Philips Dreamstation auto or fixed

[cands]

Hi Steve,
I am just over 7 weeks in. My prescription was for 'Fixed' pressure of 13. I must admit that 13 was very hard to take at the beginning. I started on a Resmed 10 Auto set from 5-18.

I really like the Resmed machine and have become very accustomed to the pressure. I have been gradually increasing the minimum pressure. It is now at 11.8 which is very close to my prescribed pressure. I found it difficult to fall asleep with low pressure, so I have abandoned the ramp and just start with it close to the optimal pressure. Relaxing into it is the key for me.

The automatic machine dances around the 12-14 mark, with occasional spikes to 17 or so, I guess during REM sleep. I rarely wake up during the night now. I have now purchased the Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset. I feel it gives extra flexibility over a fixed machine, and empowers me to optimise my treatment. I am consistently getting AHI figures below 1.0 and I feel great. If I want to set it to fixed I have that option.

I purchased the machine on-line for just under AUD1900.

I too don't like the noise the machine makes. I have been sleeping with ear-plugs, which solves that problem. I have finally stopped noticing the noise of air through the mask.

Hang in there.
Cheers.
Steve N (me too)

[Ockrocket]

Great to hear it gets better over time. Were you offered fixed or auto machine. Did you try both or just used fixed mode on the auto machine. My pressure is 9cm so hopefully I don't need auto, what your pressure?. At the moment, I can get a fixed one for sale for $1350 with mask and about $2200 for an auto.
Do you find the auto more comfortable for breathing or fixed especially when you wake up? Great to see another Aussie on here.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,

The clinic my machine supplied was auto, my specialist wanted me tested on auto to work out settings that suit me, then had me switched to fixed pressure on the same machine to see if I can get by with a fixed pressure machine instead of the auto.
I can get the compliance numbers I need to get my licence reinstated with the fixed machine, but I'm going to opt for the auto machine as it gives me the option of managing my future needs more accurately... I tend to be very involved in my personal health management (doesn't mean I do every thing I should, but I'm at least aware and make informed choices on what medical action is taken to address my health situations).

I'm on 7cm fixed and am generally below 1 on AHI, but sometimes it does bump to 1.2 or thereabouts.
On auto I was on lower pressure, and felt the machine was less intrusive to sleep with, my AHI numbers were about 1.6 on auto, so still well under the 5 required for licence compliance.
I've now become accustomed to the fixed pressure as well, so I can happily use either mode.

Do you have a clinic monitoring your numbers remotely?
Do you use the Sleepyhead program on your computer to monitor your own data?
Where can you get the auto DreamStation for that price? (and are you sure it is the latest model at that price?).

And there are a quite a few Aussies here on the Forum I suspect..

You will also note another anomaly when you read the last line of my comment below to Steve's reply to you as well.

Hi Steve,
I am just over 7 weeks in. My prescription was for 'Fixed' pressure of 13. I must admit that 13 was very hard to take at the beginning. I started on a Resmed 10 Auto set from 5-18.

I really like the Resmed machine and have become very accustomed to the pressure. I have been gradually increasing the minimum pressure. It is now at 11.8 which is very close to my prescribed pressure. I found it difficult to fall asleep with low pressure, so I have abandoned the ramp and just start with it close to the optimal pressure. Relaxing into it is the key for me.

The automatic machine dances around the 12-14 mark, with occasional spikes to 17 or so, I guess during REM sleep. I rarely wake up during the night now. I have now purchased the Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset. I feel it gives extra flexibility over a fixed machine, and empowers me to optimise my treatment. I am consistently getting AHI figures below 1.0 and I feel great. If I want to set it to fixed I have that option.

I purchased the machine on-line for just under AUD1900.

I too don't like the noise the machine makes. I have been sleeping with ear-plugs, which solves that problem. I have finally stopped noticing the noise of air through the mask.

Hang in there.
Cheers.
Steve N (me too)

Hi Steve,

The noise from the machine can be reduced depending where you place the machine, and if you can "house" it in some way to block the sound... but make sure it has plenty of airflow around it still (my DreamStation is very quiet, though my wife used to notice some noise when it first settled in to my breathing rhythm, I overcame that in two ways... one was to put a "shelf" over where it sits on the floor by the bed, the other is to use ramp mode on the nights when she is having trouble getting to sleep).

The noise through the mask is very much dependent on what type and brand of mask you use.
My F&P Eson nose mask vents outwards from the elbow where the hose connects to the mask and causes no issues for noise or anything else.
The clinic also gave me a nose pillow mask to trial.. it sucked.. it vented towards my eyes and face, was noisy, uncomfortable, and irritated the crap out of my sinus passages to the point that it gave me a head cold that meant I couldn't use the machine for three days, which in turn meant I failed my first month of compliance required to get my licence back.. I should finally be getting it back in late August.

