Newbie - wanting to buy a machine

Hey everyone!
Just wanted to say hi as I'm brand new here.

I was diagnosed with mild OSA last month. I finally got a sleep study done as I have suspected for a few years now that I had a problem. I have been on my cpap therapy for 2 weeks now. I am in the process of picking the kind of mask I prefer.

I'm thinking of buying my machine online rather than renting through the supplier because I will spend about half if I do it online, although it won't go towards my insurance deductible. But, oh well. I don't see any point in renting and paying double in the long run. Mine is a Phillips Respironics System One Remstar 60 series. But...I don't know if it is Pro, or Plus? I see both online and don't know which one to get. I own the humidifier already, so I guess I have to get one of the above to fit my humidifier.

What do you all do? Rent or buy online?

Also, I also have no idea how people know if they have leaks or not and how many ahi's they have a night. Mine only shows me total therapy hours and hours per night average. I want more info! Is that only available with certain machines?

Thanks!!

Tigerlily

Tigerlily wrote: don't know if it is Pro, or Plus?

Look on the bottom of the blower unit for a 3 digit number with 60 as the last 2 digits.

The Plus is model 260
The Pro is model 460
The Auto CPAP (APAP) is model 560

The 260 doesn't gather any useful data if you want to be able to monitor your therapy. The other 2 are full efficacy data machines.
How much rent each month and how many months....do the math. Sometimes buying online is a significant savings or enough of a savings that peach of mind getting what you want without a hassle is worth it.

Tigerlily wrote: also have no idea how people know if they have leaks or not and how many ahi's they have a night

We get full efficacy data machines and software.
Software is easy and free.

Welcome to the forum. The 460 machine has some limited APAP mode capabilities like only 30 days...but there's a way around that that is easy...if you want it.
Though if it were me and I could afford it...I would get the 560...that way full time APAP mode without having to do the little work around.

Does your current setup include the heated hose already?

Welcome Tigerlily -- pretty avatar!

Welcome,my insurance company paid for mine,s9 with zest Q nasal mask,chinstrap,i am new to this site to but not OSA ,alot of knowledge on here good luck

As to your mask, when you decide on the one you want...make sure you change it out every 4-6 months.

Pugsy wrote:Look on the bottom of the blower unit for a 3 digit number with 60 as the last 2 digits.

The Plus is model 260
The Pro is model 460
The Auto CPAP (APAP) is model 560

The 260 doesn't gather any useful data if you want to be able to monitor your therapy. The other 2 are full efficacy data machines.
How much rent each month and how many months....do the math. Sometimes buying online is a significant savings or enough of a savings that peach of mind getting what you want without a hassle is worth it.

I don't see any of that. Here's what I saw : REF 150P

Pugsy wrote:Does your current setup include the heated hose already?

I don't know. I know I have a heated humidifier, but I don't know about the hose.

Tigerlily wrote:
I don't see any of that. Here's what I saw : REF 150P

That's the most basic of machines...the 250 Plus has CFlex exhale relief...the 150 doesn't even have CFlex.
Very basic model machine. That SD card gathers hours of use only because that is all the machine gathers.

Your humidifier is not going to be a heated hose capable humidifier...it is a heated humidifier yes but it is a 50 series humidifier.

So you don't want to buy a 60 series blower machine to go along with that humidifier because they won't work together.

If you want full data (so you can monitor your AHI and leaks and whatever) and you want to use this existing humidifer...
the 450 machine PR System One Pro CPAP with CFlex or the 550 PR System One Auto CPAP with AFlex.
The 450 won't have APAP capability at all so my little trick to extend the 30 days is useless.
I would suggest the 550 machine ...it has cpap mode and apap mode....so like 2 machines in one.
Great machine and all the data you might want or need.

If you are having rain out issues now...we can talk about your options.

But your machine is a 50 series machine and so it has a 50 series heated humidifier and 50 series and 60 series won't work together. They have to match...blower and humidifier in models.

