I'm newly diagnosed with Apnea and I'm now trying to decide on a machine to get. My DME supplier deals mainly in Resmed and Respironics. I have read about the Remstar Pro M with C-Flex and the Resmed S8 Elite with EPR. Both seem like good machines and the supplier says both are great I'm trying to decide if there is a major difference between them. Does anyone have experiences they can share? The supplier said some people have had trouble with the humidifier on the Remstar causing too much condensation in the hose, but it seems that the insulating cloth would fix that.
Is the software similar for both? I have a smartcard reader so I'm assuming all I need is the software for whatever machine I end up getting. I go for my next sleep study the 31st of March I guess I will try different masks there. I hope I interact well with a nasal prong unit. They seem like they would be the most comfortable. Any help would be appreciated.
ResMed vs Respironics
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Guest
I have the ResMed S8 Elite and like it very much. The humidifier for some folks does not put out enough warm humid air, but it works quite well for me set on near high, but my bedroom is very cool in the winter.
The ResMed software is not widely available to the public as the other, however you may have luck finding an online retailer, I did. Card readers are proprietary to the cards I believe, so you will have to buy a reader.
I traveled with my S8 and the travel bag is convenient as it has two pockets which I used for papers, iPod, keys, etc.
Good Luck!
The ResMed software is not widely available to the public as the other, however you may have luck finding an online retailer, I did. Card readers are proprietary to the cards I believe, so you will have to buy a reader.
I traveled with my S8 and the travel bag is convenient as it has two pockets which I used for papers, iPod, keys, etc.
Good Luck!
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neversleeps
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:06 pm
- Location: Minnesota
Depending on the results of your titration study, it is possible your doctor may prescribe a bi-level machine. If not, I would suggest you consider getting an auto-titrating machine as opposed to the CPAP machines you mentioned. The APAPs can provide you with the option of setting a range of pressures. Your pressure requirement varies throughout the night and an APAP can compensate for that within the range you set. Since APAPs can be used in either auto or straight cpap mode, you have the best of both worlds. If you should have any desire to compare the Resmed APAP vs. the Respironics APAP, you might ask your supplier if they will let you try each machine for a few weeks. Then you can decide if you prefer one over another. I'm not sure how amenable they'll be to that idea or how much they would charge in order for you to do that, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.
Do you want exhalation relief while your machine is in auto mode? If so, the Respironics APAP offers this feature and the Resmed APAP does not.
Regarding the software: Resmed prohibits the sale of their software in the United States. Respironics software is available for purchase in the United States.
If you ever plan to purchase equipment online, it is important to note Resmed has implemented a 40+% price increase specifically for their products sold via the internet, so their equipment is more expensive. Currently on cpap.com: $1085.00 for the Resmed Vantage APAP with heated humidifier vs. $675.00 for the Respironics APAP with heated humidifier and $720.00 for the M-Series with heated humidifier.
If you:
- aren't able to trial both machines
- aren't interested in having exhalation relief in APAP mode
- aren't concerned with being able to obtain Resmed software within the U.S.
- don't object to Resmed's corporate policy regarding internet and software sales
then either machine is a fine choice and both machines have many satisfied users.
BTW, if you're not locked into Resmed or Respironics, you might want to consider the Puritan Bennett 420e. It doesn't have exhalation relief, but the software is available for purchase in the U.S. and many folks love their 420e APAP. Currently on cpap.com for $629.00 with heated humidifier.
Once you've been prescribed a machine, make sure to get a copy of the prescription from your doctor. (You are legally entitled to it.) With that, you can purchase the equipment of your choice online. Some insurance will cover online purchases and some won't. Many people have discovered that buying their equipment out of pocket online is cheaper than going through their local supplier using insurance after deductibles and copays. It's worth checking into.
Good luck!
Do you want exhalation relief while your machine is in auto mode? If so, the Respironics APAP offers this feature and the Resmed APAP does not.
Regarding the software: Resmed prohibits the sale of their software in the United States. Respironics software is available for purchase in the United States.
If you ever plan to purchase equipment online, it is important to note Resmed has implemented a 40+% price increase specifically for their products sold via the internet, so their equipment is more expensive. Currently on cpap.com: $1085.00 for the Resmed Vantage APAP with heated humidifier vs. $675.00 for the Respironics APAP with heated humidifier and $720.00 for the M-Series with heated humidifier.
If you:
- aren't able to trial both machines
- aren't interested in having exhalation relief in APAP mode
- aren't concerned with being able to obtain Resmed software within the U.S.
- don't object to Resmed's corporate policy regarding internet and software sales
then either machine is a fine choice and both machines have many satisfied users.
