Repironics vs. Resmed

I have a simplistic view of it all. I don't care how it arrives at the numbers as long as I see a difference when making changes IE I raised my pressure a tad and the events went down. So my therapy is better.

I spent 7 years on cpap with no reports no follow ups with docs ect. Now I have an apap with software and it's a little more interesting bottom line is I still sleep like a baby and wake up ready to go without treatment I believe I would be dead now.

So bottom line is how do you feel? don't get to wrapped up in numbers they can make you nuts

Gary

jonquiljo wrote: I want to buy a backup machine (travel, breakage, etc.) and was thinking that many people around here seem to like the Resmed machines the best. Is a Resmed machine that much better? I guess I would be thinking an S9 Autopap (Autoset?). I have heard that getting Resmed software is really difficult. Is that true?

Have you considered the advantages of having a backup/travel machine that's identical to your main machine? By having two, identical machines, you have interchangeable parts, need for just one software package, and familiarity with both.

One thing not said by others is that IMHO, the PR System One's carry case is junk. If you want this second xPAP for use as a travel machine, you will need to buy an aftermarket carry case for it.

blusaber wrote: So bottom line is how do you feel? don't get to wrapped up in numbers they can make you nuts

I feel much much better! I feel enough better that I want to know if I can even go further than I already have.

I keep getting people's fur up for saying this - but I just don't trust a machine that says it can change all my sleep events - boom! Even set at 4-20 my AHI was less than 1.0. I was tested originally at about 14 with a Flonase OD so I wouldn't get too high. I have my numbers stable using the machine - they've been stable since the first week. They are so low I don't believe them. I can make them go from 0.5 to 0.3! Some nights I am 0.0? Usually when things seem too good to be true, they are. All I'm asking is whether people find that Resmed works better for them than Respironics or vice versa. That accounts for about 80% or more of the market share I would guess.

One night I set my machine accidentally low (I wasn't wearing glasses when setting the pressure and set it to limit way too low). It showed something like 160 snores per hour, so I know things were wrong. My AHI was around 1.0 or something like that. I guess I found that a bit hard to believe. I didn't sleep well - but my AHI was as low as 1.0?

Now if you were to make machines and sell them, wouldn't you sell the most machines by making them report the most improvement - i.e. - score less events? Who would ever know?

I guess I just figured that with all the experience around here - someone must have seen something that makes them prefer one brand vs. the other. I'm talking more than just the color or styling.

ozij wrote: Oh. I see you're interested in gut feelings from other people that will convice you the you are setting your machine correctly.

Anyone in the forum can give you their gut feelings, and then you'll know and which machine really examines what is going on while you are sleeping.

Gut feelings is what you're after, not validity.

O.

What side of the bed did you get out of today?

jonquiljo wrote:

ozij wrote:No kidding, but gut feeling as to what they find to be better is all that I can expect. That's a whole lot better than listening to what the manufacturers say.

My brother has been using a Remstar for 4 years, doesn't know a thing about leak rates, AHI numbers, etc. Doesn't even know how to check his data? But he knows the cpap is working - he can tell the difference after a couple of months. He just puts on his mask and sleeps soundly each night. Once a year he visits his pulmonary doctor and is given a clean bill of health.

I, on the other hand, use the ResMed S8 and read the data daily off the LCD screen, every few days downloads the detail reports and try to fine-tune therapy. I've also tried different masks whereas he has been using the same nasal mask since day 1. It took me a few months longer but I too now noticed dramatic change in sleep pattern, etc.

So which has the 'better' machine? Sometimes, ignorance is blisssssssssssss

Actually, dtsm, what I said was "No forum member can give you proof that either machine gives you valid data."
in response to which, jonquiljo made that statement you quoted about gut feeling, as follows:

jonquiljo wrote:No kidding, but gut feeling as to what they find to be better is all that I can expect. That's a whole lot better than listening to what the manufacturers say.

, not me.

That statement should be credited to him alone.

My approach to the data expressed on onther threads as well, is similar to that expressed by jnk, blusaber, Muse-Inc : I watch my machine's trends.

O.

jonquiljo wrote:

blusaber wrote: So bottom line is how do you feel? don't get to wrapped up in numbers they can make you nuts

I feel much much better! I feel enough better that I want to know if I can even go further than I already have.

DoriC wrote:I'm sorry, but I don't quite remember if you've been having therapy problems, but is it possible that based on trends and how you're feeling now you may truly have found your "sweet spot" and the data is reporting just that?

My approach to the data expressed on onther threads as well, is similar to that expressed by jnk, blusaber, Muse-Inc : I watch my machine's trends.
O.[/quote]

I expressed too!

DoriC wrote:

jonquiljo wrote:

blusaber wrote: So bottom line is how do you feel? don't get to wrapped up in numbers they can make you nuts

I feel much much better! I feel enough better that I want to know if I can even go further than I already have.

DoriC wrote:I'm sorry, but I don't quite remember if you've been having therapy problems, but is it possible that based on trends and how you're feeling now you may truly have found your "sweet spot" and the data is reporting just that?

ozij wrote:My approach to the data expressed on onther threads as well, is similar to that expressed by jnk, blusaber, Muse-Inc : I watch my machine's trends.
O.

