Is there another brand machine close to equal to ResMed?

[Jay K]

Given the amount of time you will spend with your machine, I would suggest getting one of the machines with newer technology, as I have found the newer technology yields better therapy (for me, at least, and I'm basing this on having recently used both the Resmed S9 Auto, and the Respironics System One). Although I am finding the S9 is a bit better for me, both are great machines. Given the price difference, one who is price sensitive but can afford more than the minimum couldn't go wrong with the Respironics System One Auto.

[bearded_two]

jnk, I have never heard of EVO Medical and I can't say that I know anything good or bad about that APAP. I stay away from electronic medical devices made by manufacturers that are not well known.

[jnk]

jnk, I have never heard of EVO Medical and I can't say that I know anything good or bad about that APAP. I stay away from electronic medical devices made by manufacturers that are not well known.

Thanks, bearded_two. But if cpap.com sells it, I trust it. Looks like it must be made by the same people who make this one, judging by the looks of it: https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/proba ... chine.html

[DreamOn]

bbmiller, whichever machine you get, I strongly suggest that you buy one that is capable of reporting full data, so you can monitor your results. Here is a list of machines that are fully data capable and those that only report hours the machine was used (compliance only): viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168. You want to avoid the machines typed in red.

As far as what is needed to read the data on the computer, that depends on the CPAP/APAP machine. The card readers and data cards for the S8 machines are getting more difficult to find, now that the newer S9 machines are being sold. That is something to consider. The ResMed S9 machines and the PR System One Pro and Auto machines use a standard SD card and reader, so that wouldn't be a problem, and many newer computers have built-in card readers.

Here are two sources of used equipment online: http://www.cpapauction.com and http://secondwindcpap.com/. You could also check Craigslist. If purchasing online, I would stick with established sellers with good feedback. Determine whether the machine was used in a smoking household, as those odors can be difficult to remove. Check the number of hours the machine was used. Also, you may not have any warranty protection if you don't purchase from an approved dealer.

[elena88]

What dreamon said....

get one with the sd card..

I didnt think I would use mine, boy was I wrong..

Its so easy to pop it in, and three minutes later you can see what happened to YOU the night before.

ever wake up wondering why you felt not so great?
I have a resmed s nine autoset..this is what i see..
all the pretty graphs will tell you.. so easy to read..

little black stubby lines are shallow breaths or hyponeas..

purple sticks are central apneas.. where your little brain didnt tell you to take a breath, maybe you rolled over..if you have lots of them, you should know..

pink sticks are obstructive apneas anything over ten seconds the machine had to chase down.. this is good to see you can see when you
are having them..

leak line, easy! try to get it flat..

pressure, thats very interesting to watch what pressure you were at all night, with an auto, you can see the subtle changes over the evening..
see where your machine finds a sweet spot.. but it can be different every night, depending on your sleep position, so another good reason to
spring for a little more money and get an auto.. why have just one higher pressure all night when you dont need it? The auto follows you around
like a puppy breath by breath.

The flow limitiation and minute ventilation I dont quite get yet, but I sure love to look at the other graphs.. For instance, I have borrowed a bipap
yesterday, and I cant access the information.. and I really want to know how high the pressure got, what my leak rate was, and how many events
I had.. but Im clueless.. and it makes me realize how extremely important having that data is.. I didnt think I would need it, boy was I wrong..
Get the machine with data, and get an auto if you can..

[bbmiller]

bbmiller, whichever machine you get, I strongly suggest that you buy one that is capable of reporting full data, so you can monitor your results. Here is a list of machines that are fully data capable and those that only report hours the machine was used (compliance only): viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168. You want to avoid the machines typed in red.

As far as what is needed to read the data on the computer, that depends on the CPAP/APAP machine. The card readers and data cards for the S8 machines are getting more difficult to find, now that the newer S9 machines are being sold. That is something to consider. The ResMed S9 machines and the PR System One Pro and Auto machines use a standard SD card and reader, so that wouldn't be a problem, and many newer computers have built-in card readers.

Here are two sources of used equipment online: http://www.cpapauction.com and http://secondwindcpap.com/. You could also check Craigslist. If purchasing online, I would stick with established sellers with good feedback. Determine whether the machine was used in a smoking household, as those odors can be difficult to remove. Check the number of hours the machine was used. Also, you may not have any warranty protection if you don't purchase from an approved dealer.

