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[secret agent girl]

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[cflame1]

continued from viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46631

Questions about machine/equipment:
1. It looks like I want one of these, right?
...Respironics REMstar Auto M series -- with or without "A-Flex" (**what’s A-Flex?)
...ResMed S8 Autoset Vantage and Autoset II (**except maybe not this one anymore because of difficulties getting the software?)
...Puritan Bennett GoodKnight 420E
...Covidien/Puritan Bennett Sandman Auto
...DeVilbiss IntelliPAP Autoadjust
2. Do they all have exhale relief? (I think I wouldn’t like breathing out against too much pressure)
3. Which of these are the quietest?
4. If I understand correctly, I have to buy software and a card reader somehow/somewhere to be able to see my data? Does a card come with the above or do I have to find a place to buy that, too? And a manual to know how to change settings?

Please, even if you can add just one comment on any of the above, I want to hear from you. Kid gloves not necessary, but some gentleness would be appreciated.

If you want exhale relief... you'll want either the Auto M series, the PR 1 Auto or the Autoset II

The other one's don't have it.

Card coming with it depends on where you get it from. Some of the DME's are going with the modem kind, but if you want the software, DON'T go with the modem.

Changing settings... if you don't get a manual, ask and somebody on here usually knows how to change the settings.

AFLEX is a type of exhale relief... as is CFLEX as is EPR, and CFLEX+. They all work a little differently. The thing about the Respironics ones is if you get the AFLEX, it also has the CFLEX.

Software... if you want the software the one that easier to get is the Encore Viewer... and to use that you'll need to get the AFLEX (based on the ones on your list).

[Muse-Inc]

...ResMed S8 Autoset II

This is the one I just bought online from our host https://www.cpap.com; been lusting after it for awhile. I love it!!!

...2. Do they all have exhale relief? (I think I wouldn’t like breathing out against too much pressure)

ResMed S8 Autoset II has ResMed's EasyBreathe(TM) technology that mimics normal breathing. It also has EPR for exhalation relief, dropping the pressure by 1, 2, or 3 cmH2) that you can change as needed for comfort.

...3. Which of these are the quietest?

ResMed S8 Autoset II is the quietest APAP on the market

...4. If I understand correctly, I have to buy software and a card reader somehow/somewhere to be able to see my data? Does a card come with the above or do I have to find a place to buy that, too?

A card comes with the machine. The software cannot be sold in the US, it can be bought from an Australian site. You will need to buy a card reader if you go this route (there is a generic card reader that you can buy and tweak if you'r a bit tech savvy). On the other hand, the LED displays overnight 95thcentile pressure (shows where 95% of the night the pressures were = to or less), the number of hrs in use, the amt of leak, the AHI, the AI, the HI -- plenty to write down and watch for trends. For more details, gotta get the software.

Welcome aboard! Great folks and info here! Ask questions and someon will be glad to share info.

[KatieW]

Yes, there is alot of information to absorb.

I have the Resmed S8AutoSet II, and am in week 4 of using it (how time flies). I really like this apap. It is very quiet, and user friendly. The LED gives you sufficient info, which I write down every morning.

When I have time I download from the data card, which does come with the machine. If you buy from cpap.com, the Clinical Quick Setup Guide is included, which shows a "flowchart" of the Clinical Menus--to change the options, settings, and the QuickView Menu--to see but not change settings and results. The printed Clinical Guide is apparently no longer included with the cpap, but you can download as a pdf, available free at this website:

http://s7.zetaboards.com/Apnea_Board/topic/8210810/1/

I can't speak to the other models, but other people like them as well.

This helped me make my decision:

http://intellipap-aflex-auto.cpaptalk.com/

[secret agent girl]

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[KatieW]

KatieW, it looks like your second link is a review of 2 machines different from the one you use--is that what you meant to refer to?

Muse-Inc, do many people agree with you about ResMedS8 Autoset II being the quietness? Also, if it comes with a display giving all that info, do I really need a reader and software?

cflame1, if AFLEx is the same as CFLEX, why would Respironics have both?

Yes, I linked to that review, because it helped me eliminate those 2 machines, and chose Resmed S8 Autoset II. Sorry that I wasn't more clear.

[secret agent girl]

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[KatieW]

They both got high ratings and I don't see a product challenge for the one you picked...what had you thinking the one you picked was better than both the others? Thanks for helping me figure all this out.

