Data Capeabubble Clarifications Pleazzzz...

[Dennis de NorthWet]

Hello the Group,
First post and still a rank noob, without my first machine yet, so please be patient. This group has been invaluable already!
THANKS for all your efforts in putting the info out there !!!!

Went in for my first appointment at a DME today to hopefully, pick up a machine. Happy I am that I dug around in all the info on this site and discovered the blog on "What you need to know before you go to the DME" or some such. Great bit of advice there, and sure enough, in spite of what was discussed on the phone prior, they tried to stick me with a ResMed Elite, when I had been adamant about wanting a S9 Autoset. On the phone the Autoset was no problem. When I got there the ResTec had an Elite all set up and ready to demo. Whoa Nellie says I. After lots of friendly badgering I got that issue resolved and the DME manager rolled over for a S9 Autoset. Then I wanted preapproval on the purchase from my insurance, and the DME says they can't do that. Even though the machine is OK with the insurance they cant guarantee that the insurance will actually pay towards it. Whoa again. Back to the insurance company I must go to resolve that before I sign on the line. Pity, I was hoping to have the machine this weekend. BTW, I've decided in my inexperienced state of being to get the S9 AutoSet based mostly on info I've gleaned here. But as they say, I digress.

In the process of harassing the ResTec about not having the Autoset for me we got to talking about the data capabilities.
The Tech, assured me that there would be no data on the S9 Auto that I could download to my computer. When I said
"Sleepyhead?" she said she did not know about any capabilities that would be based on someone having hacked the machine or program. I could look at some things on the machines display she said, but that the bulk of the data was ONLY accessible by the Medicos. Now this info was quite contrary to my interpretation of all sorts of things I have read about the S9 and other data.

So, what I'm finally getting around to asking is:
1 What data zactly can I download from the data card in the S9 AutoSet?
2. If I can't get all the data on the card, is what I can get all I will need to figure out anything about how I'm sleeping and how the machine is working for me? Unless I misinterpret what I've read here it can, but I would appreciate some details.
3. Is it necessary to "hack" the machine to get the info? Haven't hacked anything before, but hey, always up for something new ;' >.
4. Is "Sleepyhead" the only or best or whatever program for downloading and logging sleep data from the S9?

Many thanks in advance, and I'm sure I'll be asking and posting much more bye the bye.
No gear yet, so no sig yet.

Regards,
Dennis

[zoocrewphoto]

I just got my S9 Auto about 3 1/2 weeks ago.

I have not tried Sleephead software yet, but I have been using the Rescan software which was free to download. I assume the doctor may have a fancier version of the program, but it allows me to see lots of information. Far more than the screen shows. I actually posted a sample online to show my friends. You can see it here:

The first sections are scans of my sleep study summary. When it it gets to the pages that say Rescan, that is the data from my S9. I have also since learned to do a screen capture (with help from this forum) and print the main summary page that shows my sleep hours each night, leak info, pressure info, and one more.

There is a LOT of detail that you can see. All I have to do is put the card from the machine into my computer and upload the new data. Works great. I even took printouts and my machine to my primary doctor this week, and she was really impressed. She hasn't seen a cpap machine personally in years, and she had no idea there was so much data available. I think she will be able to encourage more patients to use their machine, because she can see how much better they are now, and how useful they can be in understanding what is going on. It is a lot easier to keep at your treatment if you understand it and have some control over it.

[Julie]

Hi - There's a simple and non-criminal way to unlock the useful data from the machine and I'm sure many people will help you out, but what you need is the clinician's manual, and that's available from http://apneaboard.com/resmed-s9-cpap-setup.

Good luck!

[mayondair]

Get the clinician manual so you know how to access the features on your machine. Any data your DME can get, you can get, no hacking necessary, no special card necessary, all the data you need.You could even use the softwear they do, Rescan, ( its available around here). But Sleepyhead is easier to use. Kathy

[Pugsy]

ResScan is the software that DMEs and doctors use.
You can view a tutorial on it to get an idea what all the data is.
http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/resscan_tutorial/
The DME person will likely freak if you let it be known that you have access to the same software that he uses.
You don't have to hack anything to use the software.

SleepyHead is a software that was original designed for Respironics users by a forum member that used a Respironics machine.
Nothing was hacked. He built it from scratch. It was easily modified to use with ResMed machines and even Devilbiss and F & P machines.

All the information is on the SD card. You can use either software and actually I recommend that you try both to see which one you happen to like the best. You can find ResScan download information in UncleBob's signature here..
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=38643

I would totally disregard what the DME tells you about the data available on the Autoset. Either he is purposely telling you an untruth or he doesn't have a clue about things. Either way a bit scary. Just get your machine that you want and then get your own software.

SleepyHead presents the data visually different than what ResScan shows but the same data is in there...just shown differently.

[Dennis de NorthWet]

I just got my S9 Auto about 3 1/2 weeks ago.

