Purchase Machine - Help

Sandy W · Post by **Sandy W** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:08 pm

Hi, I am researching the different machines for my hubby who has sleep apnea. Doctor sent some guy to see us about it and we have been try a machine. Not at all happy with what he is trying to sell us at a very high price. So we've decided to by on line and I think this is what we are interested in. I would love some feed back on weather this is a good decision on not.

M Series BiPAP Auto with Heated Humidifier, Card Reader, Encore Pro Software, Easy Breathing Bi-Flex, Travel Friendly
Mirage Swift Nasal Pillow System

We want a heated humidifier, adjustable heat & humidity control, Auto breathing for a more natural breathing pattern, tracking software, quite, and he likes the Mirage Swift Nasal Pillow system. His old machine used a gel mask over the nose and he hated it!

Cheers Sandy W

Sleepy Dog Lover · Post by **Sleepy Dog Lover** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:16 pm

Hi Sandy, more info about your husband's pressures and his current machine would help.

Just wanted to say that you can use any mask with any machine, its all what makes it work for you. The mask is the key to compliance with CPAP treatment.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:30 pm

why does he need a Bi-pap and not just an standard autocpap machine? You could save yourself $650 or more over what the Bi-pap costs.

it is hard to obtain good advice here because half the people using the Bi-pap bought them on their own accord with no valid medical reason to be using a Bi-pap other than the anecdotal evidence they think it is helping them.

if his titrated pressure is high then he may need the Bi-pap but if it is low like 10cm or less he can probably get by just fine with a standard auto-cpap.

now watch the testimonials fly!

Sandy W · Post by **Sandy W** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:42 pm

Sorry, I don't have any information on his pressures. The current machine is VERY basic, about 15 years old. It is a Tranquility Plus, with a Power On/Off button & a LeakTest/Normal button. He didn't actually us it much and I have only now got him to try a new one.

The guy that came out gave us no options for the machine. Brought out a REstar /auto for him to use temparily. It has the heated humidifier attached and a smart card put into it. Told us it was so he could diagnose any problems and we didn't have to worry about it. When my hubby he could not use the face mask supplied, he gave him the Mirage Swift Nasal Pillow to try. Hubby said he could live with it.

The machine he is looking to get for us has no smart card or software and he wants $2200.00 for it. We haven't even seen it! Been waiting for 6 weeks for this guy to call us back for heaven sake. My hubby finally had enough, said to call him up and come and get this stuff. His insurance has approved a purchase from which ever supplier we want to buy from. So her I am trying to arrange to get a machine and what not.

BTW, we live in BC, Canada and have no idea what the fees will be for shipping, dollar difference or even if we have to pay duty...

I agree with you comment about compliance with CPAP, that is why he quit using the old one, could not stand the mask. Back then we didn't even know there were other options.
Cheers Sandy W

[quote="Sleepy Dog Lover"]Hi Sandy, more info about your husband's pressures and his current machine would help.

Just wanted to say that you can use any mask with any machine, its all what makes it work for you. The mask is the key to compliance with CPAP treatment.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:49 pm

I have been reading and honestly I still do not understand what the difference is. How do we find out what he needs? Our doctor sure dose not know, and the guy that came out here is a lost cause! He's just trying to sell us stuff and has little information. I find this very fustrating and I know my hubby will just say "the heck with it all!" if I can't find what he needs. He went to a sleep clinic years ago and definatley had sleep apnea and his sleep or lack of it killing him, quite literally! He is getting some relief from the machine he is using, but is having problems with humitiy and I can't find how to adjust it, as no instruction came with it.

Any help or info would be much appreciated.
Cheers Sandy W

Anonymous wrote:why does he need a Bi-pap and not just an standard autocpap machine? You could save yourself $650 or more over what the Bi-pap costs.

it is hard to obtain good advice here because half the people using the Bi-pap bought them on their own accord with no valid medical reason to be using a Bi-pap other than the anecdotal evidence they think it is helping them.

if his titrated pressure is high then he may need the Bi-pap but if it is low like 10cm or less he can probably get by just fine with a standard auto-cpap.

now watch the testimonials fly!

_________________

Sleepy Dog Lover · Post by **Sleepy Dog Lover** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:52 pm

Well, if he does well with the RemStar Auto, there is no need to go for the auto bipap. The Respironics RemStar Auto (referred to here as the "Tank") or the Respironics M Series Auto should be all he needs. There was a thread going in the last several days about Canadians buying from cpap.com, I'll see if I can find it.

Sleepy Dog Lover · Post by **Sleepy Dog Lover** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:57 pm

Anonymous wrote:I have been reading and honestly I still do not understand what the difference is. How do we find out what he needs? Our doctor sure dose not know, and the guy that came out here is a lost cause! He's just trying to sell us stuff and has little information. I find this very fustrating and I know my hubby will just say "the heck with it all!" if I can't find what he needs. He went to a sleep clinic years ago and definatley had sleep apnea and his sleep or lack of it killing him, quite literally! He is getting some relief from the machine he is using, but is having problems with humitiy and I can't find how to adjust it, as no instruction came with it.

Any help or info would be much appreciated.
Cheers Sandy W

Sandy, if you join as a member of cpaptalk.com, you can PM me with your address and I can send you the instructions for the RemStar Auto. To change the humidity, just hold the heat button down until you hear a beep, the display will show the number your humidifier is set to, and you can use the arrows as up and down buttons to change the humidity. I think you have to press "start" to set the humidity to what you want.

Sleepy Dog Lover · Post by **Sleepy Dog Lover** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:01 pm

Here is the link to the Canada shopping thread:

viewtopic/t17110/Canadians-shopping-on-cpapcom.html

SandyW · Post by **SandyW** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:39 pm

I'm not at all sure he is doing well at this point, better than nothing, but he is still very tired in the morning. He seems to have problems with it leaking air sometimes. I really would like to see what is being recorded...
What is the difference between the M Series Auto and the RemStar Auto?
Cheers Sandy W

[quote="Sleepy Dog Lover"]Well, if he does well with the RemStar Auto, there is no need to go for the auto bipap. The Respironics RemStar Auto (referred to here as the "Tank") or the Respironics M Series Auto should be all he needs. There was a thread going in the last several days about Canadians buying from cpap.com, I'll see if I can find it.

Sleepy Dog Lover · Post by **Sleepy Dog Lover** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:45 pm

You can read about the M Series vs the Tank here:

viewtopic/t17080/M-Series-VS-Tank.html

I use the Tank as the M Series wasn't out when I got my machine, so I have no opinion on which is better.

SandyW · Post by **SandyW** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:45 pm

Thanks for the link!
Cheers Sandy W

Sleepy Dog Lover wrote:Here is the link to the Canada shopping thread:

viewtopic/t17110/Canadians-shopping-on-cpapcom.html

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 2:08 pm

Sandy, if you can, find out what pressure his old machine was set for. Or find out what range the loaner Auto is set for.

I agree that unless his pressure is high, that he shouldn't need a Bi-Pap. Unless he can definitely afford one and then I say go for it.

Here is another thread discussing 3 good auto machines and software.

viewtopic/t17127/pro-and-cons-of-top-th ... tware.html

Purchase Machine - Help

Purchase Machine - Help

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thanks