BTW, if you're not locked into Resmed or Respironics, you might want to consider the Puritan Bennett 420e. It doesn't have exhalation relief, but the software is available for purchase in the U.S. and many folks love their 420e APAP. Currently on cpap.com for $629.00 with heated humidifier.
Once you've been prescribed a machine, make sure to get a copy of the prescription from your doctor. (You are legally entitled to it.) With that, you can purchase the equipment of your choice online. Some insurance will cover online purchases and some won't. Many people have discovered that buying their equipment out of pocket online is cheaper than going through their local supplier using insurance after deductibles and copays. It's worth checking into.
Good luck!
Last edited by neversleeps on Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
FreightTrain, I have a Resmed S8 Elite and I love it. I love being able to check the Efficacy and Usage Data via the good size, easy to read LED screen (just be sure to check before noon, these machines run on a 24 hour, noon to noon, clock). The Humidaire 3i has had problems putting out enough humidity for me when the weather is below freezing w/high winds making our furnace run more and drying the house out a bit but that is my only complaint w/the Elite w/Humidaire 3i. I've overcome that by obtaining a used Fisher & Paykel HC 100 stand alone heated humidifier. You can usually find them for about $50 at eBay or yahooauctions.
I don't like Resmed's new online pricing policy and their attitude about patient access to their software, but so far that has been easily overcome and I like the AutoScan software. Actually, w/a little effort and innovation on your part you can get the AutoScan software and the proprietary reader cable for the Resmed cheaper than I've found the Respironics software and reader. The Resmed S8 Elite is not an AutoPAP, you would have to move up to the Resmed S8 Vantage for Auto capabilities, other than that the pluses are the same as for the Elite.
On the other hand, the Respironics software and cable reader is easy to come by. Unless you go w/the M series the LED screen is NOT easy to read and the information via the LED screen limited. I've not had any experience w/any of the M series. The Plus will not provide you w/any data other than compliance, you would want the Pro or higher. I had a two week loaner of the RemStar Auto w/C-Flex and liked it very much. But I didn't like the size of the LED screen, hard to read, and the info was much more limited via the LED screen than the Resmed S8 Elite.
Nor have I had any experience w/the Puritan Bennett mentioned above BUT those who have them seem to really love them and if I were in the market again I would be tempted to check the 420E out thoroughly.
I don't like Resmed's new online pricing policy and their attitude about patient access to their software, but so far that has been easily overcome and I like the AutoScan software. Actually, w/a little effort and innovation on your part you can get the AutoScan software and the proprietary reader cable for the Resmed cheaper than I've found the Respironics software and reader. The Resmed S8 Elite is not an AutoPAP, you would have to move up to the Resmed S8 Vantage for Auto capabilities, other than that the pluses are the same as for the Elite.
On the other hand, the Respironics software and cable reader is easy to come by. Unless you go w/the M series the LED screen is NOT easy to read and the information via the LED screen limited. I've not had any experience w/any of the M series. The Plus will not provide you w/any data other than compliance, you would want the Pro or higher. I had a two week loaner of the RemStar Auto w/C-Flex and liked it very much. But I didn't like the size of the LED screen, hard to read, and the info was much more limited via the LED screen than the Resmed S8 Elite.
Nor have I had any experience w/the Puritan Bennett mentioned above BUT those who have them seem to really love them and if I were in the market again I would be tempted to check the 420E out thoroughly.
_________________
| Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: PR SystemOne BPAP Auto w/Bi-Flex & Humidifier - EncorePro 2.2 Software - Contec CMS-50D+ Oximeter - Respironics EverFlo Q Concentrator |
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Bravo!!!
BRAVO Neversleeps!!!!neversleeps wrote:Depending on the results of your titration study, it is possible your doctor may prescribe a bi-level machine. If not, I would suggest you consider getting an auto-titrating machine as opposed to the CPAP machines you mentioned. The APAPs can provide you with the option of setting a range of pressures. Your pressure requirement varies throughout the night and an APAP can compensate for that within the range you set. Since APAPs can be used in either auto or straight cpap mode, you have the best of both worlds. If you should have any desire to compare the Resmed APAP vs. the Respironics APAP, you might ask your supplier if they will let you try each machine for a few weeks. Then you can decide if you prefer one over another. I'm not sure how amenable they'll be to that idea or how much they would charge in order for you to do that, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.
Do you want exhalation relief while your machine is in auto mode? If so, the Respironics APAP offers this feature and the Resmed APAP does not.
