Is it worth it to switch from Resmed S8 to S9 autoset

[borck]

Hello folks!

I'm a newbie on this forum, so I guess I could introduce myself a little bit...

I'm 27 (pretty yound to have OSA, right ?), and using a CPAP since april 2009. It is a Resmed S8, with humidifier and a Swift mask.

Since I'm living in Belgium (sorry for my English by the way), the healthcare system here provides me with this machine for (nearly) nothing (10$/month).

Recently, I've been reading a lot about the new Resmed S9 autoset, and people seem to love it.

I have a few questions here :
1) Is it worthwhile to swith from a constant CPAP to an APAP like the Autoset (as I feel like a constant pressure doesn't always do the job for me)
2) If I want the S9 autoset, I would have to pay for it myself (cannot get the autoset, not even the S8, from the healthcare system). Is it worth it to spend 1500$ ?

I would like to thank everyone on this forum, as it is REALLY nice not to feel alone in my situation...

Thanks for reading me,

borck

[Officebound]

I recently switched from S8 to S9. I always thought my machine was great, but thought I would give the new machine a try. The only problem I ever had with my S8 was that my mouth got very dry. I was hoping with the new climateline hose and improved humidifier that problem would be solved. I purchases my my machine, it arrived, and I set it up........Well, I must say I was amazed. The machine is ultra quiet, the dry mouth problem is gone and I could not be happier with the autoset feature, it is great. It did take me awhile to figure out the minimum pressure ( at the start it seemed I was not getting enough air) but now that I have that down, I would say it is far advanced from my old S8. I would not hesitate to switch. I use this machine every night and why not have the best machine money can buy!

[jnk]

Does your present machine give you leak data and AHI data? If so, how is therapy going?

My opinion:

If your present machine gives you leak and AHI data that proves that therapy is going well, and you are comfortable, you might as well stick with the machine you have.

If your present machine gives no leak and AHI data and you suspect your therapy isn't going well, then you may need to get a different machine to get that data, and it might as well be an auto, since an auto can run in either auto mode or regular CPAP mode.

Personally, I prefer the S8 to the S9. As a self-titrator, I like the HI data that the S8 with data gives to help me tweak my pressure. (The S9 doesn't give much HI data for trending.) But that is only my personal preference.

[borck]

Hello there!
I'm amazed about how reactive this forum is! Nice!

About my machine, it doesn't give any information about AHI or leaks, whatsoever...

That's one thing that seems appealing with the S9, I'm kind of a hands on person, so being able to see what happened last night, and following the evolution of things...

The other thing is about the AutoSet... I guess my question is more about how better an APAP is versus a CPAP...

Thanks again

borck

[jnk]

Hello there!
I'm amazed about how reactive this forum is! Nice!

About my machine, it doesn't give any information about AHI or leaks, whatsoever...

That's one thing that seems appealing with the S9, I'm kind of a hands on person, so being able to see what happened last night, and following the evolution of things...

The other thing is about the AutoSet... I guess my question is more about how better an APAP is versus a CPAP...

Thanks again

borck

APAP is supposed to be particularly useful if your pressure needs vary during the night, or night-to-night. Although I have read that some feel that the variations in pressure disturb their sleep and that they get a better night's sleep on straight CPAP. Even for those people who use straight CPAP for treatment, though, it may still be good for them to have the auto-titrating ability so that they can occasionally see what pressure the machine lands on. And all APAPs can run in CPAP mode for treatment most nights, if that's what a patient wants to do.

To me, the most important thing is to have leak and AHI data. APAP is nice, but not as important as the data--unless, of course, you need the auto feature to deal with discomfort or some other issue. All APAPs provide data, so getting an APAP is one way to make sure you get data.

[Slinky]

I agree totally w/jnk. Full data capability, meaning Leak, AHI and AI data is much more important than APAP. Personally, I would NOT spend $1500 for an S9 AutoSet "if" I could get an S8 Elite II or S8 AutoSet II for half that or less. And w/the S8 II you would NOT need a new humidifier; your current humidifier, the H4i, would fit the S8 II.

Just exactly WHICH Resmed S8 model do you have? Compact, Escape, Elite, etc.???

[carbonman]

My opinion:
If your present machine gives you leak and AHI data that proves that therapy is going well, and you are comfortable, you might as well stick with the machine you have.

I keep trying to come up w/a good reason to get an S9.

...but....the S8 IIs just won't let me.
They're paid for.
They're quiet.
They're ergonomically correct for my topology.
They're easy to configure and operate.
Rainout is controlled w/Ozzy heated hose in winter,
PadaCheek cover in summer.
Card/software interface has become seamless and transparent.
Data is accurate and reliable.
They're easy to travel with.
I like them.
They provide excellent therapy.

If I was new to all this, I would get an S9.


.....are you no longer a newbie when you can
control de lure of de'machine?

[borck]

I agree totally w/jnk. Full data capability, meaning Leak, AHI and AI data is much more important than APAP. Personally, I would NOT spend $1500 for an S9 AutoSet "if" I could get an S8 Elite II or S8 AutoSet II for half that or less. And w/the S8 II you would NOT need a new humidifier; your current humidifier, the H4i, would fit the S8 II.

