Here are all the CPAP machine and other CPAP products manufacturers I could find. If you have any others, let me know in the comments.
Just found out about this cool combo option: Apparently, you can get a Resmed S8 Compact CPAP Machine, one of the smallest CPAP machines out there, and a Resmed HumidAire 3i Heated Humidifier, and combine the two. When brought together, the two devices combine into a Voltron-like hybrid device, bringing CPAP and humidifier in a way god never intended.
But seriously, this is a pretty useful combination of two devices that are useful in the same place. My wife needs the humidifier to survive the winter months, and if I had a CPAP machine I could use this combo to fulfill both our needs. The S8 runs $725 and the Humidaire $260, so for just shy of $1000 this system works for me.
As an aside, a guy at my old job did a sleep study Monday night and found out he has sleep apnea. I consoled him, but was also able to use the knowledge I’ve recently acquired about CPAP and sleep apnea to reassure him that the doctors have lots of options for helping him. That felt nice.
Looks like one of our favorite CPAP retailers, CPAP Mart, has discounts on Remstar M Series CPAP machines. In their CPAP Specials section, they have the Respironics DS200H and Respironics DS200HS CPAP machines, both part of the REMstar Plus M Series and with C-Flex and Heated Humidifier, for below the manufacturer’s advertised price. The DS200H is less than $809 (they’ll email you the price), and the DS200HS (which adds a SmartCard) is less than $849. I love it when stores have mysterious secret pricing!
Take a look at this picture of the Swift II CPAP Mask Nasal Pillow, designed to be inserted in your nose as an accessory to Resmed’s Mirage Swift II series of CPAP Masks:
I don’t know about you, but something about that thing makes me want to run a caption contest. How about:
Worlds Worst Brass Knuckles
Or maybe they’re sort of an extension of those finger moustache tattoos you keep seeing? Think about it.
Anyway, if you’re wondering how it works, this image of a Resmed Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillows System complete with the pillow attached. Imagine yourself wearing this as a CPAP mask, and the unusual product begins to make sense:
I’ve noticed people looking around lately for nasal pillows, and had to see what they were talking about. Apparently, a nasal pillow is a part of a CPAP mask, or a feature in a CPAP mask, where the air is delivered directly into the nostrils, minimizing the amount of contact between the CPAP mask and the skin around the nose. These can take many forms, like little standalone things that look like ear plugs for your nose (often used by Puritan Bennet masks), or something that looks like a card with two mushrooms coming out of it (often used by Resmed CPAP masks)
The American Sleep Apnea Association has a great article explaining how you can choose the right CPAP mask and headgear for your needs. They emphasize:
Styles, which are mostly a matter of preference, include the more traditional triangular CPAP masks, like this Optilife CPAP mask, or a slightly larger full-face variation for mouth-breathers. The headgear is important too, so remember to have a matching chin strap, and you can usually get it in the color of your choice.
There are many kinds of CPAP masks, and no one can agree which one is the best. Your CPAP mask will be a matter of personal preference. What brand/style do you prefer to use? Does the color matter?
A new study about Obstructive Sleep Apnea shows that sleep apnea patients sleep no differently in a hospital than a hotel. The study shows that there was no difference in sleep parameters between two groups of patients, one housed in a hotel, one in a hospital.
The study measured “sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, REM sleep latency, total amount of slow wave sleep, and total stage 1 sleep“.
There is a growing trend of hotel-based sleep laboratories, but this study proves that there is no benefit to the patient of being housed in a hotel for a sleep apnea study. Patients with obstructed sleep apnea are so familiar with hospital settings, due to the chronic nature of the disease, that they do not feel any less comfortable sleeping in a hospital.
Of course, things are different for those of us with CPAP Machines. A CPAP machine user needs his machine in order to sleep properly at night, and not having that trusty Resmed equipment with a CPAP mask on your face does make a big difference. I don’t care how comfortable a hotel is, without a Respironics or other CPAP machine, I won’t be staying there!
Sleep Apnea Info has a quick, easy five question quiz that can help you determine if you have sleep apnea. I took it, and it said:
Based on your answers to the Self-Assessment Quiz questions, you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.
Oy! Perhaps I need a CPAP Machine!
But seriously, take the quiz and see if you may be suffering. If you get similarly disheartening results to my own, consult your doctor. If your doctor diagnoses you with sleep apnea, inquire about whether a CPAP machine is right for you.
Just because you have sleep problems, doesn’t mean you have to suffer. CPAP can often be the answer, with a machine from a company like ProBasics or Resmed taking care of all your problems. Check out CPAP Mart for more details.
CPAPtalk.com is going to be running its third product challenge, pitting the Hans Rudolph V2 Full Face Mask against the ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask. 50 participants will evaluate the Hans Rudolph CPAP Masks and fill out surveys, which will be compared against the ResMed CPAP mask to determine the latest winner.
The last Product Challenge, between the Zzz-Mask full face and the Respironics ComfortFull 2 masks, was a close race with the ComfortFull 2 winning by a vote of 29 to 21. The Zzz-Mask stayed competitive in all areas of the trial. This Challenge provides manufacturers, durable medical equipment providers and doctors an insight to CPAP user preferences. The trial results could change drastically if PMI ProBasics requests a rematch after addressing the participants’ comments in regards to adding a quick-release hose adapter or new headgear clips.
Which CPAP Mask is your favorite? Feel free to talk about your experiences in the comments.
CPAP Masks like these can be found at CPAP Mart.com, which also has a selection of CPAP Machines and other products.