11 year old CPAP

[Many Klatch]

I have been using a Respironics REMstar Plus since January of 2007.  I use ResMed Mirage Swift II head gear with nose pillows.  The airpressure unit works fine but I have found that the Humidifier heating unit has stopped working.  

I like the REMstar Plus because I can pop off the air unit and take it camping in the Summer without the Base unit.  I got the optional battery hookup so I am able to sleep off the grid for up to 9 days with two Marine batteries as a power source.

I don't use the Humidifier in the Summer, there is enough humidity in the air, so I have no idea how long the heater has been broken.

So the problem is how do I go about replacing this unit.  It has been good, it works, I wouldn't mind another one for the next 11 years.  I don't know what is available.  I called my medical insurance company.  For me to get issued a new one I need to take another sleep test and go through the whole rigmarole again.  I really don't care to do that.  What I have works.

BTW is there some way to repair the heating unit.

I need some advice.

For those of you that have just gotten your CPAP, stick with it for the first week or so.  Nose pillows were my salvation.  Never could make friends with the whole face mask, I felt like I was sleeping in a noisy cave.  I no longer fall asleep at stop lights and I dream again.  CPAPs are a real gift.  

BTW, I found that the silicone nose pillows can be washed in the dishwasher with no ill effects.  Lot cheaper than these new CPAP cleaners that I see on TV.

[MitchS]

I don't know anything about repairing the humidifier and question whether it would be worth it or not due to the age of the machine. You should be eligible for a new machine, if you have insurance since the machine is over 5 years old.

The Respironics DreamStation Auto may be a good replacement option. It is small without the humidifier and runs of off 12 volts with the optional 12 volt power cord. It is one of the most popular machines on the forum.

[Many Klatch]

I'm over 70, stuck with Medicare.  Have to go through the whole thing.  If I stick with the same unit, I hope to be able to slip the card out from the old one and put it in the new one, Voila!

[MikeBear]

I just replaced a 20 year old Puritan & Bennett GoodKnight 318 cpap I've used all those years, with a ResMed Airsense 10 Autoset.

Even though I had and used the old machine religiously for 20 years, switching to the new Airsense 10 is like starting over from scratch. It's so quiet, I still can't get used to it. I LIKE the loud "white noise" bone-conducting sound of my old "blower-brick" cpap machine. LOL.

I had to get my wife to switch to the Airfit P10 mask to stop her snoring, since I now don't have the old machines white noise to mask my hearing her. Amazing enough, her FIRST night with the new mask (she has a ResMed S9 Elite cpap) resulted in a 1.28 AHI, and her snoring went  from like a 100 to a 10 on a volume scale... Her second night she went down to a .68 AHI. She's NEVER been below a 3~ AHI in the last 6 years using a Quattro FFM that just never would seal right...

So anyway, the Airsense S10 Autoset is the top of the line newest model.

[ajack]

What is your out of pocket? It would be sensible to have a sleep test. A lot can change.
You can buy a philips dremstation auto for under $400 off of amazon. I think that is 12v, The resmed is 24v and needs more messing around with to use on batteries.

[Sleeprider]

There are Craigslist ads for outdated machines all the time. You should be able to find a Remstar Plus, pro or Auto with humidifier to use along with your own equipment. The advantages and increased comfort of a new unit can't be over-stated. You have no clue what the quality of your treatment is with the old Remstar without any data, and there are lots of advantages of buying new. Check your local Craigslist ads and those of nearby towns. There are brand new Airsense 10 Autosets being sold by a Washington State distributor for $495. That is a lot of quality for the price, and if you want something older and cheaper, those are usually easy to find as well.

[upsman]

BTW, I found that the silicone nose pillows can be washed in the dishwasher with no ill effects.  Lot cheaper than these new CPAP cleaners that I see on TV.

Hmmmm. 
How long have you been doing this? I would think the high water temperature would eventually cause the pillows to warp and not seal properly. I hope you don't have the dishwasher set for the high-heat drying cycle. That would surely mess the soft silicone up.

My experience has been to wash my masks on a weekly basis with warm soapy water, let them thoroughly dry, and then nightly I use an unscented wipe to remove any oil build up from the night before. I've been doing this for many years, and my doctor tells me it's more than enough to keep the gear clean.

Those CPAP cleaning machines like SoClean seem to be nothing more than expensive gimmicks. From what I've been able to determine, they are a waste of money.

[Many Klatch]

I had a problem getting replacement parts for my headset because the company that I originally started out with got bought out and they lost my contact information, so I went about 5 years with no support and no new silicone parts.  I have been putting the silicone parts in the dishwasher for at least that long.  I figured that a lot of the new heat pads and spatulas being sold today were silicone so it was worth a try.  It works.

[Mosquitobait]

My suggestion is to buy a Dreamstation Auto from Amazon. You need an upgraded machine since these machines are only designed for roughly 15,000 hours. Then search for the machine you have now on Craigslist, Offerup or Supplier #2 on the Suppliers list tab up above. Give Supplier #2 a call or email and tell them exactly what you want and that you would be happy to take something that has more hours.

[trish6hundred]

Hi Many Klatch,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck as you continue CPAP therapy.