Exchanged a ResMed Escape for Elite

[kasualkid]

Hi, my name is Paul and I don't do the sleep thing very well.

I recently began a second attempt at CPAP therapy and was initially given a ResMed S8 Escape II machine. I think I adjusted well to it, and when I visited my sleep doctor roughly 4 weeks after starting, his office downloaded the data and he was bummed with what he got. He has been the first doctor who really spent as much time as I wanted going over my sleep study to make sure I understood all that was going on. So, I asked what he was looking for and started doing some research which landed me here and a couple other places on the net.

Based on information here, I was able to contact Apria and exchange my unit for an Elite II. I had asked for them to make sure the settings were "comparable" with how my Escape was set up. I had a 20 minute ramp and the Elite came with no ramp. I don't know how to compare my Respironics Nasal Gel mask for the "mask" types the menu offers (left it set to standard). I asked to have access to the data menu so I could monitor my information and I appear to be locked out of that.

Oh, are these DME's required to give you a new unit in exchange when you switch models (Escape to Elite)? The menu on my does show 433 hours used which I know aren't all mine (another reason I want access to the data menu - to make sure the numbers aren't skewed by some other patient). When I picked up my Escape, I knew it was new because I watched the tech unpack it in front of me. When I exchanged it for the Elite, they just handed me the unit and a user manual.

The folks at Apria have been generally helpful to this point. I do have a call into them, but have not heard back today on these issues, so would like a plan B if they don't come through. Clinicians manual anyone?

I know I have suffered from OSA for sometime and am finally ready to face the music and try to improve my daytime experience. This website and others have really been a wonderful encouragement to my attitude toward treatment. I wish I had stumbled across something similar to CPAPtalk years ago when I first was diagnosed with OSA.

Thanks all for your encouragement to those of us in similar situations.

~ Paul aka kasualkid

[twokatmew]

Welcome to the board! I'm two weeks into my CPAP therapy and exchanged my Escape for an Elite II once I realized the difference in the data each machine stores. (Thanks to the wonderful people on this wonderful forum!) PM me with your email address, and I'll send you a copy of the clinician's manual. You can't erase total motor hours AFAIK, but you can erase the data and start over. You can also set the machine so you can see some efficacy data right from the LCD. Hold down the right and down keys for a few seconds to access the clinician's menu. For a non-Resmed mask, set the mask type to "Standard."

Good luck! Even though your Elite II may have some hours on it, it's still better than a new Escape or Escape II.

[lktnky]

Apria gave me, or TRIED to give me, a 'used' machine. Since I was paying for a 'new/unused' machine, I made them swap it. You don't know where the other machine has been or WHY it was turned back in. I went through 3 Respironics machines before finally getting a ResMed that would work as it was supposed to.
Getting into the Clinician's Menu isn't hard, just be sure you don't change any settings before writing down what they are. I used the flowchart in the manual to make records of the original settings.
Glad you decided to take your therapy into your own hands and I'm envious of your doctor's involvement. That's usually not the case, so more power to you. Sounds like he wants you to succeed.
I've recently had some good dealings w/Apria so I'll keep hoping for the best.
Glad you've found us and welcome to the club!
All the best,
LKTNKY

[RipVW]

Hello & Welcome, Pau;! Glad you found this forum—SO much useful info and everyone here is so willing to help!

Good for you for getting the exchange!

You're lucky to have found this forum as you begin CPAP--took me almost year before I found this place and, with the help of folks here, got my CPAP therapy working as it should. It does take time to get everything tweaked and working at its best, so patience is key as one begins CPAP.



"You are getting sleepy . . ."

[Paul56]

I asked to have access to the data menu so I could monitor my information and I appear to be locked out of that.

Press the right "--" key and down arrow key at the same time.

You will see "Humidifier Warming" message appear to be followed shortly by "Clinical Menu Welcome" message.

Be careful the first time in there that you don't inadvertently adjust your settings.

[rested gal]

Here are some links about how to access the clinical menu on ResMed machines:

http://www.cpap-supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=130

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

Brenda's post:
viewtopic.php?t=22776

My post:
viewtopic.php?p=226375#226375

[kasualkid]

You are all awesome. Thanks for the welcomes and quick replies.

Here's hoping for a good nights sleep soon.

~ Paul aka kasualkid

[time2sleep]

I was given an Resmed Vantage when I first started therapy in April. I just recently switched to the ResMed AutoSet II. I love my new machine but I had to have a lot of on-line help to learn to read the new data capable machine. I got a copy of the clinicians manual on line, I read through the manual (my DME did not give me a manual at all). I learned to go in and see all of my numbers. (Write down your settings before you start changing things). Now I go in each morning by pushing both right and left buttons at the same time. This gives me the readings from the night before. Be sure to do this before noon every day when the machine resets itself. Now I keep a written journal of my numbers and how I feel. I also bought the ResMed software and reader so I can see all the detailed graphs of my numbers. Best of luck to you on your therapy.

[dsm]

I was given an Resmed Vantage when I first started therapy in April. I just recently switched to the ResMed AutoSet II. I love my new machine but I had to have a lot of on-line help to learn to read the new data capable machine. I got a copy of the clinicians manual on line, I read through the manual (my DME did not give me a manual at all). I learned to go in and see all of my numbers. (Write down your settings before you start changing things). Now I go in each morning by pushing both right and left buttons at the same time. This gives me the readings from the night before. Be sure to do this before noon every day when the machine resets itself. Now I keep a written journal of my numbers and how I feel. I also bought the ResMed software and reader so I can see all the detailed graphs of my numbers. Best of luck to you on your therapy.

Time2sleep,

I am very interested in if you felt the Autoset II was in anyway better than the Vantage ? - the II model has some improvements but it is always good to hear from a user as to if they noticed any differences.

The areas I am very interested to hear about cover ...
- is the Autoset II noticably quieter than the Vantage
- does the airflow feel more 'natural' with the Autoset II (they reshaped the wave form saying it would feel better)
- have you tried the EPR feature on either machine ? - if yes does the Autoset II EPR seem different in anyway ?

If you don't have any clear cut opinions please feel free to say so as you may not have had enough time with either to form them.

Thanks in advance

DSM

[time2sleep]

I love my new machine. I do use the EPR at the setting of 2 which is in the middle. I really notice a difference in my ability to exhale with this feature. The ResMed S8 Autoset II is so quiet that if I wake up at night, I find I check to see if the machine is actually on! I am so glad I got this machine. I do use it in the autoset mode. My settings are 8-12. Most nights I am at 10.7 to 11 pressure. I have no mask leak and my AI readings are always less that 1. I think I finally got just the perfect machine for me.

[hobbs]

- is the Autoset II noticeably quieter than the Vantage- YES
- does the airflow feel more 'natural' with the Autoset II- YES
- have you tried the EPR feature on either machine- YES, Autoset II feels much more natural and it works in Auto mode. Never liked EPR on the Vantage.

[Paul56]

I disliked the EPR which to me felt very unnatural.

As well, I don't even run my AutoSet on Auto anymore... straight CPAP at 12 works great for me.

Yeah, blasphemous to have a machine with all the bells 'n whistles and run it in plane jane mode.

[kasualkid]

I disliked the EPR which to me felt very unnatural.

Heh, the first night I tried the Elite, I thought for sure something was not working correctly, but found out it was the EPR. After four nights, I am still not used to it and was considering shutting it off completely as I had already adjusted to straight CPAP with the Escape.

~ Paul aka kasualkid

[jdm2857]

I have had my machine for two weeks and have yet to try EPR. I find that the Easy-Breathe is very comfortable as is.