Upgrade CPAP machine advice

[McShane78]

Hello everyone

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea five years ago and I have been using the old "Philips System One REMstar Auto with A-Flex" since then. I never sleep without it.
In my country (Denmark) this machine is the default treatment equipment that the public health system provides for you. This means that if you need new equipment such as hoses, masks or even a new CPAP machine, they will provide it for you.
I am very happy about this arrangement , but I was wondering if new and more advanced CPAP machinery has been brought to market in the past 5 years.
I have searched the web to see what new CPAP machines had come to market and about 1 year ago I asked the public health services if they were considering introducing the Dreamstation. I did not receive a clear answer other than "there would be no difference between the two machines."

When I looked into the Dreamstation, I thought that the filter system looked better compared to the piece of "foam filt" that acts as filter on my current machine.
The CPAP machines a patient gets from the public health services are also locked, so that you cannot access the sleep data nor make adjustments to your own treatment.

I am now considering buying my own CPAP machine. I know it will be expensive, but at least I will be able to access my own sleep data and make adjustments if necesarry.


When I first started using CPAP I found this site to be an invaluable source of useful information and helpful experienced CPAP users so I want to ask the CPAPtalk community for advice before I commit to an expensive new CPAP machine.

1. If you were me, would you stay on the old, but free system or would you go out and buy your own gear?

2. If you were to buy a new CPAP machine today, which one would it be?

3. Have there been any real advances in the field of CPAP treatment or would you tend to agree with the statement "there would be no difference between the two machines."? ( System One REMstar/Dreamstation)

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Any comments/thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

[Julie]

ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier is the best choice of a new machine (the 'for Her' is a better option for both her AND 'him') whereas Dreamstation has had some problems for some people. You should look at bo†h on Cpap.com for details, pix, reviews, etc. Which way to go for you depends on what you feel you can afford, whether your system will allow the new machine, etc. The Remstar is out of date, though I suppose if you're happy with it, it's up to you. More and more people now use Sleepyhead software designed (on a Mac, but for everyone) to track progress overnight - it's free and you can get it - see 1st 'Announcement' main pg here - but it won't work with your old machine though gives way more and better info than whatever you've been using til now (Encore?).

[McShane78]

Hi Julie,

Thank you very much for your reply and input. I am looking into the machine and software.

I am still very interested in hearing other user's opinions as well, so please feel free to comment and share your opinions.

[Pugsy]

In terms of how the System One machine and the new DreamStation machine goes about doing its primary job...blowing air...there was no change in that area when the DreamStation was introduced.
What changed was some minor cosmetic stuff and a few minor upgrades or changes in features. Nothing huge though.
Maybe a little better filter system...addition of a Smart Ramp feature that supposedly knows when you fall asleep and will end ramp if you use ramp. Addition of a couple of features that IMHO caused more problems than it fixed like EZStart.
The overall footprint is slightly smaller but not by much and the look visually of the machine might be a little more pleasing to the eye if you notice that sort of stuff.
IMHO the differences are minor and not a critical part of the actual therapy itself. They both blow air exactly the same way with same algorithms.

Now if you want to go rogue and go with totally on your own supplied equipment....can't really go wrong with the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet. The S9 AutoSet is the older model and again cosmetic changes mainly with a couple of minor feature additions...how they blow air stayed the same with the exception of the For Her AirSense 10 AutoSet. It has an extra and different auto adjusting mode available for use over what the regular Autoset has. It's like 3 machines in one...where the regular autoset is like 2 machines in one.

Oh....we can tell you how to unlock your current machine if you want...none of these machines are locked in such a fashion that we can't unlock them. Super easy..just a combination of button pushing will unlock any machine. Those who supplied your machine...they didn't do any special thing to lock it. It's easily bypassed.

If money permits and you are curious about different machines....what's to keep you from having both the free machine and the one you buy on your own????

BTW...I have used both brands...Respironics System One apap and equivalent in the ResMed machine....I prefer ResMed...it's quieter overall and it uses a different algorithm for adjusting pressures that I find suits my needs better.
See that machine in my equipment profile.

[McShane78]

Thank you for the answer Pugsy. You are right, I could go with both and see which one works better.
Regarding unlocking the system. I considered that when I first joined this forum, but I was told by the public health services that it would be considered a breach of compliance if I did it.
I really appreciate the detailed answer you have given. I will look into the third algorithm aspect some more before making a decision.
After all, I use my CPAP every night and if there is any way that I can improve my over-all life quality by switching to a newer system, then I will do that.
Again, many thanks for sharing your point of view and experiences.

