New machine?

[rbrown3rd]

I've been using a Resmed S9 for five years now. I use a Swift FX mask and have had no problems to speak of. My pressure is set on 5 which I think is pretty low. I have no other data as I had great difficulty reading the data card from the S9.

I think I am eligible for a new machine after five years under Medicare and my insurance. As I said above I have had no problems with my CPAP machine but am asking about machines because I know how technology progresses and five years is a long time.

CPAP therapy has really helped me sleep through the night...along with Temazapem.

Bob

[Julie]

Your insce. co. can tell you if they'll pay for a new machine now (it's likely, but don't assume anything).

[rbrown3rd]

I may not have worded my post adequately to describe my question. Assuming I can get a new machine and assuming my old one is working fine my questions are:

1. Is there any advantage to getting a newer machine with new features. APAP/IPAP as opposed to straight CPAP?
2. If the answer to (1) is yes then what type is best? (I thought auto-titrating would be an advantage but am not sure that is true after reading a bunch of posts.)

Thanks.

[zoocrewphoto]

Which version of the S9 do you have? Elite or Escape?

What pressure setting do you currently have? How do you feel? Do you think it is working well for you, or do you feel like it needs some improvement?

Auto is a great feature for many people who can get by on one pressure most of the night, but need a higher pressure for short times such as supine sleeping and/or REM sleep. For example, I can get by with 13 most of the night, but I do have short spikes, sometimes up to 17. My pressure is set for 11-17. This allows me to spend most of the night at 11-13, but still takes care of those times when I need the higher pressure.

The problem is when the changes in pressure disturb the person's sleep. For somebody who is sensitive to those changes, they may be better off using a higher pressure through the night, and they may be better with a higher pressure all night.

It really comes down to what a person needs for therapy and what a person can sleep through, or is bothered by. I have no problem with the changes in pressure, but a small leak will drive me crazy. Other people may sleep through large leaks, but will wake up when their pressure goes higher.

Whatever machine you go for, make sure it has full data. Even if you don't need it now, you may want it later.

[rbrown3rd]

I just checked and I have an S8 Elite II. For some reason I thought it was an S9. I can't get my full inventory of gear to display in my signature.

I am set for pretty low pressure of 5. My machine does a fair job but I figure that over 5 years my own body may have changed and thought the new auto sensing machines would be better for me. I usually sleep six hours and have no problems with leaks with my Swift FX mask.

I would definitely want the ability to collect data to know how well I am doing at night. I pushed to get that feature on the machine I have now but it uses a non-standard data card and I had so many problems reading the card that I ended up not using that feature. I would LOVE to be able to analyze my data to see how I am doing. I was able to do so for a short time in the beginning of my CPAP experience but the use of the non-standard card and reader became a problem. Also, I switched from PCs to Macs in my home network.

Bottom line...with five years having passed, my body maybe changing during that time, and the development of new and better machines, I thought it time to start asking questions.

[zoocrewphoto]

I just checked and I have an S8 Elite II. For some reason I thought it was an S9. I can't get my full inventory of gear to display in my signature.

I am set for pretty low pressure of 5. My machine does a fair job but I figure that over 5 years my own body may have changed and thought the new auto sensing machines would be better for me. I usually sleep six hours and have no problems with leaks with my Swift FX mask.

I would definitely want the ability to collect data to know how well I am doing at night. I pushed to get that feature on the machine I have now but it uses a non-standard data card and I had so many problems reading the card that I ended up not using that feature. I would LOVE to be able to analyze my data to see how I am doing. I was able to do so for a short time in the beginning of my CPAP experience but the use of the non-standard card and reader became a problem. Also, I switched from PCs to Macs in my home network.

Bottom line...with five years having passed, my body maybe changing during that time, and the development of new and better machines, I thought it time to start asking questions.

Considering that you do have an older model machine, I would definitely go fro a new machine if you can. The Resmed S9 autoset would be a great upgrade. It has an SD card, and the data can be read by two programs. And you can use the auto feature to see how your therapy is going and if you need to make some changes. Just make sure that you get the autoset and NOT the Escape Auto.

[Julie]

Auto machines can be set to do only straight Cpap, but the reverse is not true, so it makes sense to have an auto for such time as you want to try it out. Do not let DME's tell you (in case it happens) that your insce. won't want to pay, because the code submitted by dealers for both machines is the same and insce. co's may not even know the difference, let alone bother to dispute it. And don't let your MD tell you you shouldn't be tracking your stats either (in case that happens ).

[Tatooed Lady]

and really...it can't hurt to have a "spare" machine around, just in case.

[qckndrty]

My machine is 13.5 years old with 36,000 hours. I'm in the process of getting a new one simply because I know it will die eventually.

But I should have kept up with technology, though. I just hate all the studies, appointments and insurance stuff. Five years sounds like a good number.

[rbrown3rd]

Thanks. Sounds good to me.