S9 machines?

My S9 does the laundry, takes out the garbage, cleans the litterbox and feeds the cats.
Okay, I wish it could, but seriously...
One of the biggest improvements of the S9 is that flow-generator vibrations are not transmitted through the hose. They've done something to dampen this. Most machines don't sound so loud when you're just sitting there in the room with someone else masked up, but connect a hose to your own face, and you've got a sounding-board directly transmitting vibrations from the heart of the flow generator right into your face.

That's pretty much eliminated in the S9. It really is quiet, both at the nightstand and at the mask. I still sometimes have to check my mask vent to be sure it's on. I don't know if any of the other new machines have attempted to reduce machine vibration through hose transmission, but I suspect not.

I'm relatively new this year also. My doctor just spec'd the S9 Elite as his standard baseline. It is as silent as can be (my wife can't hear it). Make sure you get the heated hose to go with it (eliminates any hose condensation). Although, I think I paid more than retail when all was done. I have a high deductible, then the HMO required rental of the machine for at least two months to ensure compliance. Finally, they billed it out and sent a "customer owned" sticker to cover theirs. Not to mention two sleep studies at $2700 each plus other visits. Not cheap, but i am finally getting used to it after 7 months. I'm pretty sure it is helping me. The only sound that is heard is when I roll over and get something in front of the mask vent (like a pillow). That sound is like someone just rolled down the window.

For those of you getting your first machine before January, consider trying to get the machine paid for in-full before the end of the year so you don't end up paying exorbitant monthly fees when January comes around. The sum of your out-of-pocket costs can sometimes turn out to be more than you would have paid if you just bought the thing on line. Make a spreadsheet and find out exactly what you'll pay month-to-month out of pocket, including the roll-over on out-of-pocket costs starting in January. Confirm with your DME before you buy anything. Get their quote in writing, along with projected monthly costs for the entire length of the 'rental' according to your health insurance schedule. You won't be sorry.

If you have PPO through Blue Cross, you'll probably be able to buy it on line directly through Cpap.com. BCBS paid for mine. It took a few months along with the help of some very helpful insurance customer support people, but it got covered. Send a record of your compliance data when you make the claim.

DreamDiver wrote:For those of you getting your first machine before January, consider trying to get the machine paid for in-full before the end of the year so you don't end up paying exorbitant monthly fees when January comes around. The sum of your out-of-pocket costs can sometimes turn out to be more than you would have paid if you just bought the thing on line. Make a spreadsheet and find out exactly what you'll pay month-to-month out of pocket, including the roll-over on out-of-pocket costs starting in January. Confirm with your DME before you buy anything. Get their quote in writing, along with projected monthly costs for the entire length of the 'rental' according to your health insurance schedule. You won't be sorry.

If you have PPO through Blue Cross, you'll probably be able to buy it on line directly through Cpap.com. BCBS paid for mine. It took a few months along with the help of some very helpful insurance customer support people, but it got covered. Send a record of your compliance data when you make the claim.

I am very lucky as my private insurance plan and my wife's will cover 100% of the outright purchase cost. Machine, mask, climateline hose, humidifier, and case....BUT because I have to use a DME not CPAP.COM, the total price being paid by our Insurance companies is.....now hold on to your chairs.....$2,400 CDN!!!!

CPAP.COM price is $1,123 USD for S9, humidifier, climateline and case + Mirage Softgel Mask $127 = $1,250.00 USD. Now accounting for exchange rates which is one Canadian dollar equals 95 cents, that would be $1,187.50 CDN total including the mask. I would of course have to pay customs fees but not an additional $1,212.50 to make up a total of $2,400 CDN.

Our plans won't let us use an Online provider....also RESMED prohibits selling their products online internationally.

DreamDiver wrote:For those of you getting your first machine before January, consider trying to get the machine paid for in-full before the end of the year so you don't end up paying exorbitant monthly fees when January comes around. The sum of your out-of-pocket costs can sometimes turn out to be more than you would have paid if you just bought the thing on line. Make a spreadsheet and find out exactly what you'll pay month-to-month out of pocket, including the roll-over on out-of-pocket costs starting in January. Confirm with your DME before you buy anything. Get their quote in writing, along with projected monthly costs for the entire length of the 'rental' according to your health insurance schedule. You won't be sorry.

If you have PPO through Blue Cross, you'll probably be able to buy it on line directly through Cpap.com. BCBS paid for mine. It took a few months along with the help of some very helpful insurance customer support people, but it got covered. Send a record of your compliance data when you make the claim.

Good point, but only if the patient's benefit plan year is the same as the calendar year. Mine is July 1 - June 30.

I made it a point to get my S9 Elite (love it!) in June well after my deductible was paid out. So, 90/10 for the rental for June and the purchase of the H5i, first tub, hose, mask, and filters, and then had to pay July's rent 100% for the S9 (only). My September supplies also were on deductible as well. My rent (100%) is like $56. So, when I hit 90/10, yeah. $5.60.

