what kind of machines is better

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:07 am

Most definitely, McKooi!!!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:31 am

WillSucceed wrote:What Snoredog and Slinky have both neglected to mention is that there is no guarantee that the Respironics machine, or any other autopap, will be right for your specific breathing issues.

The BEST machine for you will be the one that best treats YOUR particular breathing needs. For this reason, I'd encourage you to ignore the "get a Respironics, it is the best machine" advice and trial several different autopap machines from different manufacturers.

Bear in mind that the different manufacturers use different algorithyms -while all the manufacturers build good machines, you might find that one, or more, machines might not work for you. If you buy a machine based on the advice of others without having trialed the machine, you could end up owning a very expensive paperweight.

Having said this, there is good probability that any of the machines will work for you. But, and this is a big but, there is no guarantee of this AND the well-intentioned advice of Respironics owners should not be your deciding factor -actually trialing the machines, even if it means coughing up some money for the trial, should be the deciding factor.

OK Snoredog and Slinky, go for it.

You must be stuck in Disneyland either that or you are living in a fantasy world.

Name one DME in the US that will allow me to come in and trial every autopap on the market before I buy? In fact if you can name one that will allow me to trial just the top 3 I'll kiss your ass?

Fact is it ain't gonna happen, I've tried nearly all of them, it cost me a lot of money. You are lucky if you get half of what you paid for them.

If you are going to ask which autopap, I'll probably suggest the Aflex as first machine. If you later say your pressure is over 15, then I may suggest a Bipap Auto, if you have Central Apnea I may suggest something else.

But if you say you just want an autopap, hey you get what you ask for.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:50 am

WillSucceed, in our area rental of a CPAP is $135 a month or any part thereof. So, assuming one could find enough local DME suppliers to be able to rent one of every brand of autoPAP or CPAP, it wouldn't take long to have been able to have purchase a couple of xPAPs for the money spent in trialing one of each brand.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:10 am

WillSucceed wrote: Dreamstalker, sure, an APAP will work as a CPAP and collect some data. If, however, one wants an APAP (as the person who initiated this thread says he does) for the purpose of APAP treatment, and finds that the APAP which he bought does not work well for him in APAP mode, he has got an expensive paperweight on his hands. If you think that this is "farfetched extremism" then I'd say that your stalking of dreams has been a huge success -you really are dreaming if you think that spending the coin on an APAP that doesn't give you good treatment in APAP mode is a good idea!!

Yep ... have been quite successful at achieving dreams every night with my APAP(s) and I do think that investing in any APAP is better than buying just a plain 'ol CPAP for reasons already mentioned. As for paperweights, that is ancient technology from the last millennium … so c’mon and join us in the more contemporary world of internet forums and data capable xPAP machines and quit being so farfetched and extreme.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 5:35 pm

in our area rental of a CPAP is $135 a month or any part thereof. So, assuming one could find enough local DME suppliers to be able to rent one of every brand of autoPAP or CPAP, it wouldn't take long to have been able to have purchase a couple of xPAPs for the money spent in trialing one of each brand.

Fair enough... spending some coin out of pocket is not fun, and, if a couple of trials would add up to more than the cost of one machine, it is a problem. You folks in the US are lucky that the cost of machines is so low (compared to what we have to pay here in Canada) -it is really unfortunate that your insurance companies seem to give you so much grief and so little assistance with the purchase of equipment.

I guess that I like the idea of being the captain of my own ship... I'd rather find out for myself which machine is best for me rather than rely on the hype provided by manufacturers, suppliers or users who want to feel good about their choice of machine by getting others to make the same purchase.

so c’mon and join us in the more contemporary world of internet forums and data capable xPAP machines and quit being so farfetched and extreme.

Well, if you think common sense and self-determination is farfetched and extreme, then I'll pass on your usual warm welcome. Thanks, but no thanks.