Used a ResMed machine for the first time

[BleepingBeauty]

Hi, all. I'm currently in the hospital with pneumonia/COPD/possibly Valley Fever (common respiratory issue here in AZ), and the machine that was offered to me was the only one they had at the very small-town hospital I was in last week. I was not expecting to be admitted, so my own machine was safe at home, and I had no choice re: what I could use at the hospital. Surprisingly, it wasn't a brick or very basic machine; it was a VPAP Auto 25 with only about 300 hours on it. One of the RTs said the last time he used it for someone was a few months ago, so there's not much call for this equipment there. They gave me a Quattro to use (also not my mask of choice), but I have to say it was relatively comfortable and performed to my needs. It left me with indentations on my forehead and a bit of a headache, but it worked when I needed it to. The small-town RTs leave a lot to be desired, though, when it comes to xPAP use - typical and not surprising, as I guess their RT education focuses on everything BUT xPAP, but it smacks me in the face every time I encounter it, and this time was no different (i.e., how dangerous it can be to manage your own therapy without a doctor's input, that you might die if your power goes out in the middle of the night and your machine's alarm isn't set to wake you when that happens, etc.). The stupid shit that otherwise relatively-sane RTs spout that makes us typical users crazy...

I had asked if I could have a copy of the machine's data, just out of curiosity to see how I did while in the hospital and on a different machine, and was told by one guy flat-out that I couldn't have it as it might be a liability issue for the hospital. WTF??? That got my hackles up, and I told myself I'd get a copy of the data as a matter of principle and nothing else, just to prove that I could and would get it under HIPAA laws. But then another RT there told me that they don't even have the software or the data card from the machine, that nobody's *ever* made such a request , so I'm SOL. Oh, well; the data wasn't important, but my right to *have* it was (and is). Not a fight I'm going to pursue, however. *shrug*

Anyway, I'd never breathed with a ResMed machine before, so it was an interesting experience after almost seven years of using strictly Respironics. I have to say it was a nice experience - very smooth. Still, it wasn't MY machine and MY settings and MY mask, so I still love my Respironics and was really happy to have my friend and neighbor (who's taking care of my pets while I'm away from home) bring me my own machine/mask/supplies yesterday before I was transferred from the small hospital to a large one near the city so that I'd have more treatment options for this current respiratory mess. I had just assembled my Evacuation Kit in case the need arose again this year, so it was easy for him to just grab one bag with everything xPAP inside.

I really liked the feel of the ResMed machine and might consider switching over the next time I'm due for a new one. But for now, I'm relieved and very happy to have my old stand-by in the new hospital with me. Now, if they'd just stop drawing blood, taking vitals, infusing antibiotics (which takes an hour each time) in the middle of the night, maybe I could actually get some REST... (I don't know how anyone in the hospital recovers when there's so little opportunity to actually sleep!)

P.S.: It doesn't hurt at all that my nurse is an adorable young man who looks just like John Lennon. (If I were going to be a cougar, this guy would be my prey. )

[chunkyfrog]

I'm so sorry you are stuck in the hospital--and tomorrow is your birthday! Bummer!
At least they are taking care of you.

[Madalot]

Oh, man. I am so sorry you're so sick and in the hospital. Please feel better soon.

And an early Happy Birthday!

[Pugsy]

Sounds like you are getting better if your mind is tossing this around.

If I were going to be a cougar, this guy would be my prey.

Hope you continue to improve and maybe catch your prey. at least in your mind where you can have some fun.

Did you know that I am trying/using (since Jan this year) the S9 Adapt SV? On a lark I decided to try it...not because I needed it like you do.
Don't now how it compares to the 950/960 but maybe some day I will get to try one of those.
I really like it myself. Don't know what to do about my other 2 Bipap machines now.
On a whole though...it's a toss up between the ResMed and Respironics machines in general. At least for me anyway.

[bavinck]

Sounds like you are getting better if your mind is tossing this around.

If I were going to be a cougar, this guy would be my prey.

Hope you continue to improve and maybe catch your prey. at least in your mind where you can have some fun.

Did you know that I am trying/using (since Jan this year) the S9 Adapt SV? On a lark I decided to try it...not because I needed it like you do.
Don't now how it compares to the 950/960 but maybe some day I will get to try one of those.
I really like it myself. Don't know what to do about my other 2 Bipap machines now.
On a whole though...it's a toss up between the ResMed and Respironics machines in general. At least for me anyway.

What do you like about it?

[Pugsy]

What do you like about it?

Everything.

What do I dislike? Nothing.

I gave a short comment about it in a thread a while back and no time right now to go find it. I will try to remember to find it later and point you to it. One of STLMark's threads about ASV use being something maybe everyone could benefit from I think it was. After the first night using 6 EPAP and 9 IPAP while awake (so much more comfortable than 10/14) and sleeping right through any and all pressure changes (to above 20 IPAP) and feeling great...I was hooked. BTW...I don't normally have any issues with centrals other than an occasional probable sleep onset central.
So ASV is probably overkill in my situation in terms of needs but in terms of therapy and how I feel in general and how I sleep..I don't really care.

Edit..this thread
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=94430&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

I never really gave any sort of official review because it wasn't needed I didn't think. I had already given a long review when I changed from APAP to Bilevel
viewtopic/t71442/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=71 ... te#p656179
and I didn't see the need to repeat all that
Besides...experimenting with ASV isn't a cheap experiment and not many people have a chance to get one of those high end machines and not many people are silly enough to want to experiment all the time.
I had heard ASV pressure changes could be difficult to adjust to...for me they weren't but then I slept through some big changes on APAP and BiPap.
For me ASV was simply taking the already great bilevel results I was having and making it better and more comfortable.

[Kiralynx]

BB,

I am SO sorry to hear you are in the hospital!

And, boy do I know what you mean about having your OWN machine and your OWN settings.

Heck, as you well know, even doctors don't know that much about machines and settings! I just went through that with getting the script for my new 960! Doc said she had to have my titration study to right it. I looked at her, puzzled, and said, "Why?" She said, "Well, I have to get the settings from it..." I said, "The titration settings aren't the ones I'm using now. Those are..." and I rattled them off. And she looked at me like I had three heads. Patients aren't supposed to KNOW that sort of thing!

You take care of yourself, and get home to your own bed as soon as possible.