In the Respironics models...any model number lower than 450 (like the 150 or 250) won't have any useful data beyond hours of use.

Pugsy wrote:
That's the most basic of machines...the 250 Plus has CFlex exhale relief...the 150 doesn't even have CFlex.
Very basic model machine. That SD card gathers hours of use only because that is all the machine gathers.

Your humidifier is not going to be a heated hose capable humidifier...it is a heated humidifier yes but it is a 50 series humidifier.

So you don't want to buy a 60 series blower machine to go along with that humidifier because they won't work together.

If you want full data (so you can monitor your AHI and leaks and whatever) and you want to use this existing humidifer...
the 450 machine PR System One Pro CPAP with CFlex or the 550 PR System One Auto CPAP with AFlex.
The 450 won't have APAP capability at all so my little trick to extend the 30 days is useless.
I would suggest the 550 machine ...it has cpap mode and apap mode....so like 2 machines in one.
Great machine and all the data you might want or need.

If you are having rain out issues now...we can talk about your options.

But your machine is a 50 series machine and so it has a 50 series heated humidifier and 50 series and 60 series won't work together. They have to match...blower and humidifier in models.

In the Respironics models...any model number lower than 450 (like the 150 or 250) won't have any useful data beyond hours of use.

Oh wow...thanks! You are very knowledgeable!

I still am trying to understand the basics, I have several more questions!

What is the difference between cpap and apap?
If I get a machine with both can I pick one or the other?
What is rain out?
What is CFlex?
What is the benefit of a heated tube?
Why would they give me the most basic model available?
Hmmm...should I buy a new humidifier?
I bought the humidifier from them, didn't seem like I had a choice. Now I don't know if I can return it. I know I can return the cpap machine since I am renting it.

Tigerlily wrote:Why would they give me the most basic model available?

This one first....because it cost them the least amount of money and they get the same amount of payment from your insurance company for it as they would get for a full data machine...simply put...they make more money on supplying the cheapest machine.
It's all about the almighty dollar.

Tigerlily wrote: What is the difference between cpap and apap?
If I get a machine with both can I pick one or the other?

CPAP is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure...straight fixed pressure...pick a setting and it supplies a fixed pressure all night.
APAP is Auto (adjusting) Positive Airway Pressure...it has the above CPAP mode available but it also has APAP mode where the machine can auto adjust the pressures as it senses the need...so it has 2 modes of operation...like 2 machines in one.

APAP mode can be an advantage in some situations...some people may need more pressure when sleeping on their back or in REM stage sleep (I do in REM sleep) and using APAP mode enables a person to use a lower pressure part of the night when not much is needed and it will increase the pressure if some stubborn events want to pop up when supine sleeping or in REM sleep.
My usual pressure on an APAP machine is 10 cm but sometimes I need upwards of 18 cm for a short period of time during the night.
I sure don't want to use 18 all night in cpap mode It's much nicer to use 10 to 12 for most of the night and only have to use 18 when absolutely necessary.
That said...APAP mode is not for everyone. Sometimes the changing pressures disturb sleep or make leaks harder to manage.

BUT...it's nice to have it available if there is a need. You can use an APAP machine in cpap mode or APAP mode....
a single pressure cpap only machine...only offers cpap mode.

My thinking...better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it....especially since you are going to be using this machine for many years.

Tigerlily wrote:What is rain out?

Condensation in the long hose or mask. It's a byproduct of the humidifier delivering air with extra moisture in it...or in the mask, our exhale breath contains moisture...and cooler bedroom temps.
Remember physics....warm air holds more moisture...when it cools off there is no where for the moisture to stay in the air...so condensation occurs.
Rain out won't hurt you but it is annoying and will disturb sleep. In the hose just a few drops of water sounds like a lawn mower.
A few drops in the mask will give you a cold spray through the vent holes or you get to snort it up your nose..

