Resmed S8 Auto Vantage coming Friday!

vicinsb · Post by **vicinsb** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:50 pm

Thanks so much to all who have been so helpful in my other posts! I finally ordered and am looking forward to delivery on Friday. This whole long process of diagnosis, appointments, sleep studies, more appointments and equipment homework has been even more exhausting to an already exhausted woman! My DME started out bubbly but after a few phonecalls with questions about different equipment and faxes to my insurance, I could tell she was tired of me. She would have been happier if I just went with what my Drs. office usually goes with! So now I look forward to figuring out my new machine and getting some real sleep! Perhaps I'll hook-up for the entire week-end!
I am going with the Mirage Swift Mask, if anyone has anything I should know for first use that would be great.
Thanks again to all of you helpful, kind people out there! I will definitely keep you posted!
Vicky

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:55 pm

Here is another link (Swift tips) to lose some more sleep over:

viewtopic.php?p=85539#85539

LOL. So you wore the DME down to the point she just gave you what you wanted just to get rid of you. GOOD JOB.

Your battle is half over now. You are down to the fine tuning.

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:01 am

I love my S8 Autoset Vantage. And I really got along well with my Swift. But I have sensative nares. And as hard as I tried I couldn't make it work longer than 1 month. So, I switched to the Activa last yesterday at my 1 month check-up. It was easy to disassemble, clean and reassemble just like the Swift. That's part of what I liked about the Swift, it was very easy to take apart, clean and reassemble. You can't go wrong on that level with the Swift.

When I was on regular CPAP during the first 2 weeks my setting was 13. Then with the S8 Autoset Vantage my setting was ranged at 8 to 17. I was getting 95% pressure #'s of 15.2 to 17.2!! Last night with the activa that dropped DRASTICALLY to a pressure of 9.0!! The Activa was slighly louder than the Swift but had a VERY good fit with what seemed like very few leaks.

I had a leak rating similar to my very first night on the Mirage Swift. Funny. First night out on either mask seems about the same. Time will tell but if I keep getting these very low pressures, then I'm going to be a VERY VERY happy camper. The higher pressures on the Swift were waking me up at night. And the DME or doc didn't suggest the Activa to lower those numbers even though they were waking me up. Hmmmmmmm.

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:21 am

Kewl RM!!! Congrats!!! Glad its working out so well for you!!!!

And congratulations Vicky. You did well with your DME as well as with your research and choices. The S8 AutoSet is a FINE machine (I believe it to be the best) and the Swift is, for me, the PERFECT interface. Please don't hesitate to stop back here if there are ANY questiosn that you are having. there are LOTS of us with experience with S8 Vantage.

Good luck!

Chuck

vicinsb · Post by **vicinsb** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 3:53 pm

ATTN: CHUCK AND RASTAMAN,
I slept with my new machine last night and today when I wanted to take a look at results I followed RM's instructions on how to get to clinical info but there wasn't any data. Why wasn't anything logged from last night? I guess I was supposed to turn something on perhaps? I slept pretty sound I think, no marks or sore anything today. I taped my mouth because I did have mouth breathing at SS. I'm trying really hard to be a good sport...but this really does suck! I wanted to lock my door and sleep alone! No miraculous reoccurrence of energy yet today either! Thanks for the help guys!

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 4:38 pm

Vicki-

Don't fret. It'll work out. The S8 AutoSet erases the data from the LCD screen every day at Noon, in order to be ready to collect a new day's data. The data remains in the S8's memory and can be accessed through the SmartCard, but it is no longer available on the screen. So, you have to be sure to access the data BEFORE NOON on any given day if you want to view it on the screen.

BTW, I KNOW that you wouldn't want to be confused by all of that efficacy data (Pressure, leakgae, AHI, AI, HI) so you WON'T want to hold down the left and right keys for a few seconds until the Efficacy Data menu comes up, and then you won't want to hit the down key to bring up the Usage Menu. Because you've wisely chosen to leave these steps to professionals, you then won't need to hit the right key to "Exit" the data menus since you won't have read them in the first place. OK?

Re: the taping, I wouldn'y be too quick to resort to taping if I was you. Lots of people mouth-breath during their sleep study. I did. But, I also trained myself to breathe only through my nose within about two weeks of starting cPAP. Lots of folks are able to do this, and taping can seem mighty clautrophobic when you're just getting started. So, why not relax for the first couple of weeks and see what happens. Take a look at your leakage stats. Whatever treatment pressure that you ARE getting is better than you had before starting xPAP, and taping is always an option for you, when you decide that you need it.

Hang in there Vicki, and let me know if you have any more questions!

