Alright, I've had two sleep studies in the past. One in-lab where I slept 2.75 hours, had about 50 unclassified breathing events hypopneas/apneas all thrown together. This could have been higher because I didn't sleep much that night. I've read that getting less sleep can actually make sleep apnea even worse than it normally would be. 4.7 AHI with 18 RDI. Snoring was noted by the sleep tech. Previous sleep doc wouldn't give me CPAP.
Second study was a home study that I requested myself. Snoring was noted, but no audio that I was aware of was on the equipment, so unsure how they determined that. 5.2 AHI.
ENT doc was willing to give APAP based on my home study results, but didn't know much about the equipment. She said they use American Home Patient and that they'd call me within a couple of weeks from AHP. They never did, so I called them back after over 2 weeks. It took forever to get them on the phone (hold recordings saying the agents were all busy) and when I did, they couldn't tell me the full cost. Instead, they told me that it was $40 a month co-pay and I don't even have insurance listed. I told them I was buying it directly without insurance. So then AHP told me to call DME Suppy and give them the info/order and "if they need a prescription, have them call American Home Patient to get it." This is ridiculous.
So I'm going to seek a ResMed Air Sense 10 Auto. Some suggested the For Her version due to the lighter setting. Doubt they'll approve it because they'll say, "That's the women's machine" and may not know the difference.
ResMed P10 nasal pillow mask.
What else will I need? Heated hose? Extra filters? Doesn't look like they have the P10 mask , so may have to get that elsewhere. Will I need a prescription for the mask itself?
What other things do I need to put in the order?
What else will I need? Heated hose? Extra filters?
A heated hose is not essential. It is a comfort feature that is a nice to have. It lets you run your humidifier in auto. If you are in a humid climate with cool nights you can get "rainout" in the hose which is just the humid air condensing. A heated hose prevents it. If you buy it with the machine as a kit, there may be a bit of a price break on it.
Doesn't look like they have the P10 mask , so may have to get that elsewhere. Will I need a prescription for the mask itself?
Another nasal pillow mask to consider is the F&P Brevida. In the US you do need a prescription for a mask. The prescription to get the machine should be sufficient. You should get a written copy of the prescription for a machine from the second doctor. You technically can get a mask without a prescription if you buy it in two parts; the mask, and the headgear, and then put it together yourself, which is very easy.
What other things do I need to put in the order?
The packages often include extra filters, but if they don't you will need them sooner or later.
ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet DAW
pressure 6-20
EPR Full Time EPR=2
Heated Hose
Mask: Patient Preference
Supplies to keep at home:
extra
Heated Hose
Humidifier Chamber
Mask Cushions (after you know your size)
Extra Mask
Filters
Hose Management (Something to keep the weight of the hose from pulling on your mask causing a leak) I use a simple velcro strap with a clip I attach to my pillow or PJs.
Alright, so I'm just a few days away from ordering. They use a company called DME Supply USA. There are so many of the ResMed Air Sense 10 listings.
One is the machine with HumidAir Humidifier for $758: https://dmesupplyusa.com/resmed-airsense10-cpap-humidair-humidifier.html Looks like no hose.
Another is the machine ResMed AirSense 10 Elite CPAP w/ HumidAir Humidifier: https://dmesupplyusa.com/resmed-airsense10-elite-cpap-humidair-humidifier.html $848
For $969, this one has more: https://dmesupplyusa.com/resmed-airsense-10-elite-cpap-humidair-humidifier-climatelineair-tube.html ResMed AirSense 10 Elite CPAP w/ HumidAir Humidifier and ClimateLineAir™ Tube
ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP w/ HumidAir™ Humidifier $883. https://dmesupplyusa.com/resmed-airsense-10-autoset-cpap-humidair-humidifier.html
Finally, for $923 you get ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP w/ HumidAir™ Humidifer and ClimateLineAir™ Tube https://dmesupplyusa.com/resmed-airsense10-autoset-cpap-humidair-humidifier.html
Will it hurt anything getting the ClimateLineAir hose if I'm not in much of a humid environment all of the time? Better to have it ahead of time or to not bother? We have central heat/AC. It gets a little chilly in the house during the winter time since it is an older house that doesn't stay that well insulated. I'm trying to think ahead...will that help prevent the rainout during the winter if the house is a little chilly?
Mask will be ResMed P10. If I remember correctly, isn't this the quieter mask that also needs an upgraded version of headgear because it is a bit flimsy?
I presume that it comes with the filter that I'll need for the first month or so. I can figure that out as I go and order more stuff.
Humidifier chamber...shouldn't that come with it as part of it? Or is that something that I should change regularly?
Anything else I'm missing?
Of the list this is the best one:
"Finally, for $923 you get ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP w/ HumidAir™ Humidifer and ClimateLineAir™ Tube https://dmesupplyusa.com/resmed-airsense10-autoset-cpap-humidair-humidifier.html"
It would be better however to get the For Her version, and it should be the same price. I see they offer this For Her version for $883. It does not include a heated ClimateLineAir tube, but you can buy one for $31 or so at other places. No prescription should be required. Here is one place to get it. If you do it this way you will get a slimline non heated hose, plus the heated hose.
I see this DME place does offer the For Her Version as a kit with the ClimateLineAir tubing. However the price makes no sense at $1,108.
Yes, it should come with a travel case, humidifier, and some spare filters.
The ResMed P10 mask is a good starting point.
So if I can get that version separately and the ClimateLine separately...am I good on everything else?
How's the P10 headgear and what's the more sturdy kit that I've read in the past that people said could be changed out?
I'm thinking of getting a pillow with cutouts for CPAP to lay on my side, as well. Anyone try those?
