Choose a machine

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on September 27, 2011 at 23:40

Well Sally, just look what I've found if you click on the link.  (I found this interesting too).  A video comparing the noise levels of the Respironics System One vs Resmed S9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5OxBPJ_UII

The video was put on You Tube by an american company called The CPAP People who sell both machines, so have nothing to gain by advertising it.

I have both the Respironics System One and the Devilbiss and love them both.  I use the Respironics all the time as the information via the software is phenomenal, and I take the Devilbiss away with me (as I'm too lazy to dismantle my Respironics machine for quick trips) and that one gives me brief information if I need to check how my sleep went.  I would say that in the UK, the Respironics System One, Resmed S9, Devilbiss Sleep Cube and Fisher Paykel Icon are all the top selling machines and none of them should be noisy, as they're all the latest ones. However, it seems that the Respironics one is probably the quietest.  Personally, I have no problem with noise and can sleep through anything!   I would highly recommend that when you've made your choice you go direct to the companies to make your purchase so you get good customer support.  Also, they will all liaise direct with your sleep clinic to set the machine up for you.

 

Your next choice will be whether to buy APAP or CPAP.  I would always go for APAP, as an APAP can also work just on CPAP mode, but a CPAP can't work on automatic pressures.

 

Your other question about distilled water.  It is correct that we should use distilled water.  However, here in the UK this is hard to get hold of so people tend to use either boiled water cooled down or use a water filter, which is better than nothing.  However, DO NOT use deionised water fit for cars and irons.

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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on September 27, 2011 at 23:45

Sally, I've been told always to use distilled water as in Australia there are lots of chemicals in our drinking water including flouride and you can breath the chemicals directly into your lungs via CPAP.
Our supermakets sell distilled water in bottle but Kath is right you can boil water and let it cool then use it.

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on September 27, 2011 at 23:57

Out of interest Terry, can you buy distilled water easily in Australia? (just in case I emigrate LOL).  You can buy it easily in the USA, but not here.  I'm horrified to hear that some hospitals tell people to use deionised water, which might help with the humidifier chambers but is not good for us breathing it in :(  The water supplies vary in the UK, but I can smell chemicals in the water in our area, and know for a fact that fluoride is added.

Terry Vella said:

Sally, I've been told always to use distilled water as in Australia there are lots of chemicals in our drinking water including flouride and you can breath the chemicals directly into your lungs via CPAP.
Our supermakets sell distilled water in bottle but Kath is right you can boil water and let it cool then use it.

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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on September 28, 2011 at 0:03

Kath, most supermarkets sell it, I pay $1.35 for 2 litre which lasts me 2 weeks, it is much easier than having to make it myself.
Flouride is good for your teeth but probably not to good to breath in.
You should try to emigrate sometime, my sister-in-law has emigrated from England and is now an Australian citizen.
The weather is normally pretty good, although I live in Melbourne and we can have all four seasons in one day.

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on September 28, 2011 at 0:13

That's convenient Terry, being able to buy it cheap in supermarkets.  It's so hard to track down here.  Melbourne sounds like the UK with all those seasons in one day :D  I'd have to move to somewhere that's hot all years, as I thrive on sunlight and could even live without seasons for the sake of more sun ;)

Terry Vella said:

Kath, most supermarkets sell it, I pay $1.35 for 2 litre which lasts me 2 weeks, it is much easier than having to make it myself.
Flouride is good for your teeth but probably not to good to breath in.
You should try to emigrate sometime, my sister-in-law has emigrated from England and is now an Australian citizen.
The weather is normally pretty good, although I live in Melbourne and we can have all four seasons in one day.