Cheers,
Steve P. (aka Stephen me three)

[cands]

Hi Steve,

The noise from the machine can be reduced depending where you place the machine, and if you can "house" it in some way to block the sound... but make sure it has plenty of airflow around it still (my DreamStation is very quiet, though my wife used to notice some noise when it first settled in to my breathing rhythm, I overcame that in two ways... one was to put a "shelf" over where it sits on the floor by the bed, the other is to use ramp mode on the nights when she is having trouble getting to sleep).

The noise through the mask is very much dependent on what type and brand of mask you use.
My F&P Eson nose mask vents outwards from the elbow where the hose connects to the mask and causes no issues for noise or anything else.
The clinic also gave me a nose pillow mask to trial.. it sucked.. it vented towards my eyes and face, was noisy, uncomfortable, and irritated the crap out of my sinus passages to the point that it gave me a head cold that meant I couldn't use the machine for three days, which in turn meant I failed my first month of compliance required to get my licence back.. I should finally be getting it back in late August.

Cheers,
Steve P. (aka Stephen me three)

Hi Stephen P,

I must admit I hadn't thought of moving the machine, mostly because for the first few weeks I was 'hitting the big button' all the time to see what the pressure was doing.

At the moment it is on a bedside table pretty level with my head. I think moving it lower will cut the noise a bit, so thanks for that suggestion.

I'm using a full face mask, and finally getting the leaks under control. The noise doesn't really bother me any more.

Interesting you talking about not obstructing the air inlet. It has been a cold, wet winter here in Adelaide. I have the hose temperature set to 29. A few mornings it has been so cold, I have pulled the covers up over my head. Nice and cosy, with fresh warm air being pumped in from 'outside'.

Good luck with getting your licence back.

Cheers,
Steve. (Stephen too)

[stephennic]

Great to hear it gets better over time. Were you offered fixed or auto machine. Did you try both or just used fixed mode on the auto machine. My pressure is 9cm so hopefully I don't need auto, what your pressure?. At the moment, I can get a fixed one for sale for $1350 with mask and about $2200 for an auto.
Do you find the auto more comfortable for breathing or fixed especially when you wake up? Great to see another Aussie on here.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,

The clinic my machine supplied was auto, my specialist wanted me tested on auto to work out settings that suit me, then had me switched to fixed pressure on the same machine to see if I can get by with a fixed pressure machine instead of the auto.
I can get the compliance numbers I need to get my licence reinstated with the fixed machine, but I'm going to opt for the auto machine as it gives me the option of managing my future needs more accurately... I tend to be very involved in my personal health management (doesn't mean I do every thing I should, but I'm at least aware and make informed choices on what medical action is taken to address my health situations).

I'm on 7cm fixed and am generally below 1 on AHI, but sometimes it does bump to 1.2 or thereabouts.
On auto I was on lower pressure, and felt the machine was less intrusive to sleep with, my AHI numbers were about 1.6 on auto, so still well under the 5 required for licence compliance.
I've now become accustomed to the fixed pressure as well, so I can happily use either mode.

Do you have a clinic monitoring your numbers remotely?
Do you use the Sleepyhead program on your computer to monitor your own data?
Where can you get the auto DreamStation for that price? (and are you sure it is the latest model at that price?).

And there are a quite a few Aussies here on the Forum I suspect..

You will also note another anomaly when you read the last line of my comment below to Steve's reply to you as well.

Hi Steve,
I am just over 7 weeks in. My prescription was for 'Fixed' pressure of 13. I must admit that 13 was very hard to take at the beginning. I started on a Resmed 10 Auto set from 5-18.

I really like the Resmed machine and have become very accustomed to the pressure. I have been gradually increasing the minimum pressure. It is now at 11.8 which is very close to my prescribed pressure. I found it difficult to fall asleep with low pressure, so I have abandoned the ramp and just start with it close to the optimal pressure. Relaxing into it is the key for me.

The automatic machine dances around the 12-14 mark, with occasional spikes to 17 or so, I guess during REM sleep. I rarely wake up during the night now. I have now purchased the Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset. I feel it gives extra flexibility over a fixed machine, and empowers me to optimise my treatment. I am consistently getting AHI figures below 1.0 and I feel great. If I want to set it to fixed I have that option.

I purchased the machine on-line for just under AUD1900.

I too don't like the noise the machine makes. I have been sleeping with ear-plugs, which solves that problem. I have finally stopped noticing the noise of air through the mask.

