S9 Autoset with humidifier worth the upgrade?

its been 1 year since I started using a CPAP (havent posted for awhile either ) and have to confess that eventhough I have had good night sleeps with my little unit, I have found myself sometime dreading using it as well.... there has been a few times I would have taken off the mask during the night, waking up with sore nostrails, gassy stomach, and nights with blocked nose are impossible to use it.

Have just ordered a full face F&P HC431 hoping to see if using a full face will make it easier and better for me. While taking to the seller, he has informed me of a pretty good deal with getting the S9 Autoset and humidifier that got me interested in upgrading after only 1 year using my current unit.

I have no issues that im aware of using this unit, the last time I looked my sleep result, the number of incidents are in the mid teens each night. so not sure if that is good or bad, but i do feel better than before using a CPAP. However, I cant seem to get the "burst of energy" feel after each sleep... just no cobweb fog filled head (which I have right now because I didnt use my CPAP last night)

So, worth the upgrade? hmmm....

add: Oh, and I recall my partner telling me that my mouth "bubbles" up a little when I use my current nasal pillow, so I assume I am getting some leaks there too... (not sure if Im a mouth breather too, but generally i find myself breathing through my mouth when laying in bed)

Yes. Getting rid of the fog is great but there's more. I'm using the data, but doing so at my own speed. I didn't use the detailed reports right away but am into them now. I keep making changes based on the reports and am now consistently above five hours a night with AHI <2. I've learned a lot from all the folks here, but the information in the reports also helps. I'm consistently exercising again, and that's huge for me. I feel great.

It sounds like you feel you could be doing better, mid teens (with XPAP?) is still high. If you make the commitment to work at improving your use, it will be worth it. Read some of the posts about removing the mask, gassy stomach and sore nostrils. There are great ideas that help. If after trying the new mask and some ideas in previous posts, consider upgrading. Whatever works...if it's in the budget.

I'm not familiar with the S8 Autoset vantage. Do you have the S8 cardreader?

I think the S9 AutoSet collects more data, especially waveforms. It uses an SD memory card, so you don't have to worry about a proprietary card reader. The S9 AutoSet will work with freeware Enkor and SleepyHead software, which is an advantage.

Be sure you don't end up with an S9 Escape Auto, which is a lot less data capable.

I don't know if the new machine will give you better therapy per se, but if you get better data, you may be able to use it to fine tune your therapy better.

How good a deal are you getting for the upgrade? Much less than a new machine?

By the way, by events, do you mean your AHI number? You usually want these to be less than 5.

My S8 has a USB connection at the back which I would plug to my laptop to download the information. I used to read the information on a weekly basis, but due to recent work load and other activities, I have been putting it aside for awhile now... call it the "I will look at it next weekend"itis if you like ...

I do recall the AHI to be in the mid teens (but that was awhile ago) so I dont really know the recent numbers.... I had a slight mishap with my machine where I accidently pulled my hose and pulled my machine off the bed side table.... water got into my hose, so I left it on the side to dry, but havent used it for last week.... have also included a new slim hose to go with my new mask so in future, I can have 1 set of hose hanging dry after a clean, while having a spare to use at the same time.

to be honest, even if I have all these information available, sometimes I not sure how I can actually put them to use... yes, I would know that I have X number of events, but how can I make changes to improve my condition? maybe I need better clarification as to how I should relook at this... last time it was pretty much set and forget... maybe I am overestimating the automatic settings's abilities?

Does anyone know what data capability an S8 AutoSet Vantage has?

archangle wrote:Does anyone know what data capability an S8 AutoSet Vantage has

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1954

Looks like only hours of use, events and pressure. No mention as to leaks.
Pretty basic stuff. I would think upgrade would be extremely helpful and delegate the S8 Vantage to backup status. The Vantage predates the S8 Autoset II which itself has been discontinued.

Especially with these comments

okitoki wrote:he last time I looked my sleep result, the number of incidents are in the mid teens each night. so not sure if that is good or bad, but i do feel better than before using a CPAP. However, I cant seem to get the "burst of energy" feel after each sleep... just no cobweb fog filled head (which I have right now because I didnt use my CPAP last night)

Time to do the upgrade and while at it, take time to learn what the reports from the software show.
Incidents on that S8 is pretty much all obstructive events of some and "Teens" is way too many.

Get the S9 Autoset. More data, easier to get and maybe better therapy with the new algorithm.

If you have the opportunity to upgrade...go for it. You can use your old machine as a spare or for traveling. I did it and haven't looked back, I can now see my results daily and tweek what is needed right away. With my old machine it was a big guessing game, I had no data and no idea where my stats were.......in other words I was flying blind. The F&P has been relegated to my motorhome and I've been using my M series since April. At least I now know that my ahi is way down and my therapy is working.

Hmmm. At first I was thinking of waiting to try the full face mask to see if there would be improvements. While I also just bought a bigger bottle of distill water to crank up the humidifier to see if that would help with the mouth breathing.

Now I would probably need to check on the battle chest war fund to see if I have sufficient funds to finance the new machine.

As I'm an accountant by trade, I understand the importance of having useful information rather than large amount of data. So hopefully I can find a better use of what data I cam get from the s9

OK, sounds like the old machine is pretty limited in terms of what data it collects. The S9 AutoSet will collect a LOT more and better data.

Be sure it's an S9 AutoSet, not an S9 Escape Auto.

Since you took the trouble to ask us our opinions, the price must not be too high. Care to tell us how much?

If you're willing to make the effort to read the data the machine collects to try to improve your treatment, buy it. You can manage your own therapy a lot better with the better data from new machine. If your doctor or DME are competent and willing to make the effort, they can make better use of the extra data as well.

an S8 Autoset Vantage should be fully data capable (and the SPEC's tab confirms it Data Options Usage, AHI, Events and Pressure)... the main difference you should be able to find would be in whether or not you get the breath by breath analysis (S9 does I think).

The price is still more expensive compare to buying from US. But seems to be really cheap compare to other local suppliers. So I'm approaching it with a slight caution too just in case it is too good to be true.

Edited to remove something wrong and misleading.

hmm.... now Im a little confused... as I have always thought I have a Auto CPAP instead of a Bi-level...

Either I have always used the wrong description (model number) for my machine, or I have really bought the wrong machine from the get go??

You're right - my mistake.

The S8 Autoset Vantage is an APAP.