[Dog Slobber]

While I was being titrated I was on a loaner machine, I used that time to research machines. The favourite was the Resmed Airsense 10 AutoSet for Her.

When it came time to choose my machine, my DME pushed for the Resmed Airsense 10 Elite, I insisted on the Resmed Airsense 10 AutoSet for Her.

Best CPAP decision I've made.

[McShane78]

Thanks Dog Slobber for sharing your experience

[palerider]

The CPAP machines a patient gets from the public health services are also locked, so that you cannot access the sleep data nor make adjustments to your own treatment.

The machines aren't 'locked', there's just a hidden menu that you need to get the clinical manual to learn how to access, and to learn what all the settings do (I don't like telling people how to get into the menu without them having the manual so they know what all the setting mean).

Also, you can pop a SD card into the machine and get the sleep data, even without the manual and hidden menu.

[McShane78]

Thank you all for your answers and inputs.

I will have a chat with the public health service to see if they plan on introducing more up-to-date CPAP machines any time soon. If the say no, I am leaning towards buying the Airsense 10 (for her)

[Dog Slobber]

Thank you all for your answers and inputs.

I will have a chat with the public health service to see if they plan on introducing more up-to-date CPAP machines any time soon. If the say no, I am leaning towards buying the Airsense 10 (for her)

Probably worth mentioning, IMHO the important element for the Resmed Airsense 10 line is the AutoSet feature. Two models exist:
- Resmed Airsense 10 AutoSet for Her
- Resmed Airsense 10 AutoSet

The two are almost identical, except:
Autoset is black, AutoSet for Her is beige with vine pattern.
AutoSet for Her has an extra optional algorithm deigned for women.

Either model will probable serve you well.

[McShane78]

Thank you Dog slobber for the additional comment. I am seriously considering the "for her"-version. Only issue is that I would have to buy the air sense 10 myself. I have checked with resmed here in Denmark and the local price is $1230, which is a bit steep. Ordering it from abroad will probably be the same because of taxes and freight.

I will let you guys know what happens, once I have talked with public health after easter.

[Jas_williams]

Thank you Dog slobber for the additional comment. I am seriously considering the "for her"-version. Only issue is that I would have to buy the air sense 10 myself. I have checked with resmed here in Denmark and the local price is $1230, which is a bit steep. Ordering it from abroad will probably be the same because of taxes and freight.

I will let you guys know what happens, once I have talked with public health after easter.

Look at Secondwindcpap.com they have good prices on used and open box resmed machines the will ship internationally

[Badnvsleep]

McShane78,
I too had been looking at upgrading my old machine, PR 60 series System One and finally went with the DreamStation Auto. I am on my third night and so far so good. I have less leaks from my nasal pillows using the smaller tubing and sleeping better. Only time will tell if this works but I was pretty happy with my old machine so hopefully this one will work out as well. I was concerned with changing to the ResMed since they have different programming and I thought it would be harder to adjust to that difference. I figured that the old system was working pretty well for me for the last 5 years and decided to stay with the same company. I can tell you the DreamStation with humidifier has about the same footprint, but is shorter. I have also found the DreamStation to be quieter than my old PR 60 Series System One. I travel quite a bit so I am also looking at the DreamStation Go, but have not bought it yet. I did not go through my insurance, lucky that I could just buy the machine I wanted and not have to deal with some DME trying to tell me what machine I had to go with.

I am sure that the ResMed System is good, but I have just become comfortable with the PR systems. I hope this helps you a little.

[McShane78]

Thanks so much for your feedback guys

@Jas_Williams. Thank you for the link. I will definitely check it out.

@Badnvsleep. Thank you for sharing your experience. I have spoken with some other CPAP patient in my country and It looks like parts of the public health service has started to circulate the dreamstation and that they are retirering System one. That is good news. However, The dreamstation they are circulation is not the auto or pro model, but just the CPAP model.

I promise to let you all know what happens after Easter.

[chunkyfrog]

We tend to get very accustomed to the first brand of machine we tried.
Since you have used your current machine successfully for 5 years,
any subtle change may be more disturbance than improvement.
Some have found this to be the case.
We have seen it happen.
If your provider can give you the newest version of the PR machine, it might be good enough.