ResMed Data question

[kasualkid]

I asked and got my S8 Escape II replaced with an Elite II - mainly for the data asked for by my doctor. As I understand it, it will hold quite a bit of daily summary data, but only 5 most recent days detailed specifics.

So, for other manufacturers, is this normal? If so, how is this effective data for my sleep doctor if all he sees are the last few days of therapy and has nothing but "compliance" summary data to compare it to?

I am new to all this and want my therapy to work well. But after calling Apria about an unrelated issue with my Elite, the person on the phone indicated that based on the data needs of my doctor, she would have probably recommended a REMstar model as opposed to the Elite I have. There was also the discussion that I probably could switch machines again should I want to. Based on the discussion, I could tell that she was more familiar with the Respironics line than the ResMed, so she may not know what all the Elite I have can do from a data perspective.

SO, if I had a chance to move AGAIN, but to a Respironics model, would I really be gaining anything over the Elite I have? I know some of what I am asking is subjective, but I trust you all to be as objective as possible.

~ Paul

[jnk]

I asked and got my S8 Escape II replaced with an Elite II - mainly for the data asked for by my doctor. As I understand it, it will hold quite a bit of daily summary data, but only 5 most recent days detailed specifics.

So, for other manufacturers, is this normal? If so, how is this effective data for my sleep doctor if all he sees are the last few days of therapy and has nothing but "compliance" summary data to compare it to?

I am new to all this and want my therapy to work well. But after calling Apria about an unrelated issue with my Elite, the person on the phone indicated that based on the data needs of my doctor, she would have probably recommended a REMstar model as opposed to the Elite I have. There was also the discussion that I probably could switch machines again should I want to. Based on the discussion, I could tell that she was more familiar with the Respironics line than the ResMed, so she may not know what all the Elite I have can do from a data perspective.

SO, if I had a chance to move AGAIN, but to a Respironics model, would I really be gaining anything over the Elite I have? I know some of what I am asking is subjective, but I trust you all to be as objective as possible.

~ Paul

Objectivity? You want objectivity?!

It is natural for the person on the phone to be most comfortable with the machine(s) she has worked the most with, or that her employers make the most money on, depending.

One of the nice things about the brand of machine you have is how much good data over time that you can get at from the screen without your having to use any software at all.

I have found that the most important data for me, since I have plain old obstructive sleep apnea, is not the extensive 5-day data, but the regular data that the machine keeps track of for the day, for the week, for the last 6 months, and for the year, such as AI and AHI. My seeing how those numbers change over time is the most important information for me (well, besides leak, that is).

Please note, though, that I have only used ResMed machines, so I know little about the Respironics machines. Others here can give you a better idea about those machines, which I'm sure are great machines too, from what I've read on this board.

jeff

[Velbor]

I asked and got my S8 Escape II replaced with an Elite II - mainly for the data asked for by my doctor. As I understand it, it will hold quite a bit of daily summary data, but only 5 most recent days detailed specifics.

So, for other manufacturers, is this normal? If so, how is this effective data for my sleep doctor if all he sees are the last few days of therapy and has nothing but "compliance" summary data to compare it to?

A wonderful example of an accurate statement, but totally wrong conclusions dervied from it, since you were given only "part" of the story.

Correct: the ResMed Elite II will "hold" 5 days of detail data. Also correct, though not stated, is that the ResMed smartcard will "hold" 5 days of detail data.

Wrong: The doctor will never be able to see more than 5 days of detail data. This can be circumvented in several ways. One is that you obtain the needed software and hardware, and download the data at least every 5th day. Downloaded data doesn't go away. You can then provide printouts, and or the underlying data files. Alternatively, you can bring your card in to your doctor or RT every 5th day to have them download. Alternatively, you can obtain multiple data cards, and switch to a new one every 5th day.

Wrong: After the 5 days, only "compliance" data remains available. In fact, summary usage data, as well as summary pressure and respiratory event indices, remain. "Summary" in this case still means night-by-night information. All statistical data available for the most recent 5 days is still present in the "summary data" for all preceding days (up to a limit of, I think, 180 days on the smartcard, 360 days in the machine).

