secondhand cpaps. Or do we? I’m new to all of this.

Someone please reassure me that secondhand machines can actually be sanitized...

Truffles wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2020 9:34 pm

Someone please reassure me that secondhand machines can actually be sanitized...

The procedures recommended by the manufacturer for use between different patients is documented in the manual.
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/ResMed ... %20her.pdf
Mainly for labs that have different patients every night but the same can be done for a used machine in the private sector.

Cigarette smoke though...it's tough to get rid of because it ends up permeating the foam insulation inside the blower. It can be remove but a lot of work.

For general cleaning or sanitizing though...common sense cleaning can get it done.

Then get a new hose and water chamber and filter...that's really all that is needed for a used machine if someone is concerned.

Truffles wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2020 9:34 pm

It’s amazing we don’t hear about bacterial infections related to secondhand cpaps.

We don't hear about them, because it's not an issue.

Read the back of any of the clinical manuals, there's reprocessing instructions for institutions to use when transferring the machine between patients *IN HOSPITALS*. They come down to:

Change the filter, change the hose, wipe down the outside.

Truffles wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2020 9:34 pm

Or do we? I’m new to all of this.

We don't.

Truffles wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2020 9:34 pm

Someone please reassure me that secondhand machines can actually be sanitized...

I've bought *ALL* my machines second hand, (nine or ten between me and my brother)... neither of us are dead yet, though there's some trolls on the forum that regret that).

The only way to sanitise this machine in particular would be opening up the main blower I suppose, something I wasn't really willing to do. I did absolutely clean and sanitise everything possible, but the lingering smell is still there, albeit not as bad as the first day as a lot of it was embedded in the plastic/silicon seals for the humidifier chamber.

As for what machine I will get - they've told me now it will either be a Fisher Paykel or Resmed, I'm not too sure if it will be Auto, I'll push for one, but end of the day they can only provide what they have, but she did mention the Resmeds and FP's are generally brand new, and I *think* the reason they gave me the Dreamstation was because I had success in my trial with the Auto version of it.

My pressure was sitting around 19-20 with Auto settings for the majority of the nights, so I'm not too concerned about the Auto side of things if it can't happen, obviously it would be nice if things change going forward, maybe losing some weight and then being able to lower the pressure or set it to Auto to gauge things, but at the moment the main aim is just being able to breath air that doesn't taste like an ashtray.

Thanks everyone once more for your replies, this time tomorrow I'll have my answer as to what machine I get and hopefully continue along with some good success!

Pugsy, Palerider,

Thanks for the information. It's reassuring. I still wouldn't want a used cpap from a smoker, though. If anyone could smell a micron of nicotine tar it would be me.

MBix wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:26 pm

The only way to sanitise this machine in particular would be opening up the main blower I suppose,

You suppose wrong.

Truffles wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 04, 2020 12:10 am

Pugsy, Palerider,

Thanks for the information. It's reassuring. I still wouldn't want a used cpap from a smoker, though. If anyone could smell a micron of nicotine tar it would be me.

I've removed smoke smell from cpaps before, it's not an easy task, because the goo soaks into the silicone parts inside the machine, then they trickle that stench out over an extended period.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 04, 2020 12:41 am

You suppose wrong.

More so meant in a short time frame, but if you have any suggestions for something that would get rid of the smell before I use the machine tonight I would be all ears...or eyes. I've tried just about everything I can think of and most things I saw come up via various websites/forum posts.

MBix wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:46 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 04, 2020 12:41 am

You suppose wrong.

More so meant in a short time frame, but if you have any suggestions for something that would get rid of the smell before I use the machine tonight I would be all ears...or eyes. I've tried just about everything I can think of and most things I saw come up via various websites/forum posts.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

You said

MBix wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:26 pm

The only way to sanitise this machine in particular would be opening up the main blower

Which has nothing to do with a 'lingering smell'.

If your machine has cigarette smoke odor, that's not a sanitizing issue.

Captain_Midnight wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 02, 2020 9:24 pm

Joshkins wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 02, 2020 8:05 pm

Just switched from the Dreamstation auto to Airsense10 AutoSet about a week ago. My experience has been nothing but positive. I had been using Philips machines since 2014. With the Dreamstation auto my settings were 12-20 and the pressure would always go walking throughout the night to about 18. My Airsense10 Autoset my settings are 10-20 but the pressure has not raised over 11.8. I just find the Resmed more peaceful to sleep under than the Philips.

Occasional forum visitor Capt Midnight here, and it's so interesting what you observe.

I just replaced my Airsense 10 Autoset with a Dreamstation auto, and my results are remarkable.

With the Autoset, leaks were a constant problem, and AHI was up 2x. (I use the same mask and setup) So far ( a little over a month) I'm averaging one fewer wake up per evening.

Every apnea patient is different, and the algorithms from one company will serve some better than others. Glad the Resmed is an improvement for you. Mine is now relegated to backup to my backup machine.

.

That's pretty interesting. I've always thought my resmed was not nearly responsive enough. as in when I'm having a "Bad" episode it needs to ramp way faster and resolve it rather then letting my episode resolve itself because I get roused. So you are saying Phillips is more responsive?

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:18 am

]
Which has nothing to do with a 'lingering smell'.

If your machine has cigarette smoke odor, that's not a sanitizing issue.

My apologies, I thought It was pretty clear I was referencing the cigarette smell mentioned in my original post in this thread, but I can see why it would have been confusing reading back and incorrectly mentioning sanitise instead.

