Resmed S9 Elite vs. Autoset

[Tarutan]

I am using the S9 Elite, and I need a high pressure of 15cm. In the middle of the night i am waking up feeling like its too much pressure for such a long amount of time, so I take it off for a break in between. I was wondering if the Auto-Set would be more comfortable or appropriate for me?

I know the auto has a minimum and max pressure, and when you are having an AH event the pressure increases to max. The question I have is that I heard because of the ramp time when it automatically increases pressure, that it is not as effective for AH events because you wont get the needed pressure immediately. Is the pressure on an auto machine constantly fluctuating? Or will it stay at max pressure for a while after it ramps up.

[Tarutan]

I just started therapy by the way, I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea with an AHI of 45.

[DrDeke]

If you just started, it might take some time to get used to the feeling of the pressure. I started about 6 weeks ago and it took a week or two for me to fully get used to it.

In the mean time, do you have the "ramp" feature set on your machine? If you wake up in the middle of the night feeling like the pressure is too high, I'd recommend just turning the machine off and turning it right back on so the ramp time kicks in again at a lower pressure and gradually increases it back to 15 cm.

[jen4700]

DrDeke has good advice. It does take awhile to get used to the pressure so hang in there. You might also try wearing the mask (with air on) while watching tv or reading a book to get used to the pressure. When I started I thought I'd never get used to it but now I really like the feeling of the air. I know, I'm weird.

[Tarutan]

If you just started, it might take some time to get used to the feeling of the pressure. I started about 6 weeks ago and it took a week or two for me to fully get used to it.

In the mean time, do you have the "ramp" feature set on your machine? If you wake up in the middle of the night feeling like the pressure is too high, I'd recommend just turning the machine off and turning it right back on so the ramp time kicks in again at a lower pressure and gradually increases it back to 15 cm.

Thanks, that is really a good idea. I don't know why I didn't think of it. Since I have the Smart on/off feature enabled, I can just take the mask off for a second and put it back on, wont even need to get out of bed to restart the machine.

[greg-g]

I agree with what the others have said, but its really dependent on the individual case.
For me, my pressure is set at 8 - 15, if I'm on my back I need about 13 to 14 which is probably what I would have to set if using fixed pressure, but as I always use auto and normally sleep on my front my pressure rarely goes above 9 - 10, and is often only 8. This to me is the real advantage of an automatic machine. My AHI was 75.
My cousin on the other hand even though she uses an automatic machine seems to need a constant pressure of about 11, she also doesn't like to use any more pressure than is absolutely required. Her machine is set on 6 - 11, when fully awake the pressure stays on 6, but as soon as she relaxes the pressure goes to about 11 and stays there. She would now probably be just as happy using a fixed pressure with ramp, although the auto was required to fine tune her pressures.
With an auto the pressure only increases to whats required to stop the apneas, but it does take a finite time which is why the minimum pressure is normally set close to the required pressure.
You can easily see if the lower pressure during the ramp is allowing apneas to occur by examining your high resolution data.
The auto does increase its pressure reasonably quickly, and reduce it slowly if no events occur.

[SMenasco]

To answer your question, in my case, I think an Autoset is preferable to an Elite. I need somewhere around 12 or 13 cm on my back. When on my side, which is well over half the time, I think, the Autoset drops to around 8 or 9. So I think you'd be better off with an Autoset.

[Lizistired]

?
I didn't think SmartStart worked with a full face mask.

[archangle]

?
I didn't think SmartStart worked with a full face mask.

Older versions of software disable smartstart if you tell it you have a FFM, but apparently newer versions don't.

Even after the software change, I think it's iffy with a FFM whether it will see enough breathing to start.

[Lizistired]

?
I didn't think SmartStart worked with a full face mask.

Older versions of software disable smartstart if you tell it you have a FFM, but apparently newer versions don't.

Even after the software change, I think it's iffy with a FFM whether it will see enough breathing to start.

Thanks Arch,
I tried one from cpaplibrary and it wouldn't work. When I first got my S9 it wouldn't work with my pillows at my rx of 7.0.
Nice feature, just a little finicky.

[Tarutan]

?
I didn't think SmartStart worked with a full face mask.

It works perfectly for me. I put the mask on and smart start turns on the machine after the first breathe, and just seconds after taking the mask off it turns off. No iffiness there