Resmed S8 Vantage

[RestlessRoper]

After 15 months on CPAP and all the conflicting information I get from the DME (not to mention the co-pays and deductibles I have wasted) I purchased a Resmed S8 Vantage Auto CPAP. I am hoping the Auto setting or a new presure setting will improve my condition.

My question, is anyone familiar with setting up this machine.
Thanks for any help and information.

[bdp522]

Here ya go...

http://www.apneaboard.com/CPAP%20Adjustment.htm


Brenda

[Slinky]

Good luck, Roper. I loved my Vantage but was just recently switched to a bi-level, the new Resmed S8 VPAP Auto Bi-level.

Just remember to stay at one "setting" of pressure ranges for a full week before making one change of pressure. Keep in mind that the Resmeds allow you to make changes in .2 cms of pressure rather than just 1 full cm at a time so you can fine tune your ideal pressure easier and more accurately. But it takes patience. You might want to set your first pressure range 1-2 cms below your current titrated pressure or straight CPAP pressure and the maximum pressure at 1-2 cms above your current or titrated pressure. Generally a 4-5 cms difference between the lower and upper pressure works best.

Or alternatively you can start at 6 cms minimum and fully open to 20 cms maximum pressure. "They" say that the Resmeds tend to "chase" hypopneas and thus tend to hit a higher maximum pressure. I don't know if they really do or not.

I haven't done a whole lot of experimenting w/my pressure settings so the above is mostly from what I've been reading in the forum the last 18 months or so.

[RestlessRoper]

Thank you very much. I sure asked in the right place that time. I have a son who is a respiratory therapist. In college he worked in a sleep clinic and was eventually able to convince me to get checked. By doing that I am certain that I extended my life by 20-30 years. Hopefully life with quality. I was headed for disaster. Some of my family has had some major health problems and my father died from what I suspect was central apnea. He had polio when he was young but survived to live a normal life. I now believe some or all of these problems could have avoided if they all knew what most of us are learning now.

Thanks again, I appreciate the help.

Ted

[rested gal]

Ted, before you let them give you the Vantage auto, you might want to consider this -- resmed's "EPR" exhalation comfort relief feature cannot be turned on when the Vantage is used in auto mode. EPR can be used only in plain cpap mode with the Vantage.

I personally would want the Respironics REMstar Auto with A-flex M series machine if I were going to use an autopap (which I do... LOL!) Makes breathing in and out feel much smoother and much more natural. Respironics' exhalation pressure relief can be used in auto mode as well as in cpap mode.

This is your treatment. I'd want more than just a little say-so in choosing exactly which autopap I was going to use. The doctors and DMEs may not think "comfort" features (especially comfort in exhaling) really matter, but that can sure make a difference in how well some people can sleep using these machines. I'm very big into "comfort" since so much about this kind of treatment (the masks especially) can be uncomfortable.

[Slinky]

Giggle. RestedGal and I have different biases and predjudices when it comes to brands of xPAP. I prefer the Resmeds. RG has been "at" this CPAP bit longer than I have and has had access to and tried more brands and styles than I have. Personally, I wouldn't have an M Series. On the other hand, the pre-M series worked great for me.

[NightHawkeye]

ROTFL

... I purchased a Resmed S8 Vantage Auto CPAP.

Regards,
Bill ( ... displaying a keen sense of the obvious)

[RestlessRoper]

I mean no disrespect to anyone but I think the Respironics are way overrated (and overpriced). But mainly they are way beyond MY budget t unless I got lucky on an auction.
I may be lucky but I don't think the C-Flex helps me. The thing that bothers me the most is the useless help from the DME. The manager of the one I have been working with is arrogant and somewhat pushy. It will be a pleasure to tell her (the manager) that I do not need their equipment anymore. And then I am sure she will tell me I can't get the equipment for the price they charge (she would be correct in that assumption) and the service they provide (basically none). And that I will have no one to help me and whatever I do may be illegal and my insurance won't pay anything in that case.

[rested gal]

Yup, I sure missed the obvious. LOL!!

