Need to purchase APAP--ASAP

[Wulfman]

*sigh* Dumb of me to marry for love instead of money???

Nah! I'm too good at spending money. The love has lasted 42 years.

Congratulations on a long life together.

The sign of a successful man is to make more money than his wife can spend.
The sign of a successful woman is one who can FIND THAT MAN!

Best wishes,

Den

[Snoredog]

[quote="GoofyUT"]I've deleted my rant about privacy rights, since as Bill and Den point out, whatever we say seesm to last forever in the publics' eye in this eelctronic universe we live in.

I object to the disclosure of my experiences with machines since I am commited to the idea that the auto-titrating machines are SO different in operation and treatment delivered in clinically significant ways that each individual owes it to themselves to try the various machines out to determine which works best for them.

I did have four miserable months with a ResMed S8 Vantage in AutoSet mode, and I immediately improved upon switching to a REMstar Auto. Does this mean that the REMstar is a better machine???? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! it was simply better for me in terms of the treatment it delivered because of its algorithm, than the ResMed was. In terms of factors unrelated to algorithm, I still believe that the S8 Vantage is a FAR more sophisticated and better thought out machine, especially because of its capability of displaying efficacy data right on its LCD screen without the need for outboard computers, software or readers NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

The important point here is NOT which one worked better, but that I derived SUCH a dramatically different response from the two machines. That's why folks owe it to themselves to try before they buy.

It is for this reason that I have refrained from identifying which machine I had my respective experiences with, and I am giving notice that I am requesting others to refrain from making disclosures of my experiences with machines on my behalf without first checking with me. My experiences are relevant for ME alone. Each of our responses are simply that individual.

Chuck[/url]

[Catnapper]

I agree that trying before buying helps if you can arrange it. The most important part of the decision is that you get good results from your therapy. For me, an auto made all the difference.
I was lucky enough to have 2 ResMed machines to try before I asked for the Respironics M series auto. I say again lucky. The first ResMed was the Escape, a basic CPAP. I really didn't like the CPAP. My doctor wanted me to have the home titration to be sure the pressure was right, and to be sure I didn't need a bi-pap. The DME gave me the Vantage to use for the trial for free as I was still paying rent on the Escape. The Vantage was much better for me because I liked the lower pressure most of the night. I took a chance and asked my doctor to give me a prescription for the M, knowing it was very likely to be my last chance on insurance.
I happily say that the M series auto suits me so much better. I can't say what the difference is except that it feels gentle and natural to me where the ResMed felt forced, harsh and abrupt. I like the C-Flex in auto, which was not available in the ResMed Vantage. I no longer use the ramp as it doesn't seem helpful or necessary.
Perhaps it would be helpful to you to see some of the reports from the different brands of machine to see what they look like to see if you prefer one of those. I wanted to try the Respironics because the software was readily available and has lots of support here. I did get the reports from the DME on the Vantage, at least the part he was willing to print and send me.

[WillSucceed]

Wulfman wrote:

In the end, you'd be getting a REMstar Auto anyway. Why waste all those months and money? Wink

Hey Wulfman! I wish I had your gift for prescience -I'd buy a lottery ticket with the right number on it and be set for the rest of my life.

Linda wrote:

And most everyone who has one is quite happy with it. It should work for you unless you need a bi-level machine, or have unusual problems.

So who are these "most everyone" folk that you are talking about. I've read lots of posts where folk describe really liking Respironics AND I've read lots of posts where folk describe NOT liking Respironics.

I'm with GoofyUT on this one; the Respironics group-think (or, more accurately, NOT thinking) is both pervasive and incidious. I suspect, and have mentioned before with very warm reception from some on this forum) that the dynamic that I see happening is cognitive dissonance. All of us like to think that we have made the right decision, especially when spending our hard-earned money is involved, and as such, we want others to do the same thing that we have done.

I've spent my coin on Respironics and if you are as smart as I am, you will too.

Go for it, Respironics fans... you should have a heyday with this one!

[ces44]

It's the software algorithms that will determine if the machine works for you.
If the machine doesn't recognize a leak. snore, exhale etc. on you, it won't
be a good match. The hardware has little effect.
The only way to tell is to try the machine with the mask that works for you.
ces44atyahoo

[Linda3032]

Linda wrote:
And most everyone who has one is quite happy with it. It should work for you unless you need a bi-level machine, or have unusual problems.

Will wrote: So who are these "most everyone" folk that you are talking about. I've read lots of posts where folk describe really liking Respironics AND I've read lots of posts where folk describe NOT liking Respironics.

Will, I'm not sure what is going on in your life lately -- you seem to, can I say "nit-pic" at everything that is written. That seems so unlike the way I perceived you in the past. I hope everything is okay.

