Is there anyway to upgrade my machine?

[whoslucky]

The CPAP machine I have doesn't give me any data besides the hours of use. I wish I had gotten the S9 Autoset instead of the Escape. Unfortunately until I came to this forum I didn't know the difference. Am I stuck with the inferior machine or is there someway I can an upgrade? I'm retired and have Medicare and I can't afford to buy one on my own. I don't want to have to go for another sleep session to find out if my machine needs to be adjusted. Anyone have any suggestions for me?

[chunkyfrog]

The cheapest solution would be to ask your doctor to authorize a trial of a few nights on an Autoset once or twice a year
(or if your weight changes by 30 pounds or more), just to check your pressure needs.
If you have not checked online prices, see secondwindcpap.com
for open box and gently used units.

[archangle]

Sometimes you'll find an AutoSet for sale on craigslist. You may have to watch for a while. You'll also see a lot of people wanting ridiculously high prices for their old obsolete machines. And those who misrepresent what machine they have or are honestly confused.

Be careful about buying machines that aren't the current model. Current models have enormously better data than the previous generation of machines.

[cosmo]

Is your current machine not working out for you? Is there a problem with the treatment? Having a data machine is nice, but its not a must if you can't get one.

[Bobby269]

I'm not familiar with how medicare pays. Is it being rented with monthly payments? If so see if the Doctor will change the prescription to an Autoset. See how much your DME will charge to upgrade it to the unit you want.The problem is if a DME gives you a brick they usually have no integrity or would charge a lot to upgrade it.

[hyperlexis]

The CPAP machine I have doesn't give me any data besides the hours of use. I wish I had gotten the S9 Autoset instead of the Escape. Unfortunately until I came to this forum I didn't know the difference. Am I stuck with the inferior machine or is there someway I can an upgrade? I'm retired and have Medicare and I can't afford to buy one on my own. I don't want to have to go for another sleep session to find out if my machine needs to be adjusted. Anyone have any suggestions for me?

Before you worry yourself too much, you do not really have an 'inferior' machine. There are plenty of cheaper, far lower quality machines out there than the one you have (read Chinese blowers). The S9 Escape still has the same motor and other great features of the other S9 models -- including the heated hose connection! It's a straight CPAP machine and not an auto that adjusts itself -- so your MD made a specific decision to put you on a fixed CPAP at a specific pressure. Nothing wrong with that at all, in fact a large percentage of cpap users are on straight cpap, not auto machines.

Yes, you can't sit and pore over nightly data and look at graphs, etc., and become neurotic about every little apnea event, but as long as you are doing ok under your MD's care, then there is really no reason to fret over it. Honestly, data capability is a good feature, but is it absolutely necessary to buy another machine for? Especially if you are broke and can't afford it? Um, no. CPAP requires a bit of faith in your doctor, and just letting the machine do its job.

At the end of the day, none of these machines are perfect and neither is cpap therapy. It's a fancy box that blows air up your nose with a rubber hose. A Mr. Coffee and a Krups both end up just making coffee after all.

Relax and enjoy your retirement. And your S9. -- (and in 5 years Medicare will buy you a brand new model, btw.)

[chunkyfrog]

The S9 Escape has EPR, something not previously offered on that level machine.
It would perform exactly like my old S9 Elite, except without the efficacy data.
click on specs, important tips; and customer reviews--especially the reviews.
(first, click on the blue text below)
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... chine.html

[herefishy]

I have mild apnea, and have gotten along fine for 7 years with my respironics machine that has a fixed pressure, set for me back then, and I sleep like a baby. Your sleep doc prescribed what he felt you need, and he is the one to discuss your needs with.