Hang in there.
Cheers.
Steve N (me too)

Hi Steve,

The noise from the machine can be reduced depending where you place the machine, and if you can "house" it in some way to block the sound... but make sure it has plenty of airflow around it still (my DreamStation is very quiet, though my wife used to notice some noise when it first settled in to my breathing rhythm, I overcame that in two ways... one was to put a "shelf" over where it sits on the floor by the bed, the other is to use ramp mode on the nights when she is having trouble getting to sleep).

The noise through the mask is very much dependent on what type and brand of mask you use.
My F&P Eson nose mask vents outwards from the elbow where the hose connects to the mask and causes no issues for noise or anything else.
The clinic also gave me a nose pillow mask to trial.. it sucked.. it vented towards my eyes and face, was noisy, uncomfortable, and irritated the crap out of my sinus passages to the point that it gave me a head cold that meant I couldn't use the machine for three days, which in turn meant I failed my first month of compliance required to get my licence back.. I should finally be getting it back in late August.

Cheers,
Steve P. (aka Stephen me three)

Hi Steve,
I can get the machine from CPAP Victoria for that price. I am only renting the machine at the moment so not sure if I can get access to sleepyhead - can you without yet owning a machine?

I might start a another forum post on how I fixed some of the noise going up the tube into the mask. A engineering friend had a look and said the noise is the whine of the motor going up the tube through the air up the tube and into the mask. This especially bad with earplugs. What I needed to do was divert and disrupt the air flow which cancelled out most of the noise. We got a 330 ml plastic drinking bottle put the hose connection in the hole where you drink from, cut out a round hole 90 degrees on the side of the bottle and join another small hose to my mask (amara view I have so it has a hose lead anyway). Tried it and it worked at least 80% of the noise is gone. I also tried with small milk carton it worked also.
Took it to the sleep physician and he laughed, and he said if it works why not. He measured the pressure the other end and it only dropped from 9 cm to 8.5mm and he said we just readjust for the difference.
The only thing is you have the drink bottle in the bed with you, but it certaintly helped reduce the noise that kept me wake.
Cheers
Steve.

[Ockrocket]

There is a link to Sleepyhead at the top of this page, just under the Apnea Board banner towards the right hand side of the page.

You can download Sleepyhead to your computer/laptop, then once you have set up your profile and so on you can use the program.
You will find the SD card on the Dreamstation machine under the same flap where you find the filters.. gently push the card inwards and release, it will then pop outwards so you can remove it, reverse the process to put it back in (make sure you do, or it won't record your continuing data statistics).

To download to your computer - open the Sleepyhead program, insert the SD card in to the card reader slot (or get an external card reader if your computer doesn't have a built in reader), on the Sleepyhead screen click on the icon that shows the SD card and says Import', the program will automatically download from the SD card.



When you are doing the initial set up of Sleepyhead you will need to create a profile (personally I'd recommend using your real name/details in case you want to provide data to your GP or to a Govt. authority for compliance requirements to maintain your driving licence etc..)

It is also good to be able to follow your own personal progress, but understanding the numbers will do your head in for a while

When it comes time to actually buy your own machine make a duplicate copy of your SD card with all the data on it, just in case the place where your rental unit comes from won't let you keep the one from the machine you are renting now.

This is how I've placed my machine to reduce both noise and the possibility of "rainout" condensation accumulating in my mask.. and I love the nylon kitchen chopping boards they are useful for sooo many other things apart from in the kitchen.
The "shelf" above my machine is simply a large chopping board wedged between the mattress and the bed base, I also use a smaller one underneath the machine so it is not sitting directly on the carpet risking a fire from the humidifier heater, and also not getting carpet fibres caught up in the housing of the machine.


I leave the towel on top of the shelf because I drop the mask and hose on there when I remove them, any condensation (not that I've had anything significant yet) can just drip on to the towel, which can then be easily washed when necessary.. the padding of the towel also muffles what little noise the machine makes.


The fan whine noise you describe as coming through the hose is something I have not had, but I can hear the fan fluctuating slightly when I first turn the machine on though.

I sit on the edge of the bed for two or three minutes when I first put on the mask and turn on the machine, once my breathing pattern and the machine pressure sensors get balanced the fan whine stops, then I lay down and am asleep within a couple of minutes most nights.

When/if I get up in the middle of the night I keep the mask on, but disconnect the hose from it and turn the machine off... some nights when I reconnect and turn it back on I can hear the fan fluctuating as it settles back in to balance again, but most times it doesn't need to adjust when I hook back up withing a couple of minutes.

As newbies, you and I are both still on a learning curve I think... but getting there.

With the help of the knowledge base within this forum we will get it all sorted out with our respective journeys.

[stephennic]

There is a link to Sleepyhead at the top of this page, just under the Apnea Board banner towards the right hand side of the page.