Regarding the software: Resmed prohibits the sale of their software in the United States. Respironics software is available for purchase in the United States.
If you ever plan to purchase equipment online, it is important to note Resmed has implemented a 40+% price increase specifically for their products sold via the internet, so their equipment is more expensive. Currently on cpap.com: $1085.00 for the Resmed Vantage APAP with heated humidifier vs. $675.00 for the Respironics APAP with heated humidifier and $720.00 for the M-Series with heated humidifier.
If you:
- aren't able to trial both machines
- aren't interested in having exhalation relief in APAP mode
- aren't concerned with being able to obtain Resmed software within the U.S.
- don't object to Resmed's corporate policy regarding internet and software sales
then either machine is a fine choice and both machines have many satisfied users.
BTW, if you're not locked into Resmed or Respironics, you might want to consider the Puritan Bennett 420e. It doesn't have exhalation relief, but the software is available for purchase in the U.S. and many folks love their 420e APAP. Currently on cpap.com for $629.00 with heated humidifier.
Once you've been prescribed a machine, make sure to get a copy of the prescription from your doctor. (You are legally entitled to it.) With that, you can purchase the equipment of your choice online. Some insurance will cover online purchases and some won't. Many people have discovered that buying their equipment out of pocket online is cheaper than going through their local supplier using insurance after deductibles and copays. It's worth checking into.
Good luck!
Brilliantly well done! Thank you!
Chuck
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NightHawkeye
- Posts: 2431
- Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:55 am
- Location: Iowa - The Hawkeye State
I've been tempted for a while now to get the PB 420E APAP. The advantages for it are:
1) It is by far the lightest and smallest travel machine. The PB420E total weight is a mere 1.75 pounds, about half the weight of the others
2) The 420E measures pressure directly at the mask. This potentially means better response to changes in pressure needs. Although I've never used a PB420E, the praise received on this forum indicates that people are quite happy with the performance of the PB420E. (Of course it also needs to be said that PB has had some reliability issues in the past, but I don't recall hearing recent complaints.)
Regards,
Bill ( . . . still tempted by this lil machine)
1) It is by far the lightest and smallest travel machine. The PB420E total weight is a mere 1.75 pounds, about half the weight of the others
2) The 420E measures pressure directly at the mask. This potentially means better response to changes in pressure needs. Although I've never used a PB420E, the praise received on this forum indicates that people are quite happy with the performance of the PB420E. (Of course it also needs to be said that PB has had some reliability issues in the past, but I don't recall hearing recent complaints.)
Regards,
Bill ( . . . still tempted by this lil machine)
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SleeplessInLasVegas
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2007 10:57 am
FreightTrain,
I have a "M" Series Auto w/ C-Flex. I'm not sure how much the auto mode has affected my therapy for it seems to run 90% of the time at 13.7 CM. My prescription is 14.0. However, I do know that the C-Flex feature is a godsend, especially if you are new to the therapy. It makes initially compliancy a breeze. Trying to breathe against that kind of pressure was very difficult for me.
I also have the "M" series humidifier. I run the thing at the max setting and no rain out problem here, however I live in a very dry climate, Las Vegas. It is adjustable if you have this issue. I was using a passover cold humidifer at first which was worthless to me. I went three days without having to add water to the passover unit. But the heated unit used 80% of the tank in one night. That tells me alot.
I also want to add that the Activa nasal mask is much kinder to my nose than the Swift Nasal Pillow. Whatever issues I had they were more severe with the Swift unit than the Activa.
Best of luck to you.
I have a "M" Series Auto w/ C-Flex. I'm not sure how much the auto mode has affected my therapy for it seems to run 90% of the time at 13.7 CM. My prescription is 14.0. However, I do know that the C-Flex feature is a godsend, especially if you are new to the therapy. It makes initially compliancy a breeze. Trying to breathe against that kind of pressure was very difficult for me.
I also have the "M" series humidifier. I run the thing at the max setting and no rain out problem here, however I live in a very dry climate, Las Vegas. It is adjustable if you have this issue. I was using a passover cold humidifer at first which was worthless to me. I went three days without having to add water to the passover unit. But the heated unit used 80% of the tank in one night. That tells me alot.
I also want to add that the Activa nasal mask is much kinder to my nose than the Swift Nasal Pillow. Whatever issues I had they were more severe with the Swift unit than the Activa.
Best of luck to you.
The most active thing I do is jump to conclusions.
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FreightTrain
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:10 am
Thank You
Wow there are definately some informed people here. Thank you all for the great info, I guess now I'm just waiting to do the titration study. It sounds like I would be happy with either. Thank you again.
11 posts
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