Disappointed with Respironics M Series

elliejose · Post by **elliejose** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:41 pm

Anyone out there with the M-Series Bipap Auto?

Is it noisier also?

Let's hear from you also, please?

fujiinator · Post by **fujiinator** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:20 pm

I basically got my M Plus just when they came out. I have not had any major problems with it. There was a point in the beginning that I thought the humidifier was not getting hot enough. I had it replaced and it has been fine and I quess my imagination on it.

Neither I or my wife feel it is too noisy. My Vornado fan on low is louder. I even one night before bed bumped the pressure to the 20 max and it was not that much louder. Now it might be louder without the humidifier to act as a muffler, but this is only a guess on my part.

I place my unit on the floor and have not had it unplug on me during the night at all.
When we were at my mother in-laws house and we were sleeping on a mattress on the floor I woke up and the M Plus was pulled up to the side of the mattress and the front face was on the ground because my arm had caught the hose and pulled it up. I was panicked because I thought I had drowned the motor ( I half noticed that it was still blowing). I turned it off as soon as I could. The machine was fine because it had been pulled up by the hose, so when the CPAP was front face down on the ground the humidifier chamber was on end as it would be when filling it. Hence no water in the unit and I went back to sleep. I really appreciated that part of the design on the unit. I am personally happy with it and would recommend this series from my own experience other then getting a Pro or Auto version.

Oh yea!!!!!!!!
Disclaimer DIsclaimer DISclaimer DISClaimer DISCLaimer DISCLAimer DISCLAImer DISCLAIMer DISCLAIMEr DISCLAIMER

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:02 pm

I used my new M series Auto last night for the first time, just got it yesterday. I want to use it a good week before writing much about it. But what I do know so far:

1. It doesn't vibrate.
2. It doesn't magically become unplugged.
3. I have owned ALL the versions of the Remstar Auto, this M series is the quietest one of them all without a doubt. I have the older classic sitting right next to it to compare the noise level to and did, even I was surprised at how quiet it is.
4. I checked the LCD at 10AM, I already had data accumulated on the screen, I was then able to pull a EncorePro report no problem, no corrupt data.
5. I spent some time playing with the new features and using them last night like AutoRamp feature, pretty cool.
6. I had no problems separating the machine from the humidifier (all you do is lift up on it from the front, it even came with pictures to show how to separate it, DMEs must not get the pictures).
7. The provider instructions are on a single two-sided card but really not needed, most parameters is toggling to other available options. Gone are AFLE and CFLE modes, just CPAP and APAP now, there is now "off" on the CFLEX screen in setup.
8. It appears they have yet again improved snore detection (maybe turned down sensitivity to them a bit). I had much fewer (half) snores last night than I normally do.
9. Comes with a nice swivel almost 90 degree elbow to connect hose to, makes up for the stuck swivel on the UMFF.
10. size separated from the humidifier it is as small as the 420e.
11. Displays AHI information, 90% pressure, leak data from LCD both 7 day and 30 day averages.
12. The travel bag is nice but I haven't loaded it up for actual travel yet, will report that later.

Things I obviously don't like or still getting used to:

1. The blue LED's on the backlit buttons are almost too bright (I like it dark in the room, may have to cover those up with some tape).
2. Yes it could use a backlit LCD display under the door, now that AHI data is available from the LCD it would make it easier to see, either that I need Lasik.
3. Not too excited with the side-by-side design of the humidifier. It seems to work great but to get the hose to the rear of the night stand you have to turn it sideways (even with included swivel elbow), it then takes up a larger footprint than older stacked model did in my opinion. I like how the old classic and 420e are done. Didn't have any problems with the tank, easy to see water level, refill without a funnel etc. I had it on 1 last night, appears to work well I usually have it off or on 2. I think overall the stacked humidifier design is much better takes up a little less space on the night stand.
4. Power transformer is large and heavy, it is a 4.3AMP power supply, don't think there is much that can be done about that, it sits on the floor and handles the humidifier power as well.

