Am I on the right track?

mbridget · Post by **mbridget** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:58 pm

I go in on Monday to get MY machine (I have been on a rental for the last month to get my pressure) I have certain features that I want -- please let me know if the following machines are the right ones to push for. And add any I may have missed!

I want:
Auto titration
c-flex or equivalent (?)
full data

The 2 machines I have chosen to push for:

M Series Auto A Flex CPAP, heated humidifier
or
S8 Autoset Vantage CPAP , H3i HEated humidifier

I don't know wether the DME and/or my sleep doctor will hassle me about wanting the 'extra' features but I want to be prepared. I plan on giving him solid reasons to cut him off at the pass. (I have to prepare and rehearse these in my head and on paper beforehand- or I can tend to be a push over)

I need the auto titration because I will be losing weight and I want machine to compensate for this.

I need c-flex because I absolutely want to stay compliant and I feel that this feature will help me greatly.

I need the full data so that I can stay on top of my levels in order to alert him to any changes that we need to address before a small problem becomes a big one. (ps. I may deal with these levels and information myself -- but I am not above sucking up and bullshitting if I need to do that in order to stroke his ego and get this feature. manipulative? maybe. They aren't full honest with us and I see it as fighting fire with fire.)

Thanks for your input!

Bridget

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:15 pm

I don't know a lot about Resmed machines but you might want to check. I think the Autoset II is the newest model of the Resmed APAP.

Jerry

tdm5032c · Post by **tdm5032c** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:55 pm

I have the Respironics M Series Auto machine with A-flex and absolutely LOVE it. It also has C-flex that you can choose, and I most definitely noticed a huge difference. For me, the A-Flex worked MUCH better. I found that it was easier and much more natural to breathe, especially when exhaling. It seems like the machine just anticipates perfectly when you breathe out. I've seem some people don't like it as much, but I do, and with that machine you have the option to choose either the A-flex, the C-Flex, or none of them. Don't know anything about the Resmed machine.

Tracy

sleepyangler · Post by **sleepyangler** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:19 am

The epr feature on the resmed S8 vantage is only available when using the machine as a straight cpap. If you want to have the epr comfort feature available in apap mode, you will need to step up to the newer autoset II.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:59 am

Bridget,

As far as arguing for whichever machine you want, it amounts to the fact that this is going to be YOUR therapy.....and YOU are the one who is going to sleep with it EVERY night......not them. YOU and your insurance (I presume) are going to be paying for YOUR equipment and YOU should be able to decide which equipment YOU want.

Sounds to me like you're leaning towards the REMstar M Series Auto w/A-Flex. It has more "modes" and options and I think the software is probably easier to understand.

Den

hose head · Post by **hose head** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:48 am

I have the S8 Autoset II it is very quiet. Data is easy to read from screen. Never used the other machines.
My Doctor was happy to write for a certain machine, it is my insurance co who is deciding "what is best for me".
M

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:16 am

To my way of thinking, I might lean toward the Respironics if I thought I was going to be using the software a lot down the road to keep up with my therapy and was planning on posting software results in this forum, etc. If what I wanted was pure convenience of use and the most data on the screen of the machine for keeping up with my therapy, I might lean toward the ResMed. I use a ResMed myself, but frankly I think I would have been happy with either brand.

Georgio · Post by **Georgio** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:09 am

When I woke up yesterday, my breathing with the A-flex was so natural, I didn't think the machine was even on!

AuntieNae · Post by **AuntieNae** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:33 am

I also think the Autoset II is the more current ResMed machine.

I have both .. there are pro's and con's for each ..

ResMed Auto Set II - (from my DME) definitely runs much quieter, larger (since I have the 4i) humidifier tank that I have yet to run dry in one night, easy to see data on screen but I do not have the hang of downloading it yet, my mask leak rate seems to be much lower, it is lighter than the M Series to travel with

M Series Auto w Aflex - (outright purchase) it responds differently to my apnea's, data card is stored in the machine and I got in the habit of downloading it weekly quite easily, I run out of water in my humidifer if I put it above 2, this one has annoying blue night lights that I cover up, and since I do camp in the summer months, I wanted something that would be easier to run on battery and this one fit the bill for me.

