Let me start by saying that I was skeptical about buying this machine due to various reviews of it I read online. I’ve been a CPAP user for 6 years now and have only used the DreamStation 1 and I had no issues with it. The thought of changing brands didn’t really interest me, so I threw caution to the wind and purchased the DreamStation 2.
After re-downloading the DreamMapper app that never worked with the DreamStation 1, I was able to pair it with the DreamStation 2. The first night with the machine, in all honesty, was terrible. I went from having .5 AHI events (according to my sleep doctor) to 8.7 and was shocked to see that it recorded 3 each of total Clear Airway Apneas & Total Obstructive Apneas and an insane 67 total Hypopneas. Needless to say, I woke up with a pounding headache and feeling like I slept without the machine at all. After turning on the ramp up feature and after a day of adjusting the pressure on said feature to something more than I’m averaging during my sleep, I’ve gotten back down to my usual numbers and even had a night with only 1 total Obstructive Apnea and 1 Total Hypopnea as well. Not every night is like this, but it could be. I don’t feel *as* rested 1.5 weeks in using the machine as I did with the DreamStation 1, but I’m hopeful that I’ll get there.
As far as the maintenance that I’ve read people complaining about, it really isn’t that big of a deal to me. Figuring out how the water chamber slides out was relatively easy and now it’s not even close to being an inconvenience. It’s a simple press of the rear top button, gently push the chamber out from the lower sides with your thumbs, and out it goes. Easy!
Additionally, while I had to set the machine in a different spot on my nightstand/cart, the fact that the hose connection does not swivel is not a deal breaker for me either. Actually, my machine is closer to me now, so it negated any benefit of the swiveling hose connector.
Overall, I’m happy with my purchase. I’m able to track my sleep daily with the app, and I’m getting the CPAP therapy that I need. I can’t complain that much! It’s worth the purchase.