Best CPAP machines in Aus?

GagReflex · Post by **GagReflex** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:43 am

After being diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, I'm nearing the end of my 4 week CPAP trial, and I'm about to choose a machine.

There's too many choices!!

I would like a really quiet machine, the one I'm currently hiring is a Remstar Auto M Series (with humidifier), it's a little loud, it 'groans' on exhale. I read (somewhere) that the new Resmed S8 II Platinum Series are very quiet.. They appear to be only here in Australia?. Any comments would be welcome.

I'm trialling fixed pressure at the moment, without problem. It's running at 10.. I've trialed a couple of different masks but so far only the Respironics Optilife I've had any success with.

Any suggestions would be welcome, it seems a few of the options in the US are not available here in Aus though.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:33 am

I started out with a Remstar Auto (tank) great machine. IMHO, the M series were not as good for 2 reasons, 1) they were a radical departure from the Remstar tank & thus had issues that needed time to fix & 2) the motor whine is reminiscent of the Resmed S7 series.

The S8 noise was a big improvement over the S7s & the S8 IIs appear to be even better.

The Tyco/Puritan Bennett PB420 series are also a good machine.

The choices are pretty good for you in Oz.

Good luck

DSM

#2 If a straight cpap is the choice, also consider the F&P HC6xx series - excellent for straight cpap - they have a great H/H & a heated tube built-in)

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, auto

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:24 am

I too am new to this and my pressure number is also 10. Straight CPAP also. I was given the F/P 604 BECAUSE of the great humidification and the heated tube. For me, this machine has been great. It is very,very quiet and if I didn't feel the pressure, I wouldn't know it is on!

bigk · Post by **bigk** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:37 pm

Make sure in Australia you buy online. http://www.cpapaustralia.com.au has pretty good prices. I got the S8 with integrated humidifier - can't beat it. The respironics with a-flex isn't available in Australia so the Resmed is a pretty good choice - it's very quiet.

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:46 pm

There are many on here who will tell you that the machine that you have is the Cadillac of the machines. I would keep it if I were you. Sometimes, the noise is not the machine, but the mask. On inhale and exhale. I have a straight cpap in the M series and would dearly love to have one like yours. My opinion, Keep it and use it. you will not regret it.

GagReflex · Post by **GagReflex** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:06 am

Thanks all, great advice and really very much apreciated. Up until a little over a month ago I had never really heard of sleep apnea, let alone what a CPAP was!. It's been great to read the messages on here and discover I wasn't alone with my splitting headaches every morning, and dozing even at times whilst driving. (Which is why I eventually headed to my GP)

My current machine is only hired till this Friday. So keeping it isn't an option.
After placing my original message I read another thread with someone complaining of the 'groan' noise of my current machine. So it looks like it might be 'normal'.. I'm sure most people wouldn't notice it, but at this point even the noise of the air in the tube bothers me, no doubt I'll get used to it.... eventually

I think I might go for the Resmed S8 series II Cpap, I'll see what sort of price I'm looking at through the sleep center I've been going through, but I suspect online will be the cheaper option. I think I'll go for the software also so I can see how I'm going.. Geeeze this stuff is expensive!..

Once again, thanks all.. really, really helpful!

John..

WarWraith · Post by **WarWraith** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:13 am

I've been on APAP for a week. I've got the ResMed S8 AutoSet Spirit II, with the Mirage Quattro full face mask, and I'm in love. Feeling better than I ever have. My wife can also recommend the S8, after living with my snoring and portable fans beside the bed for so long, this is a relief.

She says that she can't even hear it, so I'd say that's a 10 out of 10.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:30 am

As an Aussie, If you are in Medibank Private - there are some hospital schemes that will give you a $500 rebate on any cpap purchase. When I bought my Remstar Auto (which I got from cpap.com who host this forum) Medibank paid up based on the invoice from cpap.com.

Sadly you have to wait 3 years before they'll give you another penny towards cpap

DSM

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:21 am

dsm wrote:Sadly you have to wait 3 years before they'll give you another penny towards cpap

Or 5 years if you're on their Working Visa cover.

bigk · Post by **bigk** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:04 pm

I saved $600 buying online. LOL.

My health fund paid $1000 so I did better than Medibank Private.

I did my trial through a Resmed Clinic and even after the $200 rebate it was still way cheaper to buy online. If you get your Dr to fill out a recommendation, CPAP Australia will give you the Resscan software with a USB adaptor for FREE when you buy the S8 and mask from them. You will also get up to a $150 rebate from sleepvantage.

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:10 pm

bigk wrote:I saved $600 buying online. LOL.

You don't need to buy online to get a worthwhile discount..... its just a matter of asking, as quite a few of the Australian sources of supply will discount if asked.

Cheers,

Bill

Moby · Post by **Moby** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:28 pm

bigk wrote:
My health fund paid $1000 so I did better than Medibank Private.

which health fund, bigk?

Thanks

Di (in WA)

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:23 pm

[quote="bigk"]I saved $600 buying online. LOL.

My health fund paid $1000 so I did better than Medibank Private.

I did my trial through a Resmed Clinic and even after the $200 rebate it was still way cheaper to buy online. If you get your Dr to fill out a recommendation, CPAP Australia will give you the Resscan software with a USB adaptor for FREE when you buy the S8 and mask from them. You will also get up to a $150 rebate from sleepvantage.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:27 pm

For Aussies,

also be aware that any CPAP gear you buy, and added together exceeds your annual tax limit for medical claims (which I think is $1,500), you can (as a family) claim any un-refunded medical expenses over the $1,500 as a tax relief (IIRC comes off your taxable income at 20 cents in the $).

That was of considerable use to me after buying several machines to experiment with last year & the year before (can aggregate a couple of years into one if not previously claimed).

DSM

#2
<link removed, better link provided>

#3
A better link
http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/conte ... /19181.htm
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

bigk · Post by **bigk** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:15 pm

Well Bill, all I can say is the Resmed Clinic I attended had THREE opportunities to offer me a reasonable price and didn't alter their price by one cent.

In addition to the tax refund there is also an electricity rebate you can apply for.

The health fund is CBHS - but you or an immediate family member have to be an employee or past employee of the Commonwealth Bank - in my case my wife and father are both former employees.

Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: S9 Autoset, H5i, Resmed Swift FX, Resscan 3.10

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Airmini, Medistrom Pilot 24, CMS 60C Pulse Oximeter, ResScan 6

Best CPAP machines in Aus?

Best CPAP machines in Aus?

S8 ResMed