[dieselgal]

[quote="RestlessRoper"]I mean no disrespect to anyone but I think the Respironics are way overrated (and overpriced). But mainly they are way beyond MY budget t unless I got lucky on an auction.
I may be lucky but I don't think the C-Flex helps me. The thing that bothers me the most is the useless help from the DME. The manager of the one I have been working with is arrogant and somewhat pushy. It will be a pleasure to tell her (the manager) that I do not need their equipment anymore. And then I am sure she will tell me I can't get the equipment for the price they charge (she would be correct in that assumption) and the service they provide (basically none). And that I will have no one to help me and whatever I do may be illegal and my insurance won't pay anything in that case.

[Slinky]

... And then I am sure she will tell me I can't get the equipment for the price they charge (she would be correct in that assumption) and the service they provide (basically none). And that I will have no one to help me and whatever I do may be illegal and my insurance won't pay anything in that case.

Illegal?? Humphf. Typical ignorant local DME ....

[dsm]

Interesting,

I think Slinky nailed this one

We all seem to have our biases & mine is towards bilevels - but having used a Vantage with EPR for some time now (as my travel machine) the more I used it the more I liked it & the EPR doesn't need to be active during auto mode - that is called a Vpap Auto

EPR is just like a bilevel & offers up to 3 CMS gap between exhale & inhale & after years of using bilevels & trying different gaps I have no hesitation is saying that 3 CMS appears to be the optimal gap for best bilevel operation other than for people with very specific medical needs.

The choice is always yours and we here at cpaptalk will tell you all sorts of stories about different brands & models & your challenge is to filter them all & try to filter out the biases vs the value in the stories.

DSM

[billbolton]

After 15 months on CPAP and all the conflicting information I get from the DME (not to mention the co-pays and deductibles I have wasted) I purchased a Resmed S8 Vantage Auto CPAP. I am hoping the Auto setting or a new presure setting will improve my condition.

You should keep on open mind on whether to run in APAP or CPAP mode, as the S8 Vantage will do both

You certainly should investigate APAP mode and see if it indicates that you should be using a different flow rate from your present settings, but you may not find that it is useful in terms of delivering the most efficacious treatment in the long term, and that CPAP mode is better for you. That has been the experience of a non-trivial number of users here.

It would be useful if you could tell us more about the problems you have been experiencing with CPAP to date, as there may be multiple possible resolutions for them.
Cheers,

Bill

[RestlessRoper]

I have learned a lot in a year and a half about sleep problems. Most of that by reading on this forum. Those who use the good Respironics machines and the encore data have shown the way to better treatment. Obviously many in the medical field that we have to deal with do not know all they should. There are several on the forum I believe to be quite knowledgeable Rested Gal being one and I do not want to offend anyone because of their choice of equipment.

I haven’t had any problem with the CPAP. I am just disappointed with the DME. Most of my struggle was to find a mask that worked for me. The best I have found is the Activa. I know some do not like it but it has worked well for me.

I don’t think my current sleep problems are all caused by apneas. For 20-30 years there have been few times that I have slept through the night and felt good when I woke up. I blame most of that on time spent in the Army and Viet Nam. I have had some PTS over the years. I used to get up at night and watch out the window. Sometimes I hate the night because it can be evil. I have just learned to avoid things that might bring up old feelings. Besides the mental aspects there some foods that I know make me restless and I do not eat them late in the afternoon. A little coffee sometimes helps me sleep and a little too much hinders sleep.

I don’t expect a new machine to make any great changes in sleep but hopefully the combination of more exercise, better diet and any thing I can learn to improve the use of CPAP and mask will help.

Anyway thanks for all the tips and good luck to everyone.

[rested gal]

There are several on the forum I believe to be quite knowledgeable Rested Gal being one and I do not want to offend anyone because of their choice of equipment.

Sure wouldn't offend me. I don't even own stock in any cpap manufacturer -- wish I did, 'cause I think that baby boomers getting diagnosed with OSA over the coming years is gonna make all of them soar!!

As I've written many a time, I've used a lot of different brands/models, just for the heck of trying them, and have gotten equally effective treatment from any brand -- including using straight cpap with no exhalation relief at all. All the major manufacturers make good machines.

Since exhalation relief can make doing this crazy kind of treatment more comfortable for many people, whether they "need" exhalation relief or not, that's why I recommend the Auto with A-flex so often. That's the only reason.

Since you don't need that kind of relief, the machine you've chosen is fine.

Masks are the trickiest piece of the puzzle to get right, most of the time...with any machine.

Hope you start getting much better sleep, Roper!