I have not tried Sleephead software yet, but I have been using the Rescan software which was free to download. I assume the doctor may have a fancier version of the program, but it allows me to see lots of information. Far more than the screen shows........ When it it gets to the pages that say Rescan, that is the data from my S9. I have also since learned to do a screen capture (with help from this forum) and print the main summary page that shows my sleep hours each night, leak info, pressure info, and one more. ......There is a LOT of detail that you can see. All I have to do is put the card from the machine into my computer and upload the new data. Works great. I even took printouts and my machine to my primary doctor this week, and she was really impressed. She hasn't seen a cpap machine personally in years, and she had no idea there was so much data available. I think she will be able to encourage more patients to use their machine, because she can see how much better they are now, and how useful they can be in understanding what is going on. It is a lot easier to keep at your treatment if you understand it and have some control over it.

Z,
I KNEW IT!!! Thanks much for filling in my blanks. When I go back to the DME I'm going to have to do a neuron access on the therapist and upload some new info there. I suppose it's possible this info was unknown. Interesting thing is, as I sat there insisting that the data WAS downloadable etc, the ResTec called Tech Support for the ResMed and they allegedly confirmed that there was no user downloadable data. Strange.....

Thanks again, and I'll hopefully join you as a new S9 user soon.

Dennis

[Dennis de NorthWet]

Hi - There's a simple and non-criminal way to unlock the useful data from the machine and I'm sure many people will help you out, but what you need is the clinician's manual, and that's available from http://apneaboard.com/resmed-s9-cpap-setup.

Good luck!

Julie,
Hey, thanks for this info. I'll go download that manual soon as I sign off here. Seems as if the therapist is into sharing the wealth at all. ;' >

Regards,
Dennis

[Dennis de NorthWet]

Get the clinician manual so you know how to access the features on your machine. Any data your DME can get, you can get, no hacking necessary, no special card necessary, all the data you need.You could even use the softwear they do, Rescan, ( its available around here). But Sleepyhead is easier to use. Kathy

Kathy,
Thanks much. I'm off to the download! Think I'll start with ResScan and then give SleepyHead a look.

Lotsa' rem to you,
Dennis

[Dennis de NorthWet]

[quote="Pugsy"]ResScan is the software that DMEs and doctors use.
You can view a tutorial on it to get an idea what all the data is.
http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/resscan_tutorial/
The DME person will likely freak if you let it be known that you have access to the same software that he uses.
You don't have to hack anything to use the software.

Pugsy,
Hello and a special thanks to you for your major efforts in making this site as informative as it is. Saved my financial and functional bacon already.

Good background info you gave, and I can't wait to reprogram the therapist a bit ;' > And, as you stated, it is a bit
scary and surely disconcerting that a therapist would either not know or not admit the existence of user data software on a machine. I'll give both download programs a look when I get some data to play with.

Thanks again, great list and great folks on it,
Dennis

[DoriC]

ResScan is the software that DMEs and doctors use.

And, as you stated, it is a bit
scary and surely disconcerting that a therapist would either not know or not admit the existence of user data software on a machine. Thanks again, great list and great folks on it,
Dennis

This is nothing new to the folks here. After awhile most of us never rely on the DME except for replacement parts. We get all the real help we need right here. Good luck.

[Pugsy]

The official standpoint is that there is indeed no software for the end user (us)...ResScan is supposed to be used only by DMEs and doctor offices. ResScan used to sell it to end users but they quite that about 3 years ago. We aren't supposed to have it so they sure aren't going to tell us about it because we aren't supposed to know any of this stuff.

You will be wasting your time trying to educated the DME person.

You might even be told it is against a federal law for patients to have the software. Of course it isn't but that is what I was told. They don't want us to have access to the data. Why? I don't know unless it is brainwashing on higher ups part that patients aren't smart enough to understand all this information.

Personally, when I feel like I am being talked "down" to or treated like I am stupid....I get such a bad taste in my mouth that I can't even stand to be around those type of people and they certainly won't get any of my business.

[BlackSpinner]

Good background info you gave, and I can't wait to reprogram the therapist a bit ;' > And, as you stated, it is a bit
scary and surely disconcerting that a therapist would either not know or not admit the existence of user data software on a machine. I

What is even scarier is that they were probably lying through their teeth in order to make more money off you.
Do you want your health controlled by someone like that?

Used car sales people are intelligent honourable people in comparison to most DME employees.

[VikingGnome]

I was pleasantly surprised by the NP that works at my sleep docs clinic. I was showing him my data from SleepyHead and he wanted to know how I generated it. I told him it was FREE software available on the internet that was written by a fellow CPAP users. That it supports at least ResMed and Respironics data machines. He was really excited. He said EncorePro is such a buggaboo to run. He would recommend SleepyHead to any of his patients that have a Respironics data-capable xPAP.

That was totally refreshing. A sleep professional that understands our need for data and wants us to have it.

[chunkyfrog]

I suspect many DME's intentionally hire Luddites and other idiots;
as they fear the loss of control over their ignorant patients--hence loss of financial control, too.
Diabetics have access to all kinds of software to evaluate their readings--it is a MUST.
We need to educate our providers about the information available and its therapeutic value.
Where is my good HIPAA fairy?

[Elle]

I wouldn't blame the respiratory tech. They want to keep their jobs. They do what the company instructs them to do. I was told that my warranty on my new autoset would be invalid if I tried to access the data. The resp tech was really nice and I knew she agreed with me. She left the company soon after starting.

I am with a new company now and the RT was really open and nice so I just told her I was reading the SD card and she seemed pleased that it would be easier to figure out what I needed by me being informed and therefore helpful to her.