Pugsy wrote:That's good to hear. I have never had the chance to try a Devilbiss machine so I don't know how I would do with it.
Started my cpap therapy with Respironics APAP back in 2009. Never used a Resmed machine until I got the S9 VPAP either.
So I haven't used the APAP in that brand. I did try CPAP mode in the VPAP though. I could do some fiddling with the S9 bilevel pressures and come with a sort of APAP function but since I really like the dual pressures I just haven't wanted to dumb it down to APAP. There isn't an APAP mode option on the VPAP..just the cpap mode and the 2 bilevel modes.
I did well with the VPAP auto mode though. Maybe my REM dependent OSA likes the rather rapid response. My pressures have always been rather wild depending on my REM sleep. Even with the Respironics machines in the past. For me I do well with either algorithm it seems but I can sure understand that others might have a better result with one brand over another. Most people here in the US don't ever get a chance to try both brands. They get one brand of APAP and that's it. Here in the US we have to fight for APAP over CPAP much less get to try different brands. It just doesn't happen unless we buy something ourselves.
I have both brands of bilevels. Pretty much a toss up which one I prefer. Both have minor pros and cons and differences but for me none are deal breakers. Since my PR S1 BiPap is the non heated hose model the VPAP heated hose is a definite plus in the wintertime. I sold my Hybernite last summer to someone in Australia where it was winter.
So this winter I will either use the VPAP or get another Hybernite. I will probably just use the VPAP since I like it just as well. Probably once the 60 series BiPaps filter down to the secondary market I will get the new machine urge and buy one since I am a known "papaholoic". All my machines have to be my own out of pocket purchase so I have to go the el cheapo route.
I would think that the detection and response algorithms are mostly the same on the bilevel machines and APAP's. So I think your experiences with your automatic bilevel machines would be very similar with the APAP's, just with a higher exhale pressure.
It's a pity that people can't get to try different brands more, because for me, there was big differences. Specially when I went from the IntelliPAP to the S9. I hate the thought that people may be dropping their therapy when another machine might be all that's needed to make the therapy tolerable for them. All the machines I have tried have one thing in common, they all kept my O2 sat perfect. They just do it differently. I think that for someone with severe sleep apnea, the very hyper algorithm of the S9 is a good thing. But for someone like me with moderate SA, the PRS1 and IntelliPAP would be better choices.
When new users reads this forum, they quickly get the impression that the S9 Autoset is the "holy grail", the Rolls Royce, the only thing to get. I know I did. But I did not find this to be true at all for me. XPAP machines should be the same as masks, that you get to try different machines for 30 days before making a final choice. I also recommend the IntelliPAP to all people that are paying out of pocket, it's a very good machine with the best warranty and definatly the most bang for our "burkes" In my experience the IntelliPAP is also the machine that people most likely would not have any problems with as the algorithm is very well behaved.
Devilbiss also makes an automatic bilevel machine now, so you have the chance to try the AutoAdjust algorithm if you wish. Wouldn't that be a much more interesting thing to try for a "papaholic" than the PRS1 60 series ?
