S8 Elite II or S9 Elite?

evangelos wrote:

Torontian wrote:Hi I just purchased a S9. It is my first machine. I will set it up tomorrow. During Nurse demonstration I was impressed how quiet is. I heard older models are noiser. I would like to hear from anyone how effective those machines are. Did it really help to improve sleeping? Regards Angelos-Toronto

Hi all.
This is a follow up to my previous post. I just completed 5 days of using the S9. As I said it is my first machine so I cannot compare it with older models. I can tell you for sure that is a quiet machine. I can barely hear it and personally I had no problem to sleep. As far as results I have to admit that so far surpassed my expectations. For now I would say that I am very optimistic that I found the solution I was looking for. I do not want to comment further as I do understand that several people are cautious the first few weeks to admit that machine helps. I do not want to create false expectations. I am curious to hear from people they purchased the S9 machine about the price. Here in Toronto cost about 1000 Canadian dollars. However this is in addition of a subsidy from the government of 700 dollars. Otherwise the price would have been around 1700 dollars. I consider the price very expensive. You can buy a whole computer with much more material half of the price.

Hi all
I tried to do a research about the price of those machines in the web. I noticed that most of the web sites do not want to publish prices. I repeat my request to everyone that has purchased a S9 machine to publish the price and the province where he purchased from.

Torontian wrote:

evangelos wrote:

Torontian wrote:Hi I just purchased a S9. It is my first machine. I will set it up tomorrow. During Nurse demonstration I was impressed how quiet is. I heard older models are noiser. I would like to hear from anyone how effective those machines are. Did it really help to improve sleeping? Regards Angelos-Toronto

Hi all.
This is a follow up to my previous post. I just completed 5 days of using the S9. As I said it is my first machine so I cannot compare it with older models. I can tell you for sure that is a quiet machine. I can barely hear it and personally I had no problem to sleep. As far as results I have to admit that so far surpassed my expectations. For now I would say that I am very optimistic that I found the solution I was looking for. I do not want to comment further as I do understand that several people are cautious the first few weeks to admit that machine helps. I do not want to create false expectations. I am curious to hear from people they purchased the S9 machine about the price. Here in Toronto cost about 1000 Canadian dollars. However this is in addition of a subsidy from the government of 700 dollars. Otherwise the price would have been around 1700 dollars. I consider the price very expensive. You can buy a whole computer with much more material half of the price.

Hi all
I tried to do a research about the price of those machines in the web. I noticed that most of the web sites do not want to publish prices. I repeat my request to everyone that has purchased a S9 machine to publish the price and the province where he purchased from.

Hi Angelos

Sounds like you already made your purchase and you should be very happy with your S9... I was given a prescription for CPAP on Jan 18 and began my research include several sit-downs with DME's. I tried out a Respironics machine with Swift LT and was not impressed. After further research in the GTA I decided on one supplier out of a top 4. I took delivery of my S9 and Respironics mask Mar 12, yesterday and have several sleeps with my new system.

So far, in comparison there is significant improvements over what I have seen and tried, but I will comment and Post that info when I have more evidence.
As far as costs... I Do Not have any supplemental insurance coverage. Government covers $780 towards a basic system. Many will sell you any CPAP/ Mask that you want for as much as you want to spend.

In Ontario, you cannot buy except from authorized sellers in Ontario (DME) and still qualify for any subsidy. You also cannot buy XPAP/ APAP as they are not allowed to sell unless you buy outside Ontario Rules. Dr. will not issue script for APAP... it requires significant evidence of Need and Much Red Tape... then the subsidy is just over $1100.

To answer your direct question, indirectly... my S9/ mask combo was significantly less than $1000 over subsidy. I talked it over with my dealer and you can PM me if you need a supplier in this area.

