Q's about PR Sys 1 Auto

[oscar98]

Hi all,

Ordinarily, I would be more than happy to spend hours researching a new machine. I'm a researcher by nature and I enjoy the hunt. However, I am an overworked under paid grad student spending hours on thesis work and data analysis and I simply do not have the time to dedicate to cpap machine research at the moment. I know how much a pain it is to answer the same questions repeatedly and many would prefer that I take the time to find the answers myself, but I know that many here will understand my situation and hopefully show some mercy this one time.

Due to having a new insurance company, my husband was finally able to ditch his Resmed S8 Escape (aka: brick that blows air). Anyway, the doctor ordered an auto machine with full data capabilities and we requested the Resmed S9 Auto because I have the Elite and know how to read the data and already have the manuals etc... Long story short, when we arrived at the DME they had ignored the request for a Resmed machine and had a PR system one Auto set-up and ready to go. They said they don't normally carry Resmed machines and it would take a while to get it in, so we accepted the Resprionics machine. https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/respi ... -flex.html (this is the one)

I found a manual for the machine and I have figured out how to access the clinicians set-up screen. (I don't want to mess with it much right now because it has a wireless device sending data to the DME and doctor for the next month and I've already received the "don't touch the dials" lecture once )

My questions are:

1. Is this a good machine? It appears to comparable to the Resmed we asked for, but I know nothing at all about the Respironics brand because we have always had Resmed machines.
2. What software do I need to view the data? I saw software that costs around $100 but you may recall the whole under paid grad student thing mentioned above. Is there an alternative?


PS: To anyone looking for a sleep clinic in the Middle Tennessee area, the sleep clinic in Murfreesboro run by Dr. Noah is FANTASTIC. Our experience there was worlds apart from what we experienced in Illinois. I did not have to ask for a data capable machine nor did I have to ask for an auto machine. The doctor insisted on having those features before I ever mentioned it. They were thorough, knowledgeable and didn't waste any time in scheduling appointments or ordering equipment.
The only complaint I had was that they did a retitration and reduced my husbands pressure from 13 to 11. He immediately started snoring through the mask and feeling exhausted all day so I put the pressure back at 13. The doctor was not thrilled that I had changed the pressure but since I was simply moving it back to where it had been previously he didn't make a big deal out of it. Now that he has a new machine we are thinking that 11 was a good pressure for him and that the old machine was not producing the pressure it was supposed to because this machines "feels" like it it blowing much stronger when set at 13.

(ok, I'm off to write yet another paper on the joys of structural equation modeling, summer session is over in 9 days and I'm so very ready)

[Pugsy]

Yes, it is a great machine. Minor pros and cons with either one really but they both do a great job.
Check out my signature line lower left of this post for PR S1 software options. Unless you got the 60 series machine with the heated hose SleepyHead will actually do a better job than the $100 EncoreViewer 2.0.
Should you happen to have a 60 series machine (model number 560 on the bottom of the blower) just send me a private message and I will help you get some other software that will work.
SleepyHead is the easiest to use and you can do more with it anyway.

[archangle]

I agree with the deer lady above. I have both and PRS1 Auto vs. S9 AutoSet is sort of a toss up.

[oscar98]

Thank you so much for the quick reply. I thought he was getting a good machine, but after prior experience with a bad DME in Illinois I wanted to be certain before it was too late to do anything about. I don't think it is a 60 series, but he fell asleep before I finished my paper, so I'll have to double check tomorrow. If by chance it is a 60 series, I'll let you know.

Again, thanks for your time. After several years with cpap he finally was able to see his AHI for the first time today. It was 1.3. Not bad considering it was 114 without cpap at his first sleep study.

[cherylgrrl]

Wow, my AHI was 107 but your hubby has me beat! I have the same machine. Congratulations on having the great experience of getting it right off the bat -- I had to fight for mine!

I had the choice of the ResMed or the Respironics, and I picked the Respironics only because it seemed more sturdy and better made. I travel a lot and knew this machine would be hitting the road with me. I thought the ResMed machine's connection between the CPAP part and the humidifier seemed kind of flimsy. Later, I've heard that a lot of people like the ResMed because it offers more data through it's screen, but I have no problem popping my chip out each morning and reading it on my laptop. I like having the data on my laptop. At any rate, with the free SleepyHead software (just do a search for it and you'll find where you can download) I've been very happy with it. The data has been very helpful and the machine has an "A-flex" option that decreases pressure on exhalation. I set my machine to a 3 for maximum pressure relief and it's very comfortable. I just had my 30-day checkup and the pulmonary doctor said there's no reason not to use this setting.

Unfortunately, I'm having a lot of central apneas so I'll be going back for another sleep test and a variable pressure machine that costs a lot more, but that's the breaks. This is a great machine and I don't think you'll have any regrets. The only reason to look to the newer 60 series is to get a heated hose, but that is probably a nit. And SleepyHead doesn't work with 60 series yet, but apparently pugsy can help with that!

Good luck!

[oscar98]

His machine does not have the heated hose option so it must not be a 60 series. I noticed that his a-flex is also set on 3 and so far he seems happy with it. It was not set to allow him to check his AHI, but that was readily solved with a little button pushing This machine is certainly bulkier than the S9, but I've traveled a great deal with my S9 and it's holding up quite well. Considering we travel back home quite often it's probably a good thing we don't both have the same machine. It will help avoid mix-ups when we are unpacking.

[archangle]

His machine does not have the heated hose option so it must not be a 60 series. I noticed that his a-flex is also set on 3 and so far he seems happy with it. It was not set to allow him to check his AHI, but that was readily solved with a little button pushing This machine is certainly bulkier than the S9, but I've traveled a great deal with my S9 and it's holding up quite well. Considering we travel back home quite often it's probably a good thing we don't both have the same machine. It will help avoid mix-ups when we are unpacking.

I think they sell the 60 series without the heated hose. For that matter, it wouldn't surprise me for a DME to steal the heated hose and substitute an unheated hose. The faceplate is dark on the 60 series.

The S9 does sort of seem smaller, but if you sit them side by side, they're not really that much different in size. The S9 is actually a little wider. The S9 is a little less deep and tall, but the hose sticking out the back does take up more depth in actual use.