DreamOn - from looking at pictures of a card reade I indeed think I may have one built into my computer. However downloading a manual from ResMed on the CPAP called "S8 Escape™ II Auto" it seems it only comes with facilities for ferrying these cards back and forth to your clinician I'm thinking perhaps they only make the reading software available to medical offices or something like that. I'm thinking perhaps my Denver lady who sells used machines does not know about software for that reason. I am also wondering if this is the common practice with my medical insurance if they would resist feedback from me that comes from any other machine than the ResMed brand. As of now my medical insurance sales and uses S8 machines exclusively both auto and non-auto. I would also like to know if the best way to look at what the reports look like from the various brands listed in the link you gave me above is to download the manuals one by one at the respective brand websites. Do any of you know other sources to get a visualization of what the reports look like?

PS it was said above that the card readers S8 are getting hard to find. But restating my question is a software getting hard-to-find for patients rather than medical offices?

[Julie]

Not if you get it as part of the deal, as a "bundle". Look again at Cpap.com's line-up. The thing is, if you have the software and track your own progress using all the parameters it gives you, you don't have to hope the office tells you anything, because they actually don't 99% of the time. They only care about getting compliance information from the card (for the insurance companies) and don't even look at the therapy info. (unless you get very lucky with your doctor, but don't count on it). Once you have the software (and reader, etc.) you don't need to get a new study done every year or however often is 'recommended' to know how you're doing. The majority of people on this forum I think do use it, and are very compliant as a result, which means they're getting treated, vs the average "joe on the street" who has no clue as to what's going on with their own conditions (like diabetics who don't take care of themselves) and ends up surprised when things don't go well down the road. You are obviously an educated person from the sound of your posts, so don't 'nickle and dime' yourself out of that aspect of therapy. And once you have it, even if you end up with an upgrade machine in the future, you'll still be able to monitor things without upgrading the software (unless you choose to). I personally would not want a used machine, recon or otherwise, if I had any choice, but that's another story... there have also been people who bought machines from other 'private' parties (tho' not reputable companies) and ended up with smoke smells that don't go away.

[DreamOn]

bbmiller, I just sent you a PM (private message) that should clarify some things for you. You can retrieve it by clicking on the "new messages" link on the top left of your screen. I hope that helps!

[bbmiller]

DreamOn -Thank you very much for that rather lengthy PM I appreciated.

I am wondering if somebody here might suggest some places I might go on the web to increase my ability to understand machine generated reports. As of now I have talked to my therapist and read the obstructive sleep apnea wiki page on this site. (My sleep apnea is almost totally of the obstructive type.) As of now it seems that the most complicated report I can get my head around is this one I am picturing in screenshots directly below from the "IntelliPAP AutoAdjust Travel CPAP Machine."


I am wondering if you think the report above is adequate for most purposes of adjusting your treatment? There is another report I have obtained screenshot of which as of now too complicated for me to understand. See the screenshot directly below.

Do you knowledgeable people find the above report more adequate? I have seen even more complex reports generated from Cpap machines. Any enlightenment on what is adequate enough would be appreciated.

One more thing a review of the SleepStyle 254 Auto CPAP Machine with Built In Heated Humidifier entitled Best Machine I Have Owned--Ever, which can be found at the bottom of the page of this link,(you must go to the first page of reviews as well) claims that a hefty motor in this machine is relieving his symptoms in a way he never thought possible before trying this hefty motor machine. This could not be the only CPAP Machine which has a hefty motor and pump. Can anybody else confirm this hefty motor phenomena.

[LoQ]

Hello
I just started using a cpap machine last night have found treatment beneficial in that I do feel more restful and less hungry. My health plan recommends ResMed cpap machines and has presently loaned me one for a month. They recommended I shopped for one on the web since I have not bought the coverage option to pay for this equipment in my health insurance plan. They said it would be half the price on websites from what they sell it for. The trouble is this manufacturer has exercised price control. So is there any other brand almost as good who has of now not exercised price control. I was particularly impressed the quietness of ResMed cpap machine I have borrowed. But I only have a month use of it so what would you suggest for a good deal on a cpap machines? Is that ResMed brand simply without equal?

I don't know the answer to your question, but I will say that their biggest competitor, Respironics, doesn't have a clue about how to name machines. They are all over the map, and there is no easy way to figure out which is a newer model, which has what features, etc. Resmed is by no means perfect, but their naming scheme is a lot easier to figure out and more intuitive than Respironics' "scheme," if you can even consider it to be something other than pure chaos.

[jdm2857]

So "Philips Respironics System One RemStar Auto with A-Flex" doesn't roll off of your tongue?

[LoQ]

So "Philips Respironics System One RemStar Auto with A-Flex" doesn't roll off of your tongue?

No, and I haven't even had anything to drink in years.

[monster]

Do you have the phone number and address for the reconditioned machine dealer in Denver?