I Just Received My Replacement Sandman Auto

[One Tired Puppy]

I just received my replacement Sandman Auto today. They even sent a new case with humidifier.

I drilled a hole in the back of a small drawer large enough for the tube to go through and checked to see if a tug of the hose would overturn the machine (no water in humidifier yet). It works! It won't tip over when the hose goes through the hole. I am so relieved. I also took the hose of my ResMed machine and put it on the Sandman as it is a few inches longer. I am still keeping the drawer with machine in on the carpet by my bed. I can cover it during the day to keep dust off it.

I am very pleased with both Cpap.com and Puritan Bennett.

Anne

[ozij]

Congratulations, Anne.
Can you post a photo of that? I have trouble imagining it.

Thank you,
O.

[mindy]

Anne,

Glad to hear you got such good service! And it sounds like you've come up with a nice, creative solution.

Mindy

[One Tired Puppy]

Congratulations, Anne.
Can you post a photo of that? I have trouble imagining it.

Thank you,
O.

Ozji,

Sorry, I don't have a camera to take a photo but maybe I can describe it better. The inside measurement of the width of the drawer is 7 3/8 " wide. This allows the Sandman auto to sit snugly when the cord is plugged in. The outside width of drawer is 8 11/16" wide. The length of the drawer doesn't really matter (14 1/2") as long as you drill a hole from 3" up from the inside bottom of box where hose will come out. The diameter of the hole is
1 1/4". I set my machine in the box with humidifier attached (empty) to see where the hole would need to be for the hose. I just circled with a pen the diameter of the hose and made it a fraction bigger.
Because the hole is not too high, but a little lower than the hose on the machine it keeps the machine from tipping forward when it is tugged.I keep the machine close to the hole. You can tug it harder and it will not tip forward. Just make sure the hole you drill is a little lower than where the hose comes out of the machine.

I hope I explained it clearly enough. I am not a pro at this. I just got lucky.

Anne

[ozij]

Thank you, Anne, I think I've got it.
O.

[rested gal]

Sounds like a very neat setup, Anne. You've got a good machine!

[MrSandman]

I have been trying this machine and was concerned after reading about the two machines that tipped over but I have no issues at all and it doesn't even feel like it is prone to tipping. It is lighter than any other machine by almost half though so a strong enough tug would pull it or flip it I am sure. On the other hand the S8II slides around pretty easy. The M-series and intellipap are really pretty heavy but I would say the M-series sits the best due to actual rubber feet and broad stance with humidifier and low center of gravity.

I don't know if you have anything to compare it to but do you find the Sandman loud on "INHALE" as the motor spins up fast? If not is your pressure over 10. I find it to be the loudest of the mentioned machines by a long shot at a pressure average of 15.

On a side note though I have been getting the best treatment ever I think with the Sandman Auto HC - Absolutely no air in tummy, easier to breathe out against than all mentioned above and very fast and consistent pressure rise after exhale and any other changes and although the humidifier tank is a PITA the function of the humidifier is excellent. Can tune more settings. Scores a ton of centrals on me though which I had very few of in PSG. Love the controls and screen is wonderful. I WISH IT WERE QUIETER!!! But the noise is second to treatment so it may be my permanant machine. Dueling with M-series Auto with A-flex which is quieter but I never felt as good with it as I do with the Sandman Auto.

[ozij]

Glad to hear you're gettin good treatment, Browser.
If the Sandman is scoring central apneas, it's identifying an open airway - and won't raise the pressure when it sees that.
The Respironics will do it again, and again and yet again before figuring it shouldn't have. I think that nasty little habit could be what makes the difference in aeropagia.

O.

[mindy]

Yes, O, I had that experience with the M-Series. My Sandman is not loud and my pressure does go over 10. Browser - perhaps your machine? I did notice that the sound is different but not obnoxious for me. I still have both machines but am keeping the M-series as backup since I like the Sandman auto better. If I had to do it over again I'd probably get the Sandman with a standalone humidifier rather than the build-in one but I'm not about to switch now that I've got it working reasonably. I especially like the fact that I can use APAP mode without the pressure climbing as high as it can go!

Mindy

[Goofproof]

Yes, O, I had that experience with the M-Series. My Sandman is not loud and my pressure does go over 10. Browser - perhaps your machine? I did notice that the sound is different but not obnoxious for me. I still have both machines but am keeping the M-series as backup since I like the Sandman auto better. If I had to do it over again I'd probably get the Sandman with a standalone humidifier rather than the build-in one but I'm not about to switch now that I've got it working reasonably. I especially like the fact that I can use APAP mode without the pressure climbing as high as it can go!

