resmed vs respironics

I am probably not saying anything new here but I recently switched from a respironics M series pro to a resmed autoset II. I love the new machine but it did take me a few nights to figure out what settings work best.

I now have the software/card reader and can see much better how I am doing but I really do like the nightly data read out on the machine itself. Why can't respironics do that? The data that repironics displays (I believe 7 day average) is really not useful in the morning as you can't tell when it updates and incorporates new data. From a "how did I do last night?" perspective, you really can't say with this display. The resmed data is spot on and very useful in this regard.

I have also read how some like the encore software better than the resmed and vice versa. Overall, I would have to give the nod to resmed. There simply is more information than the respironics and the feature I like the most is the ability to zoom in on the data by changing the time span. Also, apnea duration flags are very interesting. At least I am assuming those number flags on each OA is a duration in seconds. Somebody please confirm this for me.

I used 11cm on the respironics and started with an auto range of 9 to 12 and epr of 2 and 3. I had bad numbers. I raised the settings to 10 to 14 and my OA is running around 2 (good for me). EPR of 3 was too high and I am running 2 and this seems to work better. My 95% pressure is variable but running between 12 and 13. I do seem to have my most events between 2 and 3 in the morning. I have not been bothered by pressure changes or epr drop out at all. Can't say I am aware of this either.

flylow wrote:I have not been bothered by pressure changes or epr drop out at all.

It's the Easy-Breathe technology....

along w/all the other stuff, too.

They're just better systems.

flylow wrote:I really do like the nightly data read out on the machine itself. Why can't respironics do that?

It's a mystery to me why Respironics didn't. They even had two chances to provide "overnight" along with the weekly/monthly averages...once when they came out with their M series machines, and then again when they came out with their new "PR System One" machines. But they didn't. I guess they were thinking just in terms of what a DME (not the actual user) might want to see, and I doubt if any DME is the least bit interested in what happened "just last night."

flylow wrote: The data that repironics displays (I believe 7 day average) is really not useful in the morning as you can't tell when it updates and incorporates new data.

I agree.

flylow wrote:From a "how did I do last night?" perspective, you really can't say with this display.

AMEN!!! I think Respironics really dropped the ball by not including overnight data in their "AHI/Leak" display on the machine. They are bound to have a person or two reading the message boards, so given the many posts people have written complaining about "no overnight" numbers to see on the M machines, and praising ResMed machines for having that capability...for Respironics not to have added "overnight" when they developed the PR System One machine...to have still kept it showing just weekly/monthly averages... .... well, that really surprised me. Especially since, for a time in the past, Respironics had seemed to want to do a bit more (created Encore Viewer) for the pro-active CPAP users out there, drop in the bucket though we are.

rested gal wrote:

flylow wrote:I really do like the nightly data read out on the machine itself. Why can't respironics do that?

It's a mystery to me why Respironics didn't. They even had two chances to provide "overnight" along with the weekly/monthly averages...once when they came out with their M series machines, and then again when they came out with their new "PR System One" machines. But they didn't. I guess they were thinking just in terms of what a DME (not the actual user) might want to see, and I doubt if any DME is the least bit interested in what happened "just last night."

flylow wrote: The data that repironics displays (I believe 7 day average) is really not useful in the morning as you can't tell when it updates and incorporates new data.

I agree.

flylow wrote:From a "how did I do last night?" perspective, you really can't say with this display.

AMEN!!! I think Respironics really dropped the ball by not including overnight data in their "AHI/Leak" display on the machine. They are bound to have a person or two reading the message boards, so given the many posts people have written complaining about "no overnight" numbers to see on the M machines, and praising ResMed machines for having that capability...for Respironics not to have added "overnight" when they developed the PR System One machine...to have still kept it showing just weekly/monthly averages... .... well, that really surprised me. Especially since, for a time in the past, Respironics had seemed to want to do a bit more (created Encore Viewer) for the pro-active CPAP users out there, drop in the bucket though we are.

I think you hit it on the head about Respironics, but how many users actually look at their machine for data daily? Sorry to admit it I know I don't.

In general, CPAP manufacturers cater to the DME and medical community because there are precious few that actually get involved in their therapy. Those that do can be found here. These manufacturers all believe we should not be involved otherwise the software would be designed with us in mind and would also be available and you wouldn't have to jump through hoops to get to the "clinicians" menus to access the controls and therapy data. Resmed is better in this respect but still cut from the same cloth.

Patrick A wrote: I think you hit it on the head about Respironics, but how many users actually look at their machine for data daily? Sorry to admit it I know I don't.

That may be a good poll to start, but we'd probably be singing to the choir. I check my values on my S8 Elite II every morning because it's a few quick button presses to see where my AHI, AI, and HI were for that night.

I know DeVilbiss is better in this respect, with the units display and their 'smartcode' feature. Can't say anything for F&P or the other 'more minor' players because I don't have any experience with their machines.

OTOH, both Respironics and ResMed have better data viewer software than DeVilbiss.

flylow wrote:Also, apnea duration flags are very interesting. At least I am assuming those number flags on each OA is a duration in seconds. Somebody please confirm this for me.

Yes, confirmed.

flylow wrote:I used 11cm on the respironics and started with an auto range of 9 to 12 and epr of 2 and 3. I had bad numbers.

There is a concensus that ResMed machines classify many more events as hypopneas than Respironics, so a higher AHI is normal after the switch.

PST wrote:

flylow wrote:Also, apnea duration flags are very interesting. At least I am assuming those number flags on each OA is a duration in seconds. Somebody please confirm this for me.

Yes, confirmed.

flylow wrote:I used 11cm on the respironics and started with an auto range of 9 to 12 and epr of 2 and 3. I had bad numbers.

There is a concensus that ResMed machines classify many more events as hypopneas than Respironics, so a higher AHI is normal after the switch.

Thanks for the flag confirmation. It is very interesting to see how long some of my events are.

My bad number comment was not on the AHI but on the AI. I am familiar with the resmed high hyponea count. My experience seems to be in line with that expectation and I am not fixating on it. I am fixating on the AI though.