System One or S9 for Rainout Control?

[renegade13]

Hello,

I've posted this on another forum but thought I would post here too.

I was diagnosed with mild/moderate sleep apnea about one month ago. I’m located in Canada and the provider of CPAP machines that I’m using allows trials of machines and equipment prior to purchase. I’ve been using a Respironics M Series with humidifier and Swift FX nasal pillow mask for the past month. Things have gone moderately well. My RDI has gone from 20 to 5.5. The only major issue I’m having is condensation in the mask which wakes me several times during the night.

The first couple nights were horrible. I had so much water in the hose that I would dump it out on the carpet at 2 AM and the carpet was still soaked at 6:30 AM. The hose has a “bootie” around it. I’ve also placed the hose under the blankets with me and reduced the humidifier temperature to 2. These steps seem to have eliminated the condensation in the hose but I still get it in the mask which is the only part of the system that is exposed to the air in my room.

My trial period is just about over and I have to make a decision about what machine to buy. The provider, that I really like and has been immensely helpful, only offers the Respironics System One and Resmed S9 Elite and from day one they’ve really pushed the Respironics line. My question is, which of these two machines will handle condensation better? I’m sure my problem will only get worse in the winter when I keep the bedroom at 63F. I see Resmed has a heated hose which seems like it would probably solve my problem but the provider is saying the Respironics System One Humidity Control System works just as well without a heated hose.

Can others please comment on what machine may work better for me given my situation.

Thanks.

[brazospearl]

Welcome to the forum, renegade13. The S9 Auto is the current state-of-the-art machine. It has a heated hose to help avoid rainout. Before you decide on your machine, please read all you can here so you'll make the best decision possible. You need a fully data capable machine with auto capability as well. This gives you the most flexibility and the information you need to take charge of your therapy. Let us know how things go.

[renegade13]

Thanks brazospearl.

I've done a lot of reading on a different forum. I've just discovered this forum today though. Anyway, as I said, I've read a lot right from my sleep study and then through my machine trial period. I didn't have any questions to ask until I knew what issues/problems I would have. Rainout is my big one

[Janknitz]

The Respironics System One does a good job of avoiding rainout in the hose. I've never had so much as a drop of water in my hose BUT it does not get as cold here as it does up there in Canada. Furthermore, I use a nasal pillow mask and I do get a small amount of rainout in my nasal pillows simply because the air coming from the PR S1 is always cold (the humidifier does not really "heat" the water or air) and my nose is warm.

With the Resmed, you have the option of the heated hose, and it also has a good system for reducing rainout even without the heated hose. If rainout is your biggest concern, you may want that. Just check to be sure that the Elite is data capable--if it is not, I'd say take the PR S1 instead. You'll have more frustration from lack of data than you will from rainout from either machine.

[jmelby]

Just check to be sure that the Elite is data capable--if it is not, I'd say take the PR S1 instead. You'll have more frustration from lack of data than you will from rainout from either machine.

It is... the S9 Elite is fully data-capable just like the AutoSet.

I can't comment on the System One as I have never used one, but the S9 handles rain out great so long as you get the climateline hose (which it does not come with by default). I have never had rainout from the S9 since I got it in March when it was still cold out in Minnesota.

[jdm2857]

Just to be clear there are three PR System One Remstar machines.

The Auto is an automatic pressure adjusting machine with full data.
The Pro is straight CPAP with full data.
The Plus is straight CPAP with compliance data only. Avoid this machine.

[Hawthorne]

I live in Southwestern Ontario in Canada and have used a PR System One Auto for almost 4 months now. It is cold and damp here in winter and hot and humid in summer. Before this machine I used an M Series Auto and before that, an old classic Remstar.

I have never had rainout with any of these machines. I use the humdifier in passive mode most of the year (water but no heat) and only turn it to 1 or 2 on very cold winter nights.

I have a hose cover on my main hose but not on the small hose connected to my mask.

I don't do anything else to avoid rainout, I guess because I don't need to. I don't know why you may be having severe rainout problems with that machine.

I have never used a Resmed machine so cannot comment on that one.

I just read your other thread where others quetioned the positioning of your machine. It sheould be below the top of your mattress. Making sure of that may help with rainout.

[insomniac51]

Hello,

I've posted this on another forum but thought I would post here too.

I was diagnosed with mild/moderate sleep apnea about one month ago. I’m located in Canada and the provider of CPAP machines that I’m using allows trials of machines and equipment prior to purchase. I’ve been using a Respironics M Series with humidifier and Swift FX nasal pillow mask for the past month. Things have gone moderately well. My RDI has gone from 20 to 5.5. The only major issue I’m having is condensation in the mask which wakes me several times during the night.

The first couple nights were horrible. I had so much water in the hose that I would dump it out on the carpet at 2 AM and the carpet was still soaked at 6:30 AM. The hose has a “bootie” around it. I’ve also placed the hose under the blankets with me and reduced the humidifier temperature to 2. These steps seem to have eliminated the condensation in the hose but I still get it in the mask which is the only part of the system that is exposed to the air in my room.

My trial period is just about over and I have to make a decision about what machine to buy. The provider, that I really like and has been immensely helpful, only offers the Respironics System One and Resmed S9 Elite and from day one they’ve really pushed the Respironics line. My question is, which of these two machines will handle condensation better? I’m sure my problem will only get worse in the winter when I keep the bedroom at 63F. I see Resmed has a heated hose which seems like it would probably solve my problem but the provider is saying the Respironics System One Humidity Control System works just as well without a heated hose.

Can others please comment on what machine may work better for me given my situation.


Thanks.

Hi Renegade13,
I was just diagnosed with Central Sleep Apnea 2 months ago myself. So I don't know any more than you do about the machines. But I do know how to fix rain-out in your nose pillows.
It's fairly simple really. If the air hose goes from the mask/pillows and then up over the top of your head or up the side of your face like most mask/pillow designs. All you need to do is drop the hose down your to your chest instead. Let gravity keep the rain-out away from your nose.
Also you don't need to dump the excess water on the carpet. You can just twirl the hose, then gently pull it out straight from the water container and let the extra water fall back into the container. Then empty it out in the morning as usual.
I hope this works for you, it does for me.
From 1 newby to another I wish you lots of luck.
Insomniac51

[renegade13]

From 1 newby to another I wish you lots of luck.
Insomniac51

I hope it works out too. Thanks for the help and all the best to you!!

[sleepnationtv]

Here is a video that outlines the two machines it may help you in your decision
http://www.sleepnation.tv/post/80889774 ... s-the-demo