Mindy

The solution is easy, just set the high pressure where you want it to stop on APAP, Mine is always set at my best max treatment pressure, it wiuld be foolish to set one higher. Jim

[mindy]

The solution is easy, just set the high pressure where you want it to stop on APAP, Mine is always set at my best max treatment pressure, it wiuld be foolish to set one higher. Jim

The only way the Respironics worked for me was in CPAP mode but to get good results I needed a pressure of 13. With the Sandman I'm able to set the min pressure at my titrated pressure and max at 20 and it rarely goes over 11. I feel it gives me a bit more flexibility. Is it essential? Probably not - but I find it more comfortable.

Mindy

[MrSandman]

Yes, O, I had that experience with the M-Series. My Sandman is not loud and my pressure does go over 10. Browser - perhaps your machine? I did notice that the sound is different but not obnoxious for me. I still have both machines but am keeping the M-series as backup since I like the Sandman auto better. If I had to do it over again I'd probably get the Sandman with a standalone humidifier rather than the build-in one but I'm not about to switch now that I've got it working reasonably. I especially like the fact that I can use APAP mode without the pressure climbing as high as it can go!

Mindy

I thought maybe it was MY Sandman then I read the reviews on cpap.com on the Intro since there is more reviews there and most negative comments are on the noise.

BUT - everything is secondary to good treatment and how I feel in the morning and it has never been better-THANKS O. Maybe there is hope for me huh .

I find the humidifier tank a pain but it holds a lot of water and works VERY good and makes a neat little package with the machine so no way i would go stand alone. I am flying out to SD next week and plan to take the Sandman. The data shown on the LARGE display is MUCH better and there is more of it and the data seems to corelate to how I feel unlike the M-series. I also like how you don't have to keep the card in it to get your data. I always forgot to put my card back in the M-series and the data was gone. The sound is louder (on inhale) but to me it is not obnoxious.

If you set your min and max good on the M-series it will not rise to max . But yes with the Sandman I found you could leave it wide open and it doesn't go nuts like the M-series and actually does a pretty good titration. I think the max command on apnea setting is key to my treatment along with the fast/slow setting being set to slow.

I think the Sandman Auto HC is the machine for me but due to it feeling kinda cheap and the noise I worry about how long it will last.

[One Tired Puppy]

I have been trying this machine and was concerned after reading about the two machines that tipped over but I have no issues at all and it doesn't even feel like it is prone to tipping. It is lighter than any other machine by almost half though so a strong enough tug would pull it or flip it I am sure. On the other hand the S8II slides around pretty easy. The M-series and intellipap are really pretty heavy but I would say the M-series sits the best due to actual rubber feet and broad stance with humidifier and low center of gravity.

I don't know if you have anything to compare it to but do you find the Sandman loud on "INHALE" as the motor spins up fast? If not is your pressure over 10. I find it to be the loudest of the mentioned machines by a long shot at a pressure average of 15.

On a side note though I have been getting the best treatment ever I think with the Sandman Auto HC - Absolutely no air in tummy, easier to breathe out against than all mentioned above and very fast and consistent pressure rise after exhale and any other changes and although the humidifier tank is a PITA the function of the humidifier is excellent. Can tune more settings. Scores a ton of centrals on me though which I had very few of in PSG. Love the controls and screen is wonderful. I WISH IT WERE QUIETER!!! But the noise is second to treatment so it may be my permanant machine. Dueling with M-series Auto with A-flex which is quieter but I never felt as good with it as I do with the Sandman Auto.

Browser,

My Sandman is very quiet. I am not using real high pressures though. Actually I think it is even quieter than the ResMed S8 which I didn't think was loud either. I'm used to hearing traffic noise so maybe I just wouldn't notice. I just turned it on to check and it sounds very quiet.

It is a nice machine though, isn't it.

Anne
I thought I just submitted this but must have clicked Preview. Hope it doesn't come up twice.

[Thunder Road]

I too find my Sandman giving the best treatment which I have received yet. I just passed the 1300hr mark and have no issues with anything about it.

FYI- I use the old Respironics M-Series swivel (the one that caused leaks) on the end of the humidifier and it takes pressure off of the tubing and reduces the tension causing the machine to not move at all on my nightstand.

[MrSandman]

I too find my Sandman giving the best treatment which I have received yet. I just passed the 1300hr mark and have no issues with anything about it.

FYI- I use the old Respironics M-Series swivel (the one that caused leaks) on the end of the humidifier and it takes pressure off of the tubing and reduces the tension causing the machine to not move at all on my nightstand.

What is your pressure at? You must have noticed how loud it is when inhaling. To me it is much louder inhaling than the M-series ever is but it is more of a white noise and revving whining motor sound than an annoying darth vader sound but still I find the claims of 26db a lie. The only way it is 26 db is if you put on your mask and breathe VERY shallow or hold your breathe.