My doctor wrote a prescription for the S8 Escape II with H4 heated humidifier and sent it to the place where I had the sleep study. In the meantime, I did my own research and have decided I would prefer the S9 Elite as 1st choice and S8 Elite II as second choice, so I called the sleep study people and first she told me I'd have to pay $195 for an Escape to Elite upgrade, but then after I was picking her for info, that changed to it's however your doctor writes it up, then we get it approved with your insurance, so that makes it sound like if your doctor writes it for S9, you get the S9... then I called my insurance and they said on DME, if there is more than one option, they generally go with the more economical one. No duh. Still, all that being said, I want the S9, so I sent all the convincing reasons I could come up with to my doctor and I'm waiting to hear back from her. The people at the sleep study place almost sound like once they've got their hooks in and reported back to your doctor you need the machine, they act like they give you what they want and y our done. I'm looking at it like I'm the customer, and whether it's my insurance or me paying, they need to work with me to get the machine I want. Obviously, the quieter and more comfortable it is the more likely I am to use it - otherwise, it's all been for naught. Any suggestions or ideas on how to accomplish getting the machine you want? My insurance pays 100% of dme, but since you have to work through this with them, your doctor, and the company that provides the dme, I'm trying to make sure I work through it in the most sensible way with the least amount of grief. Any help would be great!

Call your insurance again. Ask them what local DME CPAP providers they are contracted with. Hopefully you have the option of more than just this one. Usually you do. Having the option of more than just this one local DME provider gives you more bargaining/negotiating room and the more options you have the more bargaining/negotiating room you have.

FWIW: I would go with the S9 Auto although the S9 Elite will give you the climate control tubing and data output and improved algorithms that show less events to compete with the other guys. I find that the EPR which I have set at 3 is wonderful but also wonder if I am getting the pressure that I am calling for as my Escape II seems to give me more pressure for the same setting. Hmmmm. In any event, I cranked the S9 Auto up a half cm of pressure last night and wound up with virtually zero events. Tonight we try it again with a fresh Quattro mask (allergy season) and the oximeter connected to see if we have made any difference. I have picked up an oxygen conentrator and if my SaO2 does not maintain at about 95% I am going to bleed into my air line 2 or 3L of oxygen to see what difference THAT makes in my sleep quality and SaO2 through the night.

Whatever you are going to do or have done, always aim for the best results you can possibly get. That is the name of the game. And be your own advocate. I asked my MD about bleeding or infusing in 2 or 3L of oxygen at our meeting today and he answered honestly "I have no clue as to what it is going to do for your sleep quality - only a sleep study will tell us that and I am pleased to give you a referal with your equipment and your data to the sleep clinic for same." We should all have such wonderful GP's. The sleep clinic includes consultation with a top respirologist MD and technicians, EEG's, EKG, oximetry study, the whole 9 yards. The object of the game is to (a) maintain and improve your health overall, and (b) improve the quality of your night of sleep so you don't feel like crap in the morning. (which I do).

Keep at it. You are on the right path. And you have selected a great machine. Prices up here in Canada are crazy. Check out cpapauctions.com and you will be amazed at some of the prices. I found that my machines and accessories, especially the masks, were cheaper than the government subsidized costs up here.

I have been assimlated already, and own an s nine autoset..

Its so quiet, you dont think its turned on..

I would try to get the autoset, do you have allergies? are you a shallow breather? Is your apnea much worse on your back?


you can run the autoset in cpap or auto, and if you have positional apnea, its much nicer to have it auto adjust to your
sleeping positions..


Okay, there ya have it, resistance is futile.. get the s nine autoset if you can..

Here is a video that shows the differences.
http://www.sleepnation.tv/post/808897740/episode1

I got an S9 Elite from Apria

Yes Apria will tell you "we don't have it." What they mean is they have to order it for you. My sleep doctor wrote "Resmed S9" in my prescription and I just repeated that over and over. I also wasn't going to take another machine.

I love the EPR aka easy breathe. It makes it so much easier to breathe than the CPAP I had in my sleep study.

Tovi wrote: I love the EPR aka easy breathe.

EasyBreathe and EPR are not the same thing. EasyBreathe is built into the blower and firmware and makes breathing with the machine feel more natural. It can't be turned off or adjusted.

EPR (expiratory pressure relief) reduces the pressure when you exhale by 1, 2, or 3 cm H20 depending on how you set the machine. It can also be turned off.