Hey, anyone have the linky to Snoredog's posting on the ResMed responding to Apnea's above 10 - I must say that I do feel the difference between the two machines.

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:59 am

AuntieNae wrote: . . . responding to Apnea's above 10 . . . .

ResMed machines respond to the snores and flow limitations above 10 cm of pressure. That is ResMed's approach to preventing any obstructive apneas that might occur above that pressure, since any apnea that occurs above 10 cm that is not accompanied by snores and flow limitations is more likely to be central than obstructive.

Respironics takes a different approach, which does not, by any means, perfectly treat every apnea above 10 cm.

Neither approach is perfect. Autos are what they are. Experience has shown that for most people, either brand would work fine, though. Of course, there may be some who respond better to one machine over the other. But since both machines under consideration are full-data, a user should be able to fine tune either machine's pressure to effectively treat OSA.

But many would argue with my summary above, I'm sure. And that's OK. I kinda like it!

AuntieNae · Post by **AuntieNae** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:25 am

Thanks jnk
Yes, both are different and respond differently. I would know she will be happy if given either Auto machine!

Just another FYI, the ResMed H4i is the newer humidifer .. from what I have learned it has a larger tank and larger heating plate than the H31 .. I was given the H4i so I only really know that model.

I thought it best if she was aware of the differences in how the ResMed versus the Respironics in how they respond to apnea's. It reminds me of the Garmin GPSr versus Magellan GPSr thing in geocaching.

AuntieNae

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:40 am

AuntieNae wrote:I also think the Autoset II is the more current ResMed machine.

I have both .. there are pro's and con's for each ..

ResMed Auto Set II - (from my DME) definitely runs much quieter, larger (since I have the 4i) humidifier tank that I have yet to run dry in one night, easy to see data on screen but I do not have the hang of downloading it yet, my mask leak rate seems to be much lower, it is lighter than the M Series to travel with

M Series Auto w Aflex - (outright purchase) it responds differently to my apnea's, data card is stored in the machine and I got in the habit of downloading it weekly quite easily, I run out of water in my humidifer if I put it above 2, this one has annoying blue night lights that I cover up, and since I do camp in the summer months, I wanted something that would be easier to run on battery and this one fit the bill for me.

Hey, anyone have the linky to Snoredog's posting on the ResMed responding to Apnea's above 10 - I must say that I do feel the difference between the two machines.

How many do you want to read?

I did a (advanced) search on "A10" and "Snoredog" for the author......and it returned 4 PAGES of them.
Here are a couple of the most recent ones.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36575&p=317474&hilit=A10#p317474

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36381&p=314615&hilit=A10#p314615

Den

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:42 am

And.....a couple more. (the new forum parameters will only let you post two links at a time.....I guess)

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36027&p=311267&hilit=A10#p311267

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35873&p=309316&hilit=A10#p309316

Den

Nealbopper · Post by **Nealbopper** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:53 am

I'm pretty sure you know what you are after.
I'm going in to see my Doc on the 19th and plan to approach him for a new script for data compliance machines for ME to use. I would think just as long as your doctor actually writes down what you are requesting on the script, you should be fine. Neal

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:23 pm

AuntieNae wrote: . . . I thought it best if she was aware of the differences in how the ResMed versus the Respironics in how they respond to apnea's. . . .

I agree. I was just being preemptive in my response to some people's opinions on the A10 algorithm. (Kind of the way the A10 algorithm is preemptive in its response as it prevents obstructive apneas above 10 cm. Only I think the A10 is much more successful than I just was. )

I very much appreciated, also, one of ozij's recent posts on definitions for hypopneas, which post had links to both companies' advertisement literature, each company explaining why its algorithm was supposedly better than its competitors':

http://sleepapnea.respironics.com/techn ... ation.aspx
http://www.resmed.com/en-us/products/fl ... u=products

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