Yes, the Respironics M Series and the Intellipap Auto Adjust both had good reviews, but I carefully read the complaints on each. The Intellipap did not have exhale relief--since that was a must for me, I eliminated it.

This was my process: I took a sheet of paper and compared the Respironics M Series Auto CPAP with A-Flex with the ResMed S8 AutoSetII Easy Breathe. I went to each manufacturer's website and printed out their specs, read the user reviews at cpap.com, and read everything I could about each machine, on this forum. Lots of features were the same, so I looked at the differences.

The Resmed is 24 decibels, Respironics is 30 decibels, with several complaints about it being noisy, and having to buy a noise shield.

There were some complaints about the Respironics' power brick being bulky,and the bright blue lights.

The heated humidifer on the Resmed has a capacity of 390 ml, the Respironcs is 325 ml. There were a few complaints about the Respironics having a bad smell if it dries out .

Members of this forum said that the Screen Display on the Resmed had better information that the Respironics.

I thought the software would be easier to find for the Resmed.

And, on a basically gut level--I liked the looks of the Resmed better than the Respironics.

Most experienced people on this forum will agree that they are both fine machines, but have their own personal preferences, for different reasons.

Hope this helps. I'm happy with my choice.

[cflame1]

viewtopic.php?p=56836

Try reading this... AFLEX's supposed to be just slightly different than CFLEX.

[secret agent girl]

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[Colombia]

I have also been using the S8 AutoSet II CPAP Machine for the past four weeks...an excellent machine in my opinion.

It's quiet and I have been able to review my Press, Leaks, AHI, AI, HI and usage every morning.

I have the software purchased and downloaded from Ebay, but I'm still waiting for the card reader.

[secret agent girl]

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[Muse-Inc]

...What additional details does the software provide? Why might I want that additional information?

Details as to when an apnea occurred, how long it lasted, averages over time, a leak & a pressure graph for the sleep period (shows min & max pressures), that sort of data.

[secret agent girl]

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[macmermaid]

We just went through this process for my husband and we ended up with the Autoset II instead of the comparable Respironics machine. Our main reasons were:

We chose auto rather than straight CPAP because:
- We aren't sure we need the APAP, but we might, and if we don't, the APAP can be set as a straight CPAP. We weren't even sure how we would know if a straight CPAP was working as well as an APAP might. Now we can test it in both modes. My husband had a split sleep study with a straight CPAP and they recommended a pressure of 9. We are still trying to decide if we will test it as a straight CPAP first or as an APAP. I had a thread about this and most recommended we just test it as an APAP first. BTW, I thought straight CPAPs also have exhale relief, Cflex and Aflex, but I don't know much. I think with Cflex you can set it from 0-3 and subtract that number from the pressure setting and that is the actual pressure for the exhale.
- I got the clinician's manual for the Autoset APAP and I was truly impressed at the algorithm and it just seems to make more sense.
- If my husband's needs change due things like weight change, sinus surgery, etc., the APAP will help us re-adjust without needed a new tedious sleep study.

We chose the Autoset II over the comparable Respironics machine for these reasons:
- Quieter machine
- People on the forum have said it is easier to travel with because it doesn't have the brick on the plug. My husband travels a lot for work.
- People on the forum generally said the data you can recover is better with the Autoset II, but the reporting is better on the Respironics machine. I can't answer your question yet about what is better about the data, but I am an analysis junkie and I want all the data I can get. I can make my own charts and graphs.
- People on the forum have complained about some "blue lights" on the Respironics machine.
- The machine is nicer looking in my opinion, but this was not a significant influencer

We are going tomorrow to get the machine at the DME. We had to fight pretty hard to get it. The doctor was ready to prescribe a straight Respironics CPAP with no discussion about the options. We just put our foot down and said we wanted the Autoset II. I had called the insurance company to make sure they would cover an APAP. We had the doctor write down EXACTLY the machine we wanted on the prescription. We then wasted about four days with a local DME that first said they could get the machine, then told us they couldn't. Then we went to Apria and they got the machine, it just took a while. Probably not that long compared to some other experiences on this board, but my husband is definitely in the "frustration" stage.

Hope this helps.
We already got the card reader, software and clinician's manual.