I expressed too!

How could I have missed mentioning you ?!

jonquiljo wrote: someone must have seen something that makes them prefer one brand vs. the other. I'm talking more than just the color or styling.

ozij wrote:
Oh. I see you're interested in gut feelings from other people that will convice you the you are setting your machine correctly.

Anyone in the forum can give you their gut feelings, and then you'll know and which machine really examines what is going on while you are sleeping.

Gut feelings is what you're after, not validity.

O.

What side of the bed did you get out of today?

I must agree with ozij. Trying to compare ResMed with Respironics is like trying to compare apples to oranges...it just ain't gonna work, no matter how you try.

JMO, but maybe it's time to stop over-analyzing and accept your good results. I've been working at this two months now, and only twice have been down to 2.0...although my therapy may not always be optimal (currently on 5th mask), I can tell things are working and headed in the right direction.

Linda

jonquiljo wrote: I'm just curious as to what people think - Resmed vs. Respironics?

jonq, you are the only one who can determine which, of any machine,
is right for you.

My story:
Being a typical brain dead apneaic, I was given a "fully data capable"
Mseriers Plus by The Big A. With help and education here,
I fought for and got an Mseries Auto w/aflex.

In the first 3mths of my therapy, I learned to use the software
and how I felt to titrated myself from sleep study 8cm to 12cm.
I went from Optilife pillows and through 5 ffms to arrive at UM FFM, small.
Therapy stabalized and serious recovery started
I lived at 12cm/cflex 2 for ~9mths. I could never tolerate aflex or straight cpap.
I tried to switch to straight cpap numerous times...
never could make it work.

I kept reading and listening and learning.
I knew, from listening to Resmed users....and Slinky,
that there was a major difference in machine algorithms.
After a year on the Mseries, I decided I had to try.
I switched to Resmed S8 Autoset, on my dime.

I setup the S8 identical to the Mseries.
11cm/16cm. Because of the S8 A10 rule, I immediately saw,
through the data, that it was not responding to my events like
the Mseries did. I was basically running in straight cpap mode.
....and I was fine. After just a week, I switched to straight cpap at 12cm/EPR1.
Recovery really kicked into high gear. I have never looked back.
It has to be the EasyBreathe/EPR technology that Resmed uses just fits ME.

Will the same be true for you??? Only you can answer that.

ozij wrote:Actually, dtsm, what I said was "No forum member can give you proof that either machine gives you valid data."
in response to which, jonquiljo made that statement you quoted about gut feeling
O.

I actually agree totally with you
Maybe my post was poorly worded - what I was trying convey was that both machines work equally well.

dtsm wrote: Maybe my post was poorly worded - what I was trying convey was that both machines work equally well.

Thanks, I will take your advice and forget trying a Resmed. You just saved me a thousand bucks! That's about a couple a dozen cups of coffee in real dollars!

I'm so glad we have such knowledgeable people here.

THE KEY is how you FEEL w/the therapy from either PAP, regardless of the compared data. I've used both the Resmed S8 VPAP Auto and the PR S1 BPAP Auto w/Bi-Flex. I felt as good using one as I did the other. My resulting data varied some between the two, but the TRENDS and how I FELT coincided.

Slinky wrote:THE KEY is how you FEEL w/the therapy from either PAP, regardless of the compared data. I've used both the Resmed S8 VPAP Auto and the PR S1 BPAP Auto w/Bi-Flex. I felt as good using one as I did the other. My resulting data varied some between the two, but the TRENDS and how I FELT coincided.

So how did you decide which was your machine of choice? We've never used any other machine and Mike is doing well, but I'm going through some S9 envy! And if I were to upgrade would I be better with the PR 1 since we're already familiar with the Respironics algorithim or is the PR 1 completely different? And am I really missing anything? Thanks.

DoriC wrote:

Slinky wrote:THE KEY is how you FEEL w/the therapy from either PAP, regardless of the compared data. I've used both the Resmed S8 VPAP Auto and the PR S1 BPAP Auto w/Bi-Flex. I felt as good using one as I did the other. My resulting data varied some between the two, but the TRENDS and how I FELT coincided.

So how did you decide which was your machine of choice? We've never used any other machine and Mike is doing well, but I'm going through some S9 envy! And if I were to upgrade would I be better with the PR 1 since we're already familiar with the Respironics algorithim or is the PR 1 completely different? And am I really missing anything? Thanks.

I have both an M Series Auto and a PR System One Auto. I have a city residence (where I am on weekdays) and a country residence where I spend most weekends; I keep the M Series Auto in one residence and the PR System One in the other. Thus, on average I switch apap machines on a weekly basis.

Both apaps run at 7-12 with aflex at 2.

Usage differences between the two apaps are few, and for the most part are very subtle.
- PR system one is quieter; it's humidifier uses less water because it uses it more efficiently; if you hold your breath, it will deliver what some have called a "puff" of air to test for an obstruction (much has been written on cpaptalk about this feature; IMHO, its not bothersome and normally it's not even noticeable).
- M Series is a little noisier

If you like the therapy of the M Series, then you will like that of the PR System One.