Chuck

vicinsb · Post by **vicinsb** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:31 pm

Thanks Chuck...I left for work right away this morning and then looked at the data after noon, so that explains it.
I think I will take your advice and try it without the tape and see what happens. I guess the data will tell me if I have had mouth breathing or not. Thanks again!
Vicky

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:02 pm

You better tape tonight, that way you will have one good nights data to remember. Jim

vicinsb · Post by **vicinsb** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:14 am

OK first time reading results from last nights sleep:

Pressure 6.6
AHI 1.9
Leaks 0.46
AI 0.0
HI 1.9

I opted not to use tape. These sound really good to me, but I am not sure if I am understanding it all yet.

What do you think? Thanks again!

Vicky

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:35 am

Vicky-

You're numbers look FANTASTIC!!!

Any AHI<5.0 is considered to be normal! And, you have an AI=0 whuich means NO apneas. You did have 1.9 hypopneas/hr (on average) but even that result is VERY low.
Do you have "Settling" enabled, and if so, for how long? Its possible that the HI may be artifactual if your S8 is scoring hypops while you are awake. Having settling on for a long enough interval to allow you to fall asleep will correct this. But I wouldn't sweat it either way. Your numbers are compeletely NORMAL and you're doing great!!! So, HOW ARE YOU FEELING??? HOW DID YA SLEEP?

Your leak is pretty large. I'm told that the ResMed algorithm begins degrading with leaks greater than 0.40L/s, though I don't know this to be a fact. So, you SHOULD pay attention to it, and try to train yourself to breathe only through your nose. If that's unsuccessful, you might turn to a chin strap (which seems to work for NO ONE), PoliDent strips or taping, none of which can I help you with, but many others here can and would be glad to. Or, you can choose a full-face mask which makes makes mouth-breathing irrelevant. But, given your GREAT numbers, take your time and explore all the options till you select the one that's best for you. With your numbers, you needn't feel any pressure to do something NOW!!!

Congratulations Vicky!!!

Chuck

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, AHI

vicinsb · Post by **vicinsb** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:52 am

Thanks Chuck, I have the settling to 5 min., so I will make that longer and see if the HI improves. The leak number is probably from the mouth breathing so I will try to train myself to keep it shut (not sure how to do that when your asleep) and I bought the denture stuff and tape already.

I feel better because I didn't have to wake up at 5 am for work, but I am still yawning every 5 minutes! With these positive results I am sure I will feel better soon! Asking how I slept just makes me laugh, cause I've always been so proud of how I fall asleep before my head hits the pillow and I never wake during the night (although I've snored like a bear)...little did I know I was sleep deprieved! I did sleep very sound, except adjusting the mask a couple of times.

I am so grateful for your input!

Vicky

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:17 am

Vicky-

I found that I parked my tongue on the roof of my mouth and just tried to breathe normally, and my body did the rest. Within a couple of weeks, I found that I could open my mouth wide, with NO air leaks while I was getting pressurized air through my nose. I'm easily able to drink water while I'm on xPAP (though using a straw makes it more convenient). And, if I have to yell at my dog Jumpy, I can do so, though I'm not at the point of being able to carry on a conversation. And my leakage stats are typically less than 0.10L/s.

So Vicky, it CAN be done. Give it a shot. If it doesn't work, you might also want to consider the new Teleflex Hybrid Mask, though its brand new. I'd wait to see what others have to say about it if I were you, though it looks promising.

Cheers!

Chuck

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 1:01 pm

Vicky, congrats on wearing down the DME....was it by chance LifeCare in SB? Or Apria in Riverside? I would second Rastaman's endorsement of the Vantage S8...a great machine. Your numbers look really good. Leaks are a bit high, but its hard to argue with an API and and AI and HI that low!

GoofyUT's comments about tongues and mouth breathing echo my own experience. I was told I mouth breathed a LOT in the sleep study, but I don't seem to be doing that now. I park my tongue up against the back of my upper incisors et viola, no mouth breathing. My leak rate is consistantly zero.

Be aware that it may take weeks for the full benefits of cpap therapy to kick in, but hang in there...its truly worth it.

vicinsb · Post by **vicinsb** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 1:22 pm

Thanks Bookbear,
The DME is Phoenix, in Orange County. I will try the tongue at the roof of my mouth tonight for starters and see if I can train myself so I don't have to tape.
Looking forward to feeling better soon...thank you so much!

vicinsb · Post by **vicinsb** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:49 pm

Has anyone used this for camping?

Vicky

Resmed S8 Auto Vantage coming Friday!

Resmed S8 Auto Vantage coming Friday!

CONGRATS!

Data

Results!!

Numbers

Mouth-breathing

Camping with S8 Vantage?

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4