It's currently 11:40pm here and I've been in bed since 9, have finally cracked and put the Dreamstation on. I'm onto my third cigarette it feels like, but that sweet sweet open airway makes it worth it Cannot wait for an new (non-stale-cigarette-smelling) machine tomorrow night!

MBix wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:42 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:18 am

]
Which has nothing to do with a 'lingering smell'.

If your machine has cigarette smoke odor, that's not a sanitizing issue.

My apologies, I thought It was pretty clear I was referencing the cigarette smell mentioned in my original post in this thread, but I can see why it would have been confusing reading back and incorrectly mentioning sanitise instead.

It's currently 11:40pm here and I've been in bed since 9, have finally cracked and put the Dreamstation on. I'm onto my third cigarette it feels like, but that sweet sweet open airway makes it worth it Cannot wait for an new (non-stale-cigarette-smelling) machine tomorrow night!

Getting rid if cigarette stench is hard. I've done it, if I had to do it again, I'd boil all the internal silicone bits in a baking soda solution.

The plastics and foam don't absorb stink like the silicone does, so, you're right, for stench, you'd have to take it to bits.

nicholasjh1 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:36 am

Captain_Midnight wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 02, 2020 9:24 pm

Joshkins wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 02, 2020 8:05 pm

Just switched from the Dreamstation auto to Airsense10 AutoSet about a week ago. My experience has been nothing but positive. I had been using Philips machines since 2014. With the Dreamstation auto my settings were 12-20 and the pressure would always go walking throughout the night to about 18. My Airsense10 Autoset my settings are 10-20 but the pressure has not raised over 11.8. I just find the Resmed more peaceful to sleep under than the Philips.

Occasional forum visitor Capt Midnight here, and it's so interesting what you observe.

I just replaced my Airsense 10 Autoset with a Dreamstation auto, and my results are remarkable.

With the Autoset, leaks were a constant problem, and AHI was up 2x. (I use the same mask and setup) So far ( a little over a month) I'm averaging one fewer wake up per evening.

Every apnea patient is different, and the algorithms from one company will serve some better than others. Glad the Resmed is an improvement for you. Mine is now relegated to backup to my backup machine.

.

That's pretty interesting. I've always thought my resmed was not nearly responsive enough. as in when I'm having a "Bad" episode it needs to ramp way faster and resolve it rather then letting my episode resolve itself because I get roused. So you are saying Phillips is more responsive?

Philips machines are *less* responsive.

Hi All,

I am a newbie, sort of....Half my family uses CPAP of some form or another, including my wife, so I feel like I am more than a month into this.

Because my wife uses a CPAP (it's auto capable but she has run in constant pressure until recently) I have the perhaps rare position of having both a Resmed Airsense 10 Auto and a Dreamstation Auto running on either side of my bed each night. Overall I would say the two units are remarkably comparable in terms of features, noise level and even how they perform. I know that the algorithms are going to be quite different between the two but I think that either one is going to be an excellent machine.

I'll also further the conversation on used vs new machines. I am a Dr and I have no concerns about transmitting disease from used CPAP machines. As long as they are allowed to rest between users and thoroughly dry out there is not going to be anything living inside of the units that is going to hurt you unless some kind of mold has taken residence.

My issue with a used machine came not from cigarette smoke but the fact that I am allergic to most artificial fragrances. We have never been able to isolate the exact chemical that I can not tolerate but most artificial fragrances cause me mild respiratory issues and actually will cause some nasty rashes on various parts of my body just from inhalation. My medical supply company gave me a lightly used Resmed Airsense 10 Auto and for two nights I slugged through trying to use it, waking both mornings with swollen lymph nodes and a sore throat and feeling like I was getting sick. The first day I just thought it was the air pressure drying things out but the 2nd morning I realized that the issue was a fragrance in the machine. It was faint but intolerable for me. It was the weekend and we got nowhere calling the supplier so my wife traded her Dreamstation Auto for my Airsense 10 Auto until I could try to get a replacement. It also served as a control to prove that it was not just the air pressure that was causing my problems. Her Dreamstation Auto performed exactly like the Resmed Airsense 10 (I changed the clinical settings on both machines) as far as I could tell but without the immune response. She did just fine with the Resmed Airsense 10 coming from her Philips Dreamstation Auto.

I called the device supplier Monday morning I called and told them I needed a brand new machine or I was mailing the thing back and going to a different supplier. They overnighted a brand new unit along with a return box for the used one. I have not had the sore throat or gland swelling with the new machine so I can say that the problem was solved.

Fragrances are a lot like cigarette smoke in that they involve a lot of oil-soluble volatile molecules that can really penetrate into some materials and become extremely hard to get rid of. In the case of my first Resmed Airsense 10, the odor was very mild, basically undetectable unless you were really trying to distinguish it but it was enough to cause me problems. Most likely there was hand lotion or something similar on a nightstand where they kept the CPAP. I put a data card into it was able to download the previous user's data (a privacy issue I know but I did not realize there was data in the machine from the first user until I read it), they used it 42 nights, 191 hours, over ~5 months. I may have been able to shock treat with ozone to oxidize the fragrance molecules but it would have taken a long time to clear out completely and I did not want to risk damaging the unit with that much ozone exposure.

I have shared all of this to say that experiences between users are going to vary wildly from one person to the next with used CPAP machines. An issue that is not a problem for one may be a dealbreaker for another. I am certain that when the used machine that I returned was unpacked some tech smelled it and was certain that I was just making an excuse to get a new machine. Everyone is going to be different. I am mildly disappointed that I will likely never feel comfortable buying a used CPAP in the future because I will not have any way of knowing what kind of fragrances it had been exposed to.