Long term update and observations...

[jaybee72]

Ok, I haven't been on here in a very long time, but that’s a good thing since it means I’ve not had any issues. I find it a little sad to see that most of the Resmed machines mentioned are a newer S9 versus my old machine... Oh well!

So, I thought I might add an update now that I have 4.5 years in on the hose. Back in 2007 my sleep study results showed a 16.7 AHI with severe 02 desaturation, so I got the CPAP - a Resmed S8 Elite and after trying a gel mask I ended up with an Activa. Pressure set at 8... I had absolutely ZERO trouble getting used to sleeping with it; when I'm asleep I'm really asleep! So, that's pretty much the end of the story - I've used it ever since with no real issues.
From the display this morning:
USAGE: 1640/1647 (and all but 2 of the missed days were spent rocking a baby with severe reflux all night; the other 2 I was out of town and forgot the machine - and it was not fun!)
USED HOURS: 10,826
LEAK: 0.00L/s
AHI: 2.6 (usually in the 2-5 range)
AI:0.0
HI:2.6

So, obviously the Activa seems to work well - I'm just sick of not being able to read with it on since I tend to read in bed before falling asleep. On that note, I started with the plain Activa, and about 2 years ago got the newer version. Those 2 masks logged all those hours, and never had a failure. I never replaced the cushion on either - simply washed them often with baby shampoo! No tears, no loss of seal, etc. I can get new ones for free (100% DME on insurance!), I just hate dealing with the local DME... And never think about it! Oh, the headgear is what seemed to wear the most on both masks, but neither failed ever. This has made me pretty impressed with the quality Resmed puts out!

I did have a failure on the first humidifier. About a month before the warranty was up I noticed it had stopped heating. The DME replaced it with minimal hassle (at first tried to give me a used one I'm assuming was a rental and we brought an end to that very quickly. The new one was a slightly different design and still works. In fact, the new one seems to be better plastic as I’ve had it longer and it hasn’t yellowed and crazed like the old one. I clean it every now an then by filling it with vinegar and letting it sit to get mineral buildup. After a while I then clean it physically with dawn, hot water, and a baby bottle brush that has a nice sponge tip and can reach about every nook and cranny going in through the center hole. Looks like new to this day. I will say I don’t use the humidifier much any more – I get no rainout, no popping hose, and simply less to deal with when I don’t. But, if it’s really dry or I have a cold I’ll fill it. Oh yeah – it’s had tap water (city water supply) since about 1 month in when I got tired of dealing with distilled…

Other observations:
CPAP can be awesome when you have a head cold, but it can also be miserable. I find that if I’m a little stuffed up and would have had trouble sleeping without the CPAP that most times the pressure will clear a path and I’ll be good for the night. However, when I’m really stuffed up it feels suffocating to put it on and not be able to draw enough air in to autostart the S8. I do have a belief that the CPAP tends to prolong my head/sinus colds because of the pressure – I feel it helps push the crap back into the sinuses and hold it where a person without one might drain all night… Any thoughts there? I’ve had much more intense sinus issues since CPAP.

I simply cannot sleep without the CPAP now! Ok, I can easily sleep without it, I just suffer massively if I do. I forgot it one time on a weekend trip, and preferred to not sleep the second night because the first was so bad. If I sleep much more than an hour without it I wake up with a massively sore throat, sore and very swollen uvula, and massive headache. It takes about a day to get over it all. I wonder what a nonCPAP sleep study would show now after using one so long?

Lately my wife claims she hears me snoring through the mask – but numbers never seem that bad.

So, there’s a story that I think is pretty positive as far as encouraging newbies to use CPAP. I wish I didn’t need it, but you’d be risking your life to try to take it away from me now…

[Riorican]

Jaybee,

Just reading your post and had to smile about your comment about all the newer S9 models you see on the forum. I read here before I got my S9 and knew that was what I wanted. After about 6 months of reading about folks with their back-up machines I figured I may as well try it as I do travel a lot. I got a gently used S8 Autoset II and love it. I seem to sleep so well with it when I travel. Of course coming home from trips is great as there's no set-up before I go to sleep in my own bed with the S9. I've played around with getting card reader for S8 but decided I like not comparing data from both machines.

Just curious if you've ever considered the nasal pillows. I started off with them because of wanting to read and watch tv before going to sleep. Need a mask I can wear with my glasses. I'm a newbie with the Bella loops and love them. It takes CPAP treatment to a new level for me, not having headgear on.

I'm impressed with your overall leak rate! Hope my first five years are as smooth as yours.

[jaybee72]

Actually ended up at the DME yesterday for my first try with pillows. Got a swift fx and I think it worked well last night. Still gotta download one one day of detailed info to see how leaks went. Seemed to me that it leaked when I first put it on, but later in the night seemed to stop.

I also asked the DME what the flow generator replacement schedule was. On my insurance it's every 3 years with no stipulation on proving the old one is failing. So, time to get a new one and use the s8 as a travel / backup machine. I just have to figure out what to do about a doctor to get a new prescription. My old doc screwed up his practice making it require a $1500 per year fee to continue seeing him, so not an option. I never had a sleep doc specifically, but wondering if I should just do that. Also - after 4.5 years I think it's time for some retitration - and seemed like an auto machine would be logical choice. The DME said they do mostly auto machines now, and most end up with an s9 anyway as they buy in bulk. But, he also said my insurance company is the lowest paying they accept - so they might not be as generous to me. In that case they may charge a $200 upgrade. I'm going to do my best to get the doc to write I all in and not leave it for discussion.

[Riorican]

Check with other DME's...the upgrade fee isn't OK. Also check with your insurance as they won't be the ones charging the upgrade fee. If yours can get you a new flow generator every 3 years w no proof about condition of the old one, sounds like a pretty good insurance to me (verify that with them). I read here that more and more are not even guaranteeing replacement at 5 years unless there's proof that it isn't working.

I'm actually starting with a recommended sleep doc just to look at my data and give me the thumbs up and answer some questions for me. I figure I'll do it now to be sure I'm on the right track after one year, then only if there are problems. Good idea to get as much in the script as possible. With an auto and the software, you'll probably be all set.