Chosing a machine and software - help needed

[mars]

I have about 18 hours to go before I must decide what machine to buy, and use for the next few years, or rent the Sandman Info for another month.

So I will be doing a search of as many posts as I can to answer the things I need to know. However I have spent untold hours over the past week trying to get myself up to date with knowledge. There is too much out there, and I am exhausted.

So if anyone has a quick answer to any of my queries, please post, and I will come back from searching every half hour or so and check for replies.

To put this in perspective I saw my medical sleep specialist yesterday, would not answer my questions, threateded to tear up my copy of my sleep study if I asked any more, and all I needed was lose all interest in my treatment, and just do as I was told.

So I am looking at the Sandman Auto, but as far as I can see there are not many around, and I wonder why that is. One supplier told me that they are not reliable, but I think I have learned not to trust suppliers.

The other one is the Resmed Series 11 S8 Autoset Spirit 11 Platinum Series. On the Sandman I can get an AHi/leak reading for a sleep period, which I have found very useful. The Resmed only, I think, gives me a daily reading, and I need to be able to access the Advanced or Detailed Menu for this, I cannot see this in the manual I saw.

I also need to be able to change the setting (the Drs prescription was 5 - 15, take it or leave it) so having read many posts I want to change that immediatly if I get it.

I will, if I can, find these answers in the forum, but if anyone can help out please do so. So no more whining, off I go.

cheers

Mars

[Maxy]

Hi I too am in the same predicament

[ozij]

I honestly believe nobody has the right answer to your dilemma.

Sandman reliability: there was a problem of it tipping over and water spilling in. The now sell a mode without an integrated humidifier - you would need to buy a separate on.

Sandman algrorithm: Very versatile settings - more than any other machine's. Versatilty is good when you don't know for sure what you need.

Sandman pressure relief: None. It's respnosive when you exhale, but does not back up pressure the way other ResMed and Respironics do.

Sandmand software: Great.


ResMed reiiablity: Excellent - and they have a newer and better integrated humidifier (H4).

ResMed algorithm: No tweaking (not vesatile). Wonderful for many people, catastrophic for others. Some guessing can be done base on your PSG report - if they report what events you have at which pressure.

ResMed pressure relief: You can drop your exhale pressure 1 - 2 - 3 cms on exhale. Eesybreathe technology on series II is beloved by many, and very quiet

Resmed software: Without an additional module (ResLink) you won't get to see snores on the report -- even if they exist.


The right solution for you may be the wrong solution for someone else - sorry I can't be more definite.

O.

[cflame1]

If the Sandman Intro that you've been using has been working for you... why not go for the Sandman Auto?

Why you're not seeing many? They used to be called 420E's (Good Knight by Puritan Bennett)... and I think that more folks would have those.

[ozij]

The Sandman is a new line:
Intro
Info
Auto
Duo

http://www.puritanbennett.com/prod/List ... SPT&S2=CBI

[Slinky]

Thanks, Ozij. The Sandman's are kinda homely little things aren't they. I was surprised about the recommendation for a separate humidifier because there was a problem of it tipping over and water spilling in. I hadn't known they had come out w/a bi-level in the new Sandman line and was checking it out: the Sandman Duo.

[Mtnviewer]

I like my Sandman Auto and would recommend the AUTO and NOT the Intro. I purchased the AUTO based on reviews on CPAP.com and this forum and due to the reviews on its software. The Intro will not have the same controls. I've been using the Auto for 2 months now with no problems, and I'd think that it's long term reliability would be fine based on the reliability of the 420E series predicessor. I keep mine in a box / drawer beside my bed to help keep a quieter room and which also would help avoid any night time tugs with the hose, which I'd think that most PAP machines could succumb to. Perhpas the Sandman is lighter than some other brands, which I find is a bonus though for travelling.