Just exactly WHICH Resmed S8 model do you have? Compact, Escape, Elite, etc.???

Hello!
I have the S8 Escape II model... No AHI/Leakage information, right ?

So, I could think about getting a S8 Autoset II, but I would feel like buying the 'out-dated' stuff, after all it's about health...

What do you think ?

[borck]

Hello carbonman,

a few questions here :

Rainout is controlled w/Ozzy heated hose in winter,
PadaCheek cover in summer.

I don't know about these, could you give me some pointers ?

Card/software interface has become seamless and transparent.

You need to buy a card reader, right ? For the S9, you only need a SD card and you can read it on your computer without Resmed product, am I right ?

.....are you no longer a newbie when you can
control de lure of de'machine?

Sorry, didn't get that one, definitely not native English...

Best,
borck

[Slinky]

Yep, you're right about the S8 Escape II.

I've been switched to a bi-level. But I still have my S8 AutoSet Vantage. The closest I've gotten to an S8 II is my VPAP Auto (NOT the VPAP Auto 25). I LOVE my S8s. I haven't read anything about the S9 that there's been any features added that would cause me to want to switch to an S9 at their prices. While I could probably afford to buy an S9 if I had to, given my druthers I would much rather spend half the price or so on an S8 II. JMO.

[carbonman]

Hello carbonman,

a few questions here :

Rainout is controlled w/Ozzy heated hose in winter,
PadaCheek cover in summer.

I don't know about these, could you give me some pointers ?

http://www.sleepzone.com.au/showitems.a ... PAP%20Tube'
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_Hosecover.html

Card/software interface has become seamless and transparent.

You need to buy a card reader, right ? For the S9, you only need a SD card and you can read it on your computer without Resmed product, am I right ?

You may need a card reader.
You will need Resmed software.

.....are you no longer a newbie when you can
control de lure of de'machine?

Sorry, didn't get that one, definitely not native English...

Rhetorical, extra credit question.
Don't worry about it, for now.

Best,
borck

Keep reading, keep asking questions.

It's a journey.

[KC5cychris]

If you are looking for a data capable machine that will fulfill the need for a CPAP or APAP mode as it will do both. This is the machine. I have had mine now for 2 weeks, even though this is my first I was like Carbonman said looking for the best, as I have to live with it for a while so want the most user friendly machine that provides the most information that I can get. This IS IT
I didn't even have to fight the Doc to put it on the script just told him this is what I want he took the paper and the nurse wrote it he signed it a few days later, having previous conversation with the DME, I was on my way feel better from the first night.
lovin my S9
Chris

[dtsm]

Bork

One question(s) no one has asked is: "how is therapy with cpap going for you?" What are your numbers and how do you feel? Since apap unit would come out of your own pocket, before you decide on changing from cpap to apap, it would help if you could answer above so that others can help guide you. For some folks, straight cpap works better than apap. For others, apap works better. There is no set rule. I'm in the latter group, partly because my weight fluctuates

I started with the S8 AutoSet II. I don't use the humidifier even though I have it; instead I use a room humidifier and therefore have no rain-out problems. I have the ResScan 3.10 software and card reader, download my data regularly to monitor therapy. In general the S8 is solid and frankly I don't see at this point why there is a need to switch to the S9. The S8 is not out-dated, the S9 is just newer but not necessarily 'better'. In fact, about 2 months ago I found a brand new S8 on sale at craigslist and bought it as a backup.

POV

[AndrewB]

Card/software interface has become seamless and transparent.

You need to buy a card reader, right ? For the S9, you only need a SD card and you can read it on your computer without Resmed product, am I right ?

You may need a card reader.
You will need Resmed software.

I use a cheap SD card adapter that allows me to put the SD card in it, then plug into my computer. When setting up the software I think I installed the USB adapter driver (probably wrong). It all works though - when I plug the adapter into my USB port ResScan knows what to do with it.

Some computers have build in SD card readers now and they would probably work too.

[borck]

Bork
One question(s) no one has asked is: "how is therapy with cpap going for you?" What are your numbers and how do you feel? Since apap unit would come out of your own pocket, before you decide on changing from cpap to apap, it would help if you could answer above so that others can help guide you. For some folks, straight cpap works better than apap. For others, apap works better. There is no set rule. I'm in the latter group, partly because my weight fluctuates

The therapy is going so-so for me. When I started one year ago, I felt the benefits directly. But since then, I am still very tired during the day (tired is not really the word, it's more like at some moments I have no energy at all, I mean not at all!). I had major problems of mouth leaking, but I think I managed to eliminate those using a chinstrap and mostly thanks to the chinup strips (http://www.chinupstrip.com/). So I don't wake up with dry dry mouth like I did before.

What I have now is that I wake up every night too early (around 4am, more or less, but I'm often not really awake so I don't check my clock). Then from 4am to my wakeup alarm, I'm kind of nearly awake, but not really. I DON'T know what disturbs me during this period. Not enough pressure? Too much pressure ? I don't know,... SO every morning I'm frustrated because I don't know what's wrong... I used to think it was the mouth leaks, but since I don't have those anymore... (at least I think so).

So here, you asked for my situation... here it is. Sorry if it is a bit long (and again sorry for my english)

best,

borck