Heated hose helps keep the air warmer so it doesn't cool so quickly in the cooler bedroom air and condense.
Not everyone needs a heated hose...This is new technology...my first machine for over 2 years...no heated hose...simply wasn't available. There are ways to minimize rain out even without the heated hose. I have tried them all. The heated hose is pretty nice.

Tigerlily wrote:What is CFlex?

One of the types of exhale relief that Respironics machines have. Makes it easier to exhale...especially at higher pressures.
There's C Flex..CFlex Plus...AFlex
BiFlex is only available on a bilevel machine (those are a different explanation).
What pressure are you using?
See here for explanation of the Flex options..pretty crappy explanation and hard to understand.
The APAP machine has both AFlex and C Flex available....the CPAP machine only has CFlex Plus available.
http://aflex.respironics.com/

Tigerlily wrote:Hmmm...should I buy a new humidifier?

That I don't know. What is the humidity setting you are using on it? Is it comfortable? I assume no rain out yet or you wouldn't have asked what rain out is. If you are getting adequate moisture...nasal passages are happy...your bedroom temp may be warm enough it doesn't matter. I like a 50 degree bedroom...I like lots of added moisture...I have had lots of experience with rain out and different things to reduce it. I love my heated hose.

You can get a PR System One 60 series APAP machine (560 model) with the optional heated hose equipment and 60 series humidifier for around $700 I think.
You would need to call them for exact price...it is lower than what is suggested. So don't get sticker shock. I think someone said they got it all for $675 but I can't swear to it.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... -tube.html
That way you would have everything you might need and then some .

But if you don't think rain out is going to be a problem (and remember there are ways to deal with it even without a heated hose) then you might be just as happy with the 550 machine and use your existing humidifier...save a few bucks.

I am on level 7 and my humidifier is set to 4 (scale of 1-5). I live in a very dry climate! So, my resp. therapist recommended 4, unless condensation occurs, then I can turn it down.

I have noticed very, very slight condensation, but I don't think it has woken me up. The reason I haven't turned the humidity down is because I don't want to get too dry.

Your info is very helpful! Thanks. I really appreciate it. It will help me in deciding what to buy.

Pugsy wrote: I like a 50 degree bedroom...

kaiasgram wrote: Pugsy wrote: I like a 50 degree bedroom...

Well...yeah. Old farmhouse...minimal insulation (if any) in the walls...there's none in the laundry room wall for sure because I can see exterior wall in the furnace cubby hole...Bedroom has a window to the north and east. Pretty much impossible to keep the room very warm so I don't try.
Turn furnace down to maybe 60 at night...Bedroom is always much colder than the room where the thermostat is...I don't know exact temp but it probably is 50 or so when we have cold weather. I like to bundle up under a nice quilt and down cover. Snuggle right in.

So since I prefer cold temps and the price of propane sucks and it's darn near impossible to get even the living room over 65 degrees in really cold weather....I just bundle up.

Besides...I still have some killer hot flashes at night. Wish I could package and store that energy.

So - here is my current machine, that I plan on returning.
http://www.directhomemedical.com/pr-sys ... onics.html

And my humidifier
http://www.directhomemedical.com/105620 ... bipap.html

Humidifier only compatible with 50 series, so looks like I will have to buy a new one and wasted my money on this one. I don't think I can return that one I have, since I bought it, not renting it.

This machine will work with your existing humidifier. Model 550..APAP machine.
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/respi ... -flex.html
Call for price..it's less than what you see shown.

You only need another humidifier if you want to get a machine with the heated hose option.

Humidifiers are normally a straight up purchase first month and you own it.
Machines are often rent to own...pay rent for so many months and then you own it with no more rent payments.

This one is the 450 model...the Pro which is straight cpap only except it has the Auto IQ thing...30 days of APAP available.
This one I know a work around to that 30 day limitation...this model has been discontinued..wasn't horribly popular but we can give you full time APAP mode just by doing a little clinical setting adjustment once a month.

Cpap.com is the online supplier that hosts this forum. They are good people to work with.

The price for this one isn't all that much less than the 550 though.

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/respi ... -flex.html