S9 and thermal hose

[CynConn]

Hello Everyone,

Finally got the new S9 Autoset yesterday. I upgraded from an old Remstar C-Flex with a heated humidifier that I purchased in 2005.

Here are my impressions so far:
Noise: much quieter than my old Remstar

Size - I got the humidifier with the Autoset, size is about that of the Remstar without the humidifier container unit.

Hose - I ordered the thermal hose with the unit since I had a previous problem with rainout. Make SURE you specify a thermal hose, the one that comes with the unit is not thermal. Clinician told me that the usually setting for the humidity level is to set it at the room temperature. I live in Phoenix which is quite dry and sleep in a very cold room (68 degrees). With other heated humidifier systems I always got rainout. With the new thermal tubing, I did not get rainout but did get a little condensation around the nasal pillows (I use the Hybrid mask). Tubing is MUCH lighter than my old tube. With the old tube, turning my head would drag the mask around on my face. New tubing feels like it isn't even there.

Humidifier - Humidifier container needs to be removed for filling which is more work but which also means that I might clean it more often. The container does not come apart (as my old Remstar one did) so it takes longer to clean the soap suds out. Seems to hold about the same amount of water as my old Remstar.

Power supply - only part of the machine that sucks. Comes with a brick which will make it a pain to travel with.

Controls - very intuitive and easy to use. Humidifier can be set to a percentage level such as 70 instead of the usually 1, 2, 3, etc which never made much sense. Much easier to read than my old Remstar controls. I had my old machine in a dark cubbyhole and had to use a flashlight to read the numbers. Much more information available on the machine, still learning what is there.

Set-up - a little more complicated, have to make sure you press the button to disconnect the two units (CPAP and humidifier). Thermal hose had to be screwed on but no biggie.

Carrying case: old Remstar came with a backpack bag. New s9 comes with a small laptop bag. Without the brick power supply it is much lighter but even with the brick it is lighter than the old Remstar and doesn't take up as much room.

Looks - looks like a clock radio instead of screaming "MEDICAL EQUIPMENT".

Overall, very pleased with the new machine. I originally came to this group looking for mask information but read so much about the S9 that I had to check it out.

Note for the newbies, when looking to get a new machine, it helps to present the doctor with the name, model, and any accessories needed PLUS a justification as to why you need a new machine. In my case, the thermal tube (no rainout), better handling of central and OSA apneas, and the AHI information on the screen to help track my sleep quality was more than enough justification to qualify. Always ask the doctor to write Dispense as Written or you may get whatever isn't selling.

Cynthia

[billbolton]

Make SURE you specify a thermal hose, the one that comes with the unit is not thermal.

You aren't showing a location in your profile, so I don't know where you are located... but outside North America, S9s do ship with both a standard hose and a Climateline hose.

Power supply - only part of the machine that sucks. Comes with a brick which will make it a pain to travel with..

I've been doing a lot of travelling with my S9, and I've found that the power adapter is no more or less difficult to travel with than the integrated power supply that I had with my S8.

Cheers,

Bill

[streetrodder]

the location is in the post

I live in Phoenix which is quite dry and sleep in a very cold room (68 degrees).

[torontoCPAPguy]

But how does it work for you?
Last night I had a lot of zero's!!! It was amazing sleep but too short. Early night tonight or a nap before dinner should fix that and I can hardly wait. The machine seems to be running lower median pressures too, which means less mask leakage and less noticeable pressure into my nose. I haven't even hooked up the comfort hose yet. I love it already. Is it worth upgrading from the S8 Autoset II. You betcha.

All I have to do now is figure how I'm gonna get some money back out of my S8 Autoset II's and Escape II - one of the Autosets is virtually new but unpacked. The others are only weeks usage. The S9 Autosets were worth every penny - Canadians need to be buying stateside cuz they are a rip up here. Ditto the masks. Ditto everything. Can hardly wait to spend winters in Florida. With the oil blobs. Saves a fortune on suntan oil.

[CynConn]

I have been running higher pressures on the new machine. But I think that is due more to the new mask than the new machine. The Hybrid mask is the first mask that doesn't leak on me (started CPAP in 1996). I got the mask at the same time as I got the new S9. The new S9 has a much, much better humidity system with the new thermal hose, no more rainout and no more dry mouth.

So to sum it up, I think that with no mask leaks, no midnight facial showers, no desert mouth waking me up to drink tons of water (which makes me wake up a few hours later to pee), I am probably sleeping much deeper than usual and the pressure needed is higher then.

Plus, I have noticed that I don't remember my dreams as often (for me the worse I sleep, the more I remember my dreams because I am constantly waking up). The higher pressure worries me some, went from a 15 to sometimes 19 but my AHI has really dropped, down to about 5 last time I checked (without CPAP it is 84 - or was in 1996, probably much worse now). I just starting my second week with the S9 so I don't have enough data to really study yet.

Cynthia