Yes, I would say you have the basic setup. I think the CPAP pillows are a bit of a gimmick. You can accomplish pretty much the same thing by sleeping on the edge of the pillow with the mask sticking out off the edge.
The P10 headgear is not great, but some manage with it. My suggestion would be to try it like it is. If you like the mask and not the headgear, then I have modified mine by adding the Mirage FX headgear. It is a one way conversion, so don't go that way unless you have to. Here is a thread on how I did it.
Here is the headgear for the Swift FX at Cpap.com.
What's an "elite" CPAP? One title says it and the others don't.
The last link also says "AutoSet"...did they just use different wording for the same machine? That's odd.
How do I get them to agree to give me the For Her version on the prescription?
I need a physical copy of it, but the ENT doc referred me to American Home Patient who said that because I am self paying that I could go directly through their vendor DME supply. Not sure if the ENT doc has the prescription. They said American Home Patient would work with me on that and said they had the prescription info. American Home Patient passed me off to DME. It's a mess and they act like the prescription is gold or something.
Here all you have to do is ask your referring doctor for the prescription. They get it from those who did the sleep study. I don't see why they have to put the specific model on the prescription especially if you are paying. It should just say Auto CPAP, assuming they agree an Auto CPAP is correct.
The AirSense Elite is a fixed pressure CPAP that records detailed data on the SD card. It is a little better than the AirSense CPAP, which is also a fixed pressure CPAP but does not record detailed data.
AutoSet is ResMed's name for an Auto CPAP that adjusts pressure during the night automatically.
The AirSense Elite is a fixed pressure CPAP that records detailed data on the SD card. It is a little better than the AirSense CPAP, which is also a fixed pressure CPAP but does not record detailed data.
Does the non-elite version record data to internal memory instead of SD? As long as I can connect it to the computer for reading and analysis, I'm fine with it. I need to keep watch on my AHI and such to use a program like Sleepyhead with, as well.
So it sounds like the AutoSet may be the one I need if it is the only one that auto adjusts automatically throughout the night...? The others are fixed pressure only? It confuses me when they list all of them as CPAP when it is supposed to be APAP isn't it?
To the best of my knowledge the non elite CPAP does not record any detailed data, just very basic summary data that you probably can get off the machine itself. It would be a waste of time to use SleepyHead with the basic machine. I also do not think it can detect central apnea, which is a big negative.
The AutoSet models are the only automatic pressure setting models. There are some more expensive AirCurve BiLevel machines which are automatic, but they would not be appropriate.
The non-elite CPAP from ResMed (ResMed Airsense 10 CPAP) is a Brick. There is no way to extract the detailed information that OSCAR (and SleepyHead) uses because it does not exist in any form. The only information is summary info and Compliance data. This is not a recommended machine for this reason.
If I can get the For Her version, will a regular P10 mask work? I see that they have a "For Her" mask and a regular mask, as well. I presume that the ports would be the same for the hose connections. I'm thinking it must just be the way the mask itself is designed. I don't need to get a "For Her" mask to match the machine, right?
I'm waiting to hear back from DME Supply. My ENT doc referred me to American Home Patient who referred me to DME simply because I don't have insurance on file and I'm self-pay. DME is probably going to ask me for a prescription, so I'm already prepared for the run-around once more. Hoping to get this resolved soon. Just want to make sure I get all of the right stuff the first time. Thanks for the help.
The AutoSet For Her machine is identical to the standard AutoSet machine, except that the For Her version has an extra For Her mode built into the software. And the color is different. The standard machine is basic black, and the For Her is a beige color. The same masks fit both machines. In fact most other manufacturer masks fit the machines too. The mask to machine hose connection is standardized.
I guess it makes me curious why they feel that ladies only should have a feature that has lighter output and/or faster response time.
First, I realized I didn't fully answer your question about the For Her masks. They will fit standard machines (or most any brand) and the main difference is the color, and in some case the headgear is smaller. Unless you have a smaller head size I would not order one. The exception might be the P10 mask. The straps on those masks tend to loosen and there is no good adjustment method. If you don't mind the color, then the For Her version of the P10 mask may be a good idea. If I was buying one again to use just as it comes, I would order the For Her version. But, I guess it kind of depends on your head size...
As for the For Her special algorithm here is the ResMed story on why and how they developed it. A quote:
"Women tend to have less severe OSA than males, with a lower apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and shorter apneas or hypopneas. Episodes of upper airway resistance and flow limitation that do not meet the criteria for apneas are more common in women."
I think the reader's digest version is that it is optimized for someone with lower AHI, potential upper airway resistance, and needing less pressure. The bottom line is that it is only an option, and if it does not work for you, you can just switch it back to the standard algorithm. You would think they would just offer a unisex machine with the option on them all. But, they don't, so it just a marketing thing.
So I challenged their price of $923 for the regular version of this kit vs the For Her version at $1,107. They're going to match the $923 because they have no answer for why the price is that way. Looks like they're ripping off the women. That extra algorithm setting couldn't possibly cost nearly $200 more.
I'm getting this one: https://dmesupplyusa.com/resmed-airsense10-autoset-her-cpap-humidair-climateline-humidifier.html
I'll order the regular P10 mask because people have been known to say I have a big head.
Everyone seems to like the ClimateLine hose as an extra feature, so I can't imagine needing to order a regular hose except for maybe as an emergency spare in the future. Even at that, I'd just overnight another ClimateLine hose.
Sounds like a case of the "Pink Tax"! If you check around the various websites both in Canada and the US, the standard version and the For Her version sell for the same price. Obviously the price from the factory to dealers is the same for both.
There is no reason to have a regular SlimLine hose other than as a spare. I have one and have never used it. When we RV off the grid I save power by turning off the humidifier and heated hose.