I tried to "qualify" my post with the word MOST instead of EVERYONE AND ALL, primarily because you and others have pounced on those of us who make generalized statements.

I won't attempt to answer your question of "who are those most everyone" I talked about. Sorry. Any more than I would ask you to name the lots of posts where folks describe not liking Respironics.

Sorry, I won't get into a pissing contest with you. And again, I hope nothing negative is going on in your life.

Sincerely,
Linda

[Wulfman]

Wulfman wrote:

In the end, you'd be getting a REMstar Auto anyway. Why waste all those months and money? Wink

Hey Wulfman! I wish I had your gift for prescience -I'd buy a lottery ticket with the right number on it and be set for the rest of my life.

Let me know when your next lottery is coming up and I'll PM you the numbers.

I believe his mindset was already inclined toward a REMstar auto.

I have nothing against the other manufacturers, but I believe (from my observations on this forum over the last two years) that I've seen more people switch TO Respironics machines than have gone the other way. Yeah, this forum is heavy on the Respironics machines.....and "Autos" in particular. I believe a lot of this had to do with the Encore Pro and MyEncore combination of software availablity and it's ease of understanding. Not every manufacturer has all of the options of the other manufacturers, so a person has to try to find the most options they can in whatever machine they're going to spend their money on. I just happen to feel that the REMstar Auto has more options.

If EVERY CPAP/XPAP/Bi-PAP user walked into their DME supplier and demanded to trial every brand of machine before they decided on what they wanted to buy, I can't imagine what would become of this therapy. It's bad enough NOW.......

Den

[DreamStalker]

OK everyone let's not go Baghdad on each other ...

[WillSucceed]

Linda:
Thanks for your concern regarding my life; I'm happy as a clam! Hope you are as well.

No need for a pissing match (such a choice of words!) as it benefits no one.

So I'll say it again:
I worry a lot about the new users that don't have the experience that you and I do. New users look to a forum like this for answers and don't have the experience to filter out the "opinions" when then are hopeful of reading "fact."

As long as folk say things like "most everyone" which, to the inexperienced may easily be read as "everyone," I'll continue to comment and challenge. If you want to take this personally Linda, go for it, but it is not intended to be a personal attack, just a push for clarity of communication.

I'm not sure why you are perceiving me differently now than before; I've been singing this same "clarity of communication / personal opinion does not necessarily equal fact for all" tune for some time. I plan to keep singing it Linda.

[WillSucceed]

Thanks Wulfman! You are da' bomb!
I'll send you a PM regarding the next lottery and, if the numbers you suggest come up, I'll 50/50 it with you.

[Wulfman]

Thanks Wulfman! You are da' bomb!
I'll send you a PM regarding the next lottery and, if the numbers you suggest come up, I'll 50/50 it with you.

And......if I get 50% of the numbers right, you can have 50% of THAT.

Is that the way it works?

Best wishes,

Den (who has never bought a lottery ticket in his life.....cause he knows the odds)

[DreamStalker]

Will –

First of all, you may wish to chill and consider what you are asking of our forum members regarding fact vs opinion.

I understand that there is a need to use terminology as accurate as possible and I presume most forum readers may feel the same way.

However, you appear to snap at folks for somewhat trivial matters of wording you perceive as opinion … most especially when those folks opine something that may not completely agree with your own posted facts/opinions.

If we are to completely dissect every post on the merits of whether or not every word is indeed fact, does this not take away from the basic purpose of this forum to provide xPAP information to all (including the less experienced)?

For example:

No need for a pissing match (such a choice of words!) as it benefits no one .

What exactly benefits no one? … the match or the pissing?

Clearly if it is a match it may well benefit the winner (to what degree, who knows, who cares).

If it is the pissing you are again wrong … pee has some benefits besides the fact that we all have to pee to maintain good health –

http://www.umm.edu/urology-info/anatomy.htm

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/urine.htm

http://www.restroomratings.com/features/urine/

You see it all depends on context. According to your own stated perspective you have made an opinion without qualifying it as such and it could be misinterpreted as fact. Sure I understood what you meant when you said it benefits no one as I’m sure most everyone else did. The point I’m trying to make is that most of us are intelligent enough to figure out fact from opinion given the opportunity. Chill out, correct blatant mistakes but ease up on correcting the details as they do ruffle feathers, create pee wars, and can indeed be taken as personal attacks.

As you said, I hope you do not take this post personal but instead as a mirror upon which you can see your reflection from the perspective of a fellow PAPer.

[WillSucceed]

DreamStalker:
Interesting comment! However, I don't see my "reflection" as you state it, but your opinion.

And yes, I'm still singing the same tune.

[Linda3032]

Oh No. Not the dreaded Pee Wars.

[WillSucceed]

Indeed!
Do you suppose that I'll have an advantage in aiming?

Great cartoon, by the way, Linda. C & H are great!