I would think that the Sandmans are not yet as popular as other brands due to the larger sales network of the other brands and they being around longer in the game than Puritan Bennett and perhaps the other big 2 brands giving better incentives for DME's / providers to carry only their products and or shut out the others? The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The provider that I first went to only carried ResMed, and claimed to know nothing of other brands. That scared me and raised a red flag about the knowledge of the provider vs. the brands and about my care in their hands.

So don't let your provider bully you. It's YOUR therapy not theirs and you won't be able to access your provider all the time, so YOU need to be informed and prepared. If all else fails, get a copy of your sleep study, and buy the machine etc. online from CPAP.com, or cpapauction.com which is what I did, using a combination of both. Also insist on the clinicians manual and get the software with whatever machine that YOU choose.

I had a similar experience as you with my nearest provider and I hated dealing with them, not to mention that they were FAR FAR more expensive than cpap.com, with next to no selection of machines or mask. So in the end, I saved LOTS of money, travel time, peace of mind and most important, got control of my therapy by not using the provider and buying what I wanted online. The learning curve on my own was a bit daunting at first, but it was with the provider too and due to how they treated me, I gave up on PAP therapy and then came back to it 3 years later. And fortunately like you, I found this forum with lots and lots of help. You can do this on your own and you do not need a DME or provider.

I found the following release history of the Sandman software with improvements and bug fixes, which may be of interest to you. v1.3 or 1.4 would be more helpful IMO than v1.2.

Sandman Therapy Software Release History

Version 1.4 January 2009

- correct a bug in installation program (when upgrade from previous versions)

Version 1.3 December 2008

- add Sandman Duo/Duo ST management

- printing waveforms pages in Waveforms report

- print settings from direct connection on device

- erased data after download from memory card or on direct connection

- correct a bug on download from memory card on sandman info/auto

- correct a bug on PDF/print report of the night calendar.

- Japanese UI.

Version 1.2 July 2008

- add global usage information on Intro

- correct a bug with Intro files management (recorded with version 1.0)

- correct a bug if no compliance is started (empty data) on memory card.

Version 1.1 April 2008

- add 2 devices: Sandman Info and Sandman Auto.

Version 1.0 January 2008

- Sandman Intro compatible only.

[KengEsq]

I have about 18 hours to go before I must decide what machine to buy, and use for the next few years, or rent the Sandman Info for another month.

So I will be doing a search of as many posts as I can to answer the things I need to know. However I have spent untold hours over the past week trying to get myself up to date with knowledge. There is too much out there, and I am exhausted.

So if anyone has a quick answer to any of my queries, please post, and I will come back from searching every half hour or so and check for replies.

To put this in perspective I saw my medical sleep specialist yesterday, would not answer my questions, threateded to tear up my copy of my sleep study if I asked any more, and all I needed was lose all interest in my treatment, and just do as I was told.

So I am looking at the Sandman Auto, but as far as I can see there are not many around, and I wonder why that is. One supplier told me that they are not reliable, but I think I have learned not to trust suppliers.

The other one is the Resmed Series 11 S8 Autoset Spirit 11 Platinum Series. On the Sandman I can get an AHi/leak reading for a sleep period, which I have found very useful. The Resmed only, I think, gives me a daily reading, and I need to be able to access the Advanced or Detailed Menu for this, I cannot see this in the manual I saw.

I also need to be able to change the setting (the Drs prescription was 5 - 15, take it or leave it) so having read many posts I want to change that immediatly if I get it.

I will, if I can, find these answers in the forum, but if anyone can help out please do so. So no more whining, off I go.

cheers

Mars

Hi Mars,

There are no universal answers to your questions - every machine is a little different. I have the ResMed S8 AutoSet II APAP and love it. It is quiet and dependable. But that is not to say you will love it or that it is the best for you. Off the LED screen you can get data regarding the 95% pressure, leak, AHI, AI, HI and usage for the day, week, month, etc. as long as you get that information before Noon (it resets each day at noon). If you want more details, you will need to either get them from your DME using your data card that comes with the machine or buy your own card reader and ResScan Software.