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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on September 28, 2011 at 0:23

Kath, sounds like you after Queensland a lot of our retirees go there in our winter. I went and saw my sleep tech yesterday and she gave me a few more helpful tips on mask leak and refitted my straps. I seemed to give her more information than came my way in regards to these forums and websites. She was impressed with my knowledge after only a few months of use, I wasn't listen quite as good as I should have as she is quite good looking as well as knowledgable. I had a good nights sleep last night with hardly any leaks that I could feel and my AHI was 1.9.
The Tech was very impressed with my results so far and wished everyone had the same successwith CPAP.
It does take time and I am tryING many different things from drinking lavender tea,ausing a defuser with lavender oil in my room to a smaller pillow to allow for my mask.
I seem to be getting somewhere.

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on September 28, 2011 at 0:36

Queensland it is then ;)  Great to hear you have a good sleep tech looking after you.  They're worth their weight in gold, and like you say, already she's helped you get even better results :)  It's a case of trial and error for all of us when first on CPAP, but you'll soon be an 'expert' and be able to help so many other people new to it all.  Time to don my new Fitlife mask now and hope for sweet dreams........Good Night!

Terry Vella said:

Kath, sounds like you after Queensland a lot of our retirees go there in our winter. I went and saw my sleep tech yesterday and she gave me a few more helpful tips on mask leak and refitted my straps. I seemed to give her more information than came my way in regards to these forums and websites. She was impressed with my knowledge after only a few months of use, I wasn't listen quite as good as I should have as she is quite good looking as well as knowledgable. I had a good nights sleep last night with hardly any leaks that I could feel and my AHI was 1.9.
The Tech was very impressed with my results so far and wished everyone had the same successwith CPAP.
It does take time and I am tryING many different things from drinking lavender tea,ausing a defuser with lavender oil in my room to a smaller pillow to allow for my mask.
I seem to be getting somewhere.

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Permalink Reply by Tigers Fan on September 28, 2011 at 9:31

In the US, they are told to use distilled water because it is readily available and cheap but mnainly because their tap water varies from hard to the hardest in the world - mega problems with scale in their humidifiers. Also, I believe, the purity of their water can be suspect, to say the least.

The word to use distilled water has travelled across the Atlantic along with the CPAP machines. Ideally, I suppose we would use distilled water - but it it is far from necessary. A Brita filter will take out a lot of hardness salts and a lot of added chemicals, too - more so than cooled, boiled tap water. I pay £2 for 12 litres of soft bottles water - Scottish or Welsh are the softest (least dissolved hard salts) - at any supermarket.

If we did a survey in UK amongst 1000 CPAP users with humidifiers, I'm sure that 50% put tap water in, 40% bottled water and 10% would be a mix of people having their own water distillers, sterilizers, boiling etc.

If you are worried about bacteria in your water, you just have to boil it. The rest is all about hardness salts and the lack thereof.

We are using water evaporated at way less that 100C boiling point. I think fluoride boils at above 1000C so there is little chance of carry-over with our CPAP air. Bottled water gets around that for sure!

TF

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on September 28, 2011 at 16:48

I've used cooled, boiled tap water for a long time, but changed to distilled water some months ago.  I haven't had any problem getting the distilled water in the UK. My local chemist orders it in for me in 5 litre containers.

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on September 28, 2011 at 22:47

That's interesting Lisa and I shall investigate that.  It would be good if we could buy it in supermarkets like they do in Oz and USA wouldn't it.  I must admit my GP did suggest me asking the local pharmacy as he highly recommended it with us breathing it in all night.  However, I totally forgot until I'd read this.

Lisa said:

I've used cooled, boiled tap water for a long time, but changed to distilled water some months ago.  I haven't had any problem getting the distilled water in the UK. My local chemist orders it in for me in 5 litre containers.

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on October 9, 2011 at 17:42

If your water is safe enough to drink it is safe enough to use in your PAP. If you clean your machine it does not matter if your water is hard or soft. Just sayin.

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Permalink Reply by Sally Gould on October 9, 2011 at 23:02

Thanks for your reply.  Much appreciated.  I will just do what I have always done.  Keep it clean and use tap water. 
RockRpsgt said:

If your water is safe enough to drink it is safe enough to use in your PAP. If you clean your machine it does not matter if your water is hard or soft. Just sayin.

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