Context error: You wisely ask if this situation is any different for other manufacturers. Answer: no, at least not for Respironics. The number of days may differ slightly (in fact the number of days differs between various ResMed machines), but the principle is the same. However, the Respironics smartcards, I believe, lose even the nightly summary data after 5 or 7 days; they may still hold some overall information (I am not certain of this), but night-by-night summary data is not retained. Others will likely disagree with me, but ResMed is far superior to Respironics in terms of retention of historical data (data which is not downloaded frequently).

Context error: Your assume that your doctor CARES about the detail data. Generally, they don't. Mostly, it's us chickens who care (rightly or wrongly; mostly rightly, I think) about the night-by-night detail of our own sleeping / breathing patterns (jnk's post reflecting a rare, sane, exception). Mostly, the medics care (rightly or wrongly; mostly rightly, I think) about the bigger picture which is adequately conveyed by the summary data and statistics. If there are specific problems, seeing the nightly graphs can help; otherwise, few doctors will be interested in that much detail.

For fixed-pressure CPAP, there is essentially no difference between the machines (not worrying, since you don't mention it, about Flex or EPR pressure reduction issues). People disagree (sometimes violently so) about which brand has better software, but that doesn't sound like your issue right now. Simply in terms of providing the most data to your physician on an extended and/or irregular basis, you have the right machine.

Velbor

[jdm2857]

From what I have read here, the data card must be in a respironics machine while you are sleeping as the data is written directly to the card.

ResMed machines keep 5 days of detailed data inside the machine. You insert the card, the machine copies the data to the card, and the card can be removed.

[ziggytosh]

One of the nice things about the brand of machine you have is how much good data over time that you can get at from the screen without your having to use any software at all.

I have found that the most important data for me, since I have plain old obstructive sleep apnea, is not the extensive 5-day data, but the regular data that the machine keeps track of for the day, for the week, for the last 6 months, and for the year, such as AI and AHI. My seeing how those numbers change over time is the most important information for me (well, besides leak, that is).

Please note, though, that I have only used ResMed machines, so I know little about the Respironics machines. Others here can give you a better idea about those machines, which I'm sure are great machines too, from what I've read on this board.

jeff

Hey Jeff. Just curious ... why do you have a VPAP if you have obstructive apnea? I had thought the VPAPs are for more complicated cases. Is there a benefit for those with straight OSA? The gadget-lover in me wants one, and if there's a good, wife-ready justification for it, I'd love to hear.

[jnk]

One of the nice things about the brand of machine you have is how much good data over time that you can get at from the screen without your having to use any software at all.

I have found that the most important data for me, since I have plain old obstructive sleep apnea, is not the extensive 5-day data, but the regular data that the machine keeps track of for the day, for the week, for the last 6 months, and for the year, such as AI and AHI. My seeing how those numbers change over time is the most important information for me (well, besides leak, that is).

Please note, though, that I have only used ResMed machines, so I know little about the Respironics machines. Others here can give you a better idea about those machines, which I'm sure are great machines too, from what I've read on this board.

jeff

Hey Jeff. Just curious ... why do you have a VPAP if you have obstructive apnea? I had thought the VPAPs are for more complicated cases. Is there a benefit for those with straight OSA? The gadget-lover in me wants one, and if there's a good, wife-ready justification for it, I'd love to hear.

VPAP is ResMed's name for bilevel, kind of like how Respironics' name for bilevel is BiPAP. My tech felt I did better on bilevel, especially since I needed 16 cm of pressure to normalize some aspects of my breathing. Titration guidelines say the tech can make that call at anything over 15 cm of pressure, even if the patient seems to be doing OK with it, and the tech said it was as if my body was fighting the pressure from 12 cm on until he flipped to bilevel, then I seemed to calm right down in my sleep.

Of course, it could have something to do with the fact that while the tech prepped me for titration, I gave him some advice based on his questions about classes that might help him advance his career. Right after he thanked me for my advice, I asked him straight out: "So, how do you feel about bilevel?" I thought it best to let those words ring in his ear overnight in case it helped him make some decisions about when to try bilevel pressure on me.

To get a bilevel through official means, you need a prescription for bilevel, as I understand it. I have heard that a ResMed CPAP with EPR is the next best thing to bilevel, but I've never experienced one of those myself, so I don't really know.