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wthankachan
+0 points
·
about 6 years
ago
Original Poster
I have a Resmed airsense 10 autoset that I have been using for a month. This device is given to me on a rental plan and I can return it if needed. Right now, given that I have met my deductible I pay only the 20% co-insurance. Come January I am responsible for around 200$ per month for this device for 10 months that comes to 2000$ where as the device is much cheaper in the open market. I also have to meet the nurse practitioner every 30 days to go over the device settings where as I get all the information I need from the data downloaded in sleepy head. According to the practice this is an insurance requirement but to me it seems like a scheme for additional billing.
Over all I seem to be doing pretty well on what I can see in sleepy head and I don't think that the practice can give me any new information by meeting them every 30 days. I am also on an automatic refill plan which I plan to get out off and buy only refill as needed.
Can anyone suggest what machines I should be looking at in the open market?
Philips Resprionics - comes to around 800 with the humidifier and the heated tube.
Resmed airsense 10 autoset - have three months of supply that I think will last for 6 months at least and I can buy what I need from Amazon or other sites as and when needed.
Any feedback or thoughts based on your personal experience? I feel that Resmed accessories are costlier but I may be wrong. Can I use my Resmed mask with the resprionics machine. Does anybody know?
I use the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet and I believe it is the better than the DreamStation Auto. If you want the reasons I will post them for you. I have used a Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle and I cannot recommend it. The ResMed AirSense is the best machine on the market in my opinion, and the DreamStation is a second choice. I would not consider anything other than these two if you want the best.
I am assuming you are in the US? If so the common list price for the AirSense 10 AutoSet is $883, but I have seen it for less if you hunt around real hard on the internet.
In my opinion if you are controlling your AHI well with SleepyHead and know how to adjust your machine there is no need for monthly appointments. My wife has been on CPAP for 4 years now and has never been back. Her AHI is fine at about 1.2.
If I am reading your situation right, I would let them have the current machine back, and just buy your own from an on line internet store. You will need a prescription to get a new one though. I'm not sure what you are getting on a refill plan? In 6 months I have only used 1 filter and am on my original mask. Filters and mask inserts are easy to buy on line, and do not require a prescription.
Yes, masks are interchangeable between machines unless you get a specialized travel machine like the AirMini.
On a quick look here is one USA price on the AirSense 10 AutoSet including the heated ClimateLine hose for $785. No tax and free shipping. This place also has used machines for sale too, but the price is often not much less...
wthankachan
+0 points
·
about 6 years
ago
Original Poster
Thanks for the information. I was looking at the review videos of the resprionics dreamstation and it includes the tracking of periodic breathing that the resmed airsense 10 does not. Is this metric significant and does it matter that the airsense does not track periodic breathing? I do like the airsense as it is smaller and the container for the water is not as big and bulky as the dreamstation.
As best as I understand it periodic breathing is technically a more general condition and includes a more specific type of periodic breathing called Cheyne Stokes respiration. Respironics likes to call it periodic breathing and ResMed calls it Cheyne Stokes Respiration (CSR). I think it is a worthwhile feature and both machines likely do about the same job. Some believe it is over reported by the machines causing unnecessary alarm. But, it does raise a flag if it is seen frequently and is something that should be investigated by a cardiologist. After 6 months using the AirSense 10 my machine reports I have had CSR about 0.1% of the time.
If you want some differences between the machines, the ResMed reports flow limitations continuously while the Respironics only flags it. The ResMed reports total time in apnea, but the Respironics machine does not seem to. Total time in apnea is a useful measure because AHI only counts incidents of apnea but does not consider the length of time each incident lasts.
The ResMed has a better method of controlling EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief) than Respironics does with their similar A-Flex feature. EPR and A-Flex can reduce treatment effectiveness during sleep. However it does make the machine more comfortable by reducing expiratory pressure before you go to sleep. ResMed allows you to use EPR only during the Auto Ramp, and then have it shut off automatically when you go to sleep. Respironics can't do that. I also believe that EPR is more effective as it gives you the full pressure relief that it is set at, while the Respironics A-Flex more shapes the pressure instead of fully reducing it.
The two machines differ in how they respond in Auto mode. The Respironics is slow to increase pressure and quick to reduce it. It also ramps pressure up about every 10 minutes and then back down again just to see what it does. The ResMed is quicker to ramp pressure up and holds it up there in anticipation of more events longer. I believe that is more effective. ResMed on the For Her version of the machine offers two different response modes. The For Her is more suitable for those using lower pressures. You can set the machine to use either the Standard or For Her response mode.
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