While the unit is small it remains fairly heavy even without the power supply. Feels like they intentionally put metal in the unit/humidifier platform to add additional weight. I assume they did this to make it harder so you didn't accidentally pull it off the nightstand during the night. Seems we have all been there one time or another.

Whichever one I stick with becomes my main machine, I'll use the other for travel, right now its a toss up which.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:30 pm

Nice write up, snoredog. I'll be interested in your analysis after 90 days or so to see what new thoughts you have.

Paul B · Post by **Paul B** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:32 pm

Sorry, previous post was from me.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:52 pm

Snoredog wrote:Whichever one I stick with becomes my main machine, I'll use the other for travel, right now its a toss up which.

I suggest the Resmed S8 for travel, it is the best machine going!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:43 pm

Anonymous wrote:
Snoredog wrote:Whichever one I stick with becomes my main machine, I'll use the other for travel, right now its a toss up which.

I suggest the Resmed S8 for travel, it is the best machine going!

Except you can't buy the software for it anymore now that Resmed has their new policy in place. I'd suggest Respironics or Puritan Bennett instead.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:32 pm

You don't need the software, you can read what you need to off the machine.

Fletch2 · Post by **Fletch2** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:11 am

NyNurse33 wrote:Byron--I'm interested in your statements about your humidity setting. You can get by on 2 or 3 without rainout....LUCKY!! I still get it with 1. How cool does it get in your house? Do you have a hose cover? Thanks.

That seems odd to me you would imagine that lower heat would mean less vapor and therefore less rainout. have you checked the temperature? Maybe it's running too hot?

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:38 pm

Fletch-

I thought Rainout occurs when the warm humid air in the hose cools. The cooling causes the water vapor to become liquid. Therefore, if I keep it at a cool temp it is closer to the room temp and perhaps decreasing the rainout situation. But please correct me if I'm wrong, b/c I am at wits end with this problem. I have tried everything, but the heated hose. Maybe I should raise the humidifier's temp to keep it warmer through the hose. I am so sick of either inhaling water through my nose or getting it splashed on my face all night.

Fletch2 · Post by **Fletch2** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:45 pm

I would imagine that the way it works is that more heat makes more water evaporate which means more mosture gets to condense in the tube. Therefore if the humidifier had a problem with temperature control, say it was running hotter than set, then the result would be more water in the hose.

You had a Remstar Auto before right? Was rainout better or worse with that machine? How much water do you go though in a night? Do you use less when you have the humidifier on a lower setting?

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:48 pm

I had a resmed escape and had no rainout problems and using the same mask as before too. I keep the setting on this machine @ 1 where the other machine I was keeping @ 3. I use more water on this machine. I guess to be fair it wasn't as cold outside when I had the other machine too. Do you know if the two machines use the same type of humdifier, are they both considered intergrated?

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:25 pm

[quote="NyNurse33"]Fletch-

I thought Rainout occurs when the warm humid air in the hose cools. The cooling causes the water vapor to become liquid. Therefore, if I keep it at a cool temp it is closer to the room temp and perhaps decreasing the rainout situation. But please correct me if I'm wrong, b/c I am at wits end with this problem. I have tried everything, but the heated hose. Maybe I should raise the humidifier's temp to keep it warmer through the hose. I am so sick of either inhaling water through my nose or getting it splashed on my face all night.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:36 pm

WOW Snoredog, great explanation! I also thought it was the cooling of the air in the hose. This is why I try to read every post! I learn more each day!

Thanks
Brenda

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:40 pm

Actually, NyNurse has it right. Hot air can hold more water than cold air so if you have your humidifier up high, it is hotter and holds more water. Then as the air travels along the hose the air cools down and therefore can hold less water causing rain-out.

Solutions like the heated hose/tube buddies keep the air in the tube at the same temperature therefore hold the humidity.

If you keep the temp level of your humidifier close to room temp this will also help to prevent rain out.

Machine