You can download Sleepyhead to your computer/laptop, then once you have set up your profile and so on you can use the program.
You will find the SD card on the Dreamstation machine under the same flap where you find the filters.. gently push the card inwards and release, it will then pop outwards so you can remove it, reverse the process to put it back in (make sure you do, or it won't record your continuing data statistics).

To download to your computer - open the Sleepyhead program, insert the SD card in to the card reader slot (or get an external card reader if your computer doesn't have a built in reader), on the Sleepyhead screen click on the icon that shows the SD card and says Import', the program will automatically download from the SD card.



When you are doing the initial set up of Sleepyhead you will need to create a profile (personally I'd recommend using your real name/details in case you want to provide data to your GP or to a Govt. authority for compliance requirements to maintain your driving licence etc..)

It is also good to be able to follow your own personal progress, but understanding the numbers will do your head in for a while

When it comes time to actually buy your own machine make a duplicate copy of your SD card with all the data on it, just in case the place where your rental unit comes from won't let you keep the one from the machine you are renting now.

This is how I've placed my machine to reduce both noise and the possibility of "rainout" condensation accumulating in my mask.. and I love the nylon kitchen chopping boards they are useful for sooo many other things apart from in the kitchen.
The "shelf" above my machine is simply a large chopping board wedged between the mattress and the bed base, I also use a smaller one underneath the machine so it is not sitting directly on the carpet risking a fire from the humidifier heater, and also not getting carpet fibres caught up in the housing of the machine.


I leave the towel on top of the shelf because I drop the mask and hose on there when I remove them, any condensation (not that I've had anything significant yet) can just drip on to the towel, which can then be easily washed when necessary.. the padding of the towel also muffles what little noise the machine makes.


The fan whine noise you describe as coming through the hose is something I have not had, but I can hear the fan fluctuating slightly when I first turn the machine on though.

I sit on the edge of the bed for two or three minutes when I first put on the mask and turn on the machine, once my breathing pattern and the machine pressure sensors get balanced the fan whine stops, then I lay down and am asleep within a couple of minutes most nights.

When/if I get up in the middle of the night I keep the mask on, but disconnect the hose from it and turn the machine off... some nights when I reconnect and turn it back on I can hear the fan fluctuating as it settles back in to balance again, but most times it doesn't need to adjust when I hook back up withing a couple of minutes.

As newbies, you and I are both still on a learning curve I think... but getting there.

With the help of the knowledge base within this forum we will get it all sorted out with our respective journeys.

Wow, that's impressive. I will have to post a picture of the mod I did. But it wouldn't let me, how do you do it - it kept asking for script prompt (please enter remote url etc).
Will try what you do before lying down. Also will try to download sleepyhead. Thanks for the encouragement too.
Cheers
Steve

[Ockrocket]

Wow, that's impressive. I will have to post a picture of the mod I did. But it wouldn't let me, how do you do it - it kept asking for script prompt (please enter remote url etc).
Will try what you do before lying down. Also will try to download sleepyhead. Thanks for the encouragement too.
Cheers
Steve

Happy to pass on what works and doesn't work for me, reading what others do is what helped me work out some of my setup too.

As for the photo posting... for years now I've been using Photobucket for posting pics in forums.
I also commented in your other thread about posting photos where you said you are having problems getting pics up.

You create an account on a photo hosting website and then upload pics to there (be aware of the fact that many of your photos will be "stolen" and used by other websites and companies, depending on what form of sharing security you put on them, but it if you put restrictions on them then the photos may not show up on the public forums you want to share them to)

Once you have your photos uploaded to the photo hosting website you then can copy the Image link to paste in to your thread or comment on a forum page.

Give a yell here or via PM if you have problems working it out.

Cheers,
Steve (is there an echo in here )

[stephennic]

Hi all,
I just trying a dreamstation auto machine and they set the start pressure at 6, I feel its to low. I couldn't changed it as the sleep physician locked it at that. How do I up it to 6.5 or 7 as that is what I used on the fixed machine.
Also I noticed is the algorithm different on the auto at 6 as I noticed on the fixed set at 2 exhale it seem a little more comfortable to breath on the fixed, on 2 on the auto I seem to exhale to much and feel as if I am not getting enough air.
Cheers
Steve

[Crimson Nape]

stephennic,
Here is the link to the Dreamstation clinician manual:
http://www.apneaboard.com/dreamstation-c...structions

You should be able to find the pressure range settings here.

[stephennic]

stephennic,
Here is the link to the Dreamstation clinician manual:
http://www.apneaboard.com/dreamstation-c...structions

You should be able to find the pressure range settings here.

Thanks.
Also is the algorithm different on the auto at 6?
I felt on the fixed dreamstation machine set at 2 exhale it seem a little more comfortable to breath on. On 2 on the auto I seem to exhale to much and feel as if I am not getting enough air. Any thoughts. Thanks in advance
Cheers
Steve