Software to go with my Resmed Elite II, worth it?

[2girlsmom]

I told my husband I wanted to get the card reader and software sometime in the future and when he heard the price he asked why I needed it if I had a sleep doctor overseeing things. Made me wonder too, but I know you all feel it really helps you know what is going on so if you could let me know what I would gain from having it he probably would go for it. I have no real clue. I just wanna see what it does which isn't that great of a reason to buy it. LOL

[2girlsmom]

I got a pm telling me the software and reader can be had for less than $100. I thought it was about $200 which is why he asked why it was needed. Where can I get it for under $100?

[bearcatx16]

2girlsmom:

I have the software, don't know where you can get it for $100. I used it everyday until I got a link to a spreadsheet from Ozij, here on CPAP talk. I am now able to get and see the information that is important to me, it even has graphs. If you would like to try this I will send you the file that I got and the file that I amended to my wants. Feel free to PM me.

Blessings

Fred

[Paul56]

I told my husband I wanted to get the card reader and software sometime in the future and when he heard the price he asked why I needed it if I had a sleep doctor overseeing things. Made me wonder too, but I know you all feel it really helps you know what is going on so if you could let me know what I would gain from having it he probably would go for it. I have no real clue. I just wanna see what it does which isn't that great of a reason to buy it. LOL

In a nutshell... the software allows you to play a more active role in your own therapy and to view exactly what is going on during your sleep. Is your Doctor downloading the data from your machine and reviewing it? If not, I'd be somewhat concerned that he is flying in the dark without instruments.

Are you reading & recording the data off your LCD in the mornings? If not, you might want to get started doing that so you have some idea how your therapy is going. On that machine you can view usage hours, pressure (which will always be the same number on your machine), AHI, AI & HI. Those last 3 numbers are the ones that will provide the clues.

My own personal situation is that I am somewhat on my own. My family Doctor doesn't have a lot of in-depth information regarding sleep issues, the Doctor at the sleep clinic doesn't want to see me given that I live in Quebec and he operates in Ontario (odd because my family Doctor is also located in Ontario), and my respiratory therapist at my DME is about as knowledgeable/helpful as a bull in a fine china cabinet. So I've ordered the software & reader from "The CPAP Shop" and consider it an investment in my health and well-being.

[Billy6]

Since it appears I'm stuck in this thing for years, I dont see the point of any software and data for at least 2 or 3 years down the road.
Although, I am disappointed in how they determined I was sick. They gave me an at-home test with a microphone and finger monitor, and 8 weeks later, I got a call to go down to a medical store, where I got encased in a face mask and was given a blow machine. It doesn't seem very scientific.
The funniest part is when he turned the machine on and told me to sit quietly for 5 minutes, and then had the gaul to ask me "How do you like your new mask and CPAP machine?". He seemed disappointed when I told him, "How do you think I like it???? Its a nightmare" I only did this because my physician told me I stopped breathing twice during my operation and then started snoring loudly

[2girlsmom]

I guess what I'm wanting to know is what exactly the software will tell me. I do check the screen EVERY morning, but I do not track anything (wasn't sure how I would do that anyway). I'd like to though. Does it tell you how long an apnea was, what time it happened, etc? I have no clue what exactly it does so I just have questions. If an Excel sheet will do the same, I will do that instead. My doc did ask for my old card and it was compliance only, so I assume they will want this one too.

[zaquon]

What the software will give you that the machine readout won't:

1) Detailed graphs of all apnea/hypopnia events. It plots all events on a graph, apneas are displayed with the length of each event. You can see if your events are happening in a cluster or spread out through the night. Knowing the length of each apnea will tell you how bad they are.

2) Detailed leak rate plotted on a graph. If it's a steady leak you know that you probably have a bad fit on your mask. If it's episodic it's probably related to positional changes or mouth opening.

3) Summary graphs of AHI and Leak.

4)Summary report which includes most of what's on the screen, but the most important number is probably the length of time spent in apnea, which isn't on the machine.

It has other stuff as well, but it's mostly only useful if you have an APAP instead of a straight CPAP.

It runs really slow on my old PC running Windows XP (I'm mostly a Mac user). I don't care much for the software's interface, but I love having the data.

_z

_z

[2girlsmom]

1) Detailed graphs of all apnea/hypopnia events. It plots all events on a graph, apneas are displayed with the length of each event. You can see if your events are happening in a cluster or spread out through the night. Knowing the length of each apnea will tell you how bad they are.

This to me is a really good reason to get the reader and software. Thanks for the detailed reply, also. I'll have to search around for the best deal once I'm ready to buy.

[GuyK]

I got a pm telling me the software and reader can be had for less than $100. I thought it was about $200 which is why he asked why it was needed. Where can I get it for under $100?

Would any kind soul that knows the answer to the $100 software/reader question also send me a PM as well?

Thanks!