Direct me to info on the different types of CPAP machines

Hi All,

This has probably been posted before but can someone help me understand the differences between the CPAP machines such as straight CPAP, BiPap, Auto, etc? I want to try and learn as much as possible because I am thinking about switching machines. I want to give my current machine at least six weeks of sleeping with it every night to see if I can get to sleep through the entire night first. If not, I want to have the information on hand to talk to my physician about a different machine. Never bought the machine through the DME, using my father in law's old one so I could technically buy a machine through them. Thanks for your help.

Maria

P.S. Again so glad I found this site.

Here are three links to get you started:

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-compare-chart/all-CPAP

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-compare-chart ... sting-CPAP

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-compare-chart/all-BiPAP

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Den

Thanks Den and I also found a lot of information on the various types of machines under collective wisdom on the site. I am thinking of possibly an auto if I am still waking up after three hours of use with the straight CPAP.

Since you are on 10, you need to only look at APAP and CPAP. An APAP can be set to run as a CPAP.

A bilevel machine needs a different Rx (BIPAP is a trademark name for Respironics bilevel). A bilevel machine offers one pressure for inhale and another for exhale so this is more pronounced relief on exhale than either cflex or EPR.

You would probably want data.

viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168

If you are going to use your local DME, ask them what machines you can get with your current Rx and come back with that information.

If you are going to buy online from cpap.com out of pocket, then do some more homework now. You can buy an APAP with a CPAP Rx, but you need that Rx sent in, so get it in hand.

If I recall correctly, you are in a HMO. Their contract with the DME is going to determine much of it and you might have little choices. They will probably not allow an APAP unless the script says APAP on it and even then they can balk.

You probably want a machine with EPR or Cflex (or Aflex) which are some minimal exhale relief. Again, if you are going to use the HMO and local DME, ask what you can get with the Rx they have in hand.

If you are willing to buy OOP, then the whole field is wide open and I would suggest start looking at these: Remstar M series APAP with aflex, the Resmed new S8 II auto, the Sandman APAP (no exhale relief) and obtaining the necessary software.

A footnote to Jules' excellent post -

Although the Sandman does not have exhale relief, I don't miss it (my pressure runs about 10). I like this machine better than my Respironics APAP with A-Flex. If you look at this one, however, I would get the version without humidifer and get a Fisher & Paykel HC150 standalone humidifer. The version with the built-in humidifier seems like an accident waiting to happen. I use hose management and have a non-slip pad under mine so haven't had a problem but it's a lightweight machine and without my precautions, it's apparently easy to tip over and get water in the machine.

Mindy

Mindy -

SWC shows the FP stand alone humidifier on her profile. I didn't see a reason to even get into humidifiers (good / bad / other) if she has that one already.

jules wrote:Mindy -

SWC shows the FP stand alone humidifier on her profile. I didn't see a reason to even get into humidifiers (good / bad / other) if she has that one already.

Aha - good point! I should look at profiles more often

Mindy

Look at the Resperonics M-Series w/ A-flex that just went on sale on this site. It it presently priced around half what I paid for mine new.

You won't be sorry.

Georgio

Thanks everyone. You are all so awesome and wonderfully educated. Keep suggesting Auto machines you are using and what made you decide on the machine you did. It helps me to know what machine would help me the most. I will check out the machine suggestion on this site.

Maria

You will get excellent therapy w/any of the devices so far suggested. I see you are currently using a Resmed S6. I'm partial to the Resmeds and was started on CPAP therapy w/the Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR. I like the ease of access to nightly data via the LCD screen w/the Resmeds, they can't be beat for this. I also like that there are only the 3 "pieces" - CPAP, humidifier and humidifier tank. I've also used the Respironics pre-M Series Auto w/C-Flex and Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage. I got excellent therapy w/each but as mentioned above I much prefer the Resmeds.