My supplies (including climateline) were like $97 at 100%. Next supply delivery will including the H5i replacement tub, too!

Changed masks, but both are great with the S9. Swift II pillows (current) and Activa Mirage LT. Just gotta remember to change mask types on the LCD when I swap them out (depending on nasal congestion). Easy to use. Stores in the nightstand (can't leave it out when someone wants to see the house - we're trying to sell it). Maintenance is simple.

I want one but am waiting for a built on iPad and iphone

Physician wrote: . . . The masks should vent superiorly. . . .

I think they try to angle it away from the eyes.

Physician wrote: . . . Pior posts have disclosed a very porous filter applied to the vents to reduce noise and diffuse the exhaust. . . .

I would discourage anyone from messing with the mask vents at all.

montana wrote:I want one but am waiting for a built on iPad and iphone

Try before you buy would be best. I love my S-9. The cpap unit, humidifier and climateline hose will cost me $.65 (cents) per night on a 5 year replacement schedule. It is a lot of money to put out up front without any insurance help, but you will feel better with successful treatment, and that can be priceless if you have been fighting sleep apnea. Good luck! john

Dream- LOLOLOLOLOL. Loved the app. I needed the laugh. thank you.

I have to agree with see if your insurance will do an outright purchase verses a rental. My BC/BS I could chose to rent or to buy. I chose to buy my S9 because I have $3300 deductible and I would have to rent for 13 months before it was mine. The rental times the number of months cost me more than the $303 co-pay for the initial purchase. I will be issues supplies on the DME scheduled. Which I am sure they will comply with BC/BS payment schedule for that.

I also asked for a copy of my prescription so I can buy supplies on line. I have no clue if I will have the same insurance next year. I say if you can...buy your machine out right.

jnk wrote:

Physician wrote: . . . The masks should vent superiorly. . . .

I think they try to angle it away from the eyes.

Physician wrote: . . . Pior posts have disclosed a very porous filter applied to the vents to reduce noise and diffuse the exhaust. . . .

I would discourage anyone from messing with the mask vents at all.

I would discourage "most", but not discourage anyone. In fact, knowledgeable people should be ENCOURAGED to make these improvements. ResMed is very slow to respond to valid suggestions, and I've made three modifications which have been supreme.

VENTING: If it is superiorly, perhaps somewhat anteriorly, it does NOT blow into the eyes. I developed a plastic clip on adapter which diverts the flow just fine. No flow in my eyes, hair, or hands.

FILTER: The diffuser has virtually no resistance to air flow, but reduces the hiss well.

I started with a PR S1 and I could hear the vibrations coming up the hose. Unfortunately, I could hear the machine impellers spin up to be ready once my exhalation was finished. It would have been ok if my exhalation was finished but it wasn't. I felt like I had to change my natural breathing rhythm so that it coincided with the machine. Anyway, it was not fun and I struggled to sleep more than a couple of hours at a stretch. I sought an S9 because I was interested in controlling the mask temperature and getting a good dose of humidity. I thought the noise would be similiar but immediately realized it was specified at 5 decibels less than the PR S1. I didn't think this would be a big deal since my noise problem was vibration up the hose structure which isn't measured and also not specified. My machine sits near the floor and I couldn't hear either machine, unless the ridiculous filters would pop out of the PR S1 whenever I coughed or exhaled with too much force. Then, I could hear the air whistling in the inlet vent of the device. I also didn't like the feeling under the mask with any humidity settings of the PR S1. I had to keep it at the zero setting and I was starting to investigate passover type humidifiers and even considered rigging some kind of bubble through humidifier so I could be comfortable with cooler humidity. As most CPAPers know, this technology is old technology. You can simply get more humidity from heated humidification and it is better for your sinuses. Both machines have heated humidifiers but the S9 delivers it differently and without noise. When I finally got the prescription for the S9 and received it, I was extremely apprehensive about my decision. To add to it, the climateline hose didn't come with it and I had to special order. What a business for newbies to become acquainted with, and I was not yet aware of this site. Long and short - my first night on S9 w/o hose was 10.2 hours! Wow! This was after 2 1/2 months of motivated struggling. The heated tube has arrived and my mask setting is at 75 deg F. The system works for me. I also control humidity and temperature in room so I don't have to ask as much of the mechanicals. I hear nothing from the S9 machine or the hose and only feel mask pressure around the edge. I often check to see if I have taken it off randomly during the night which was a usual occurance with the PR S1, and to my complete surprise, it is always on my face. I had telephone numbers for the technical team of PR but phone calls and emails went unanswered. I have to say, however, I am having similar problems with Resmed and software (I'm a retired engineer and I need data!). I guess I'll be trying to find "Uncle Bob" next.

Big S wrote: I have to say, however, I am having similar problems with Resmed and software (I'm a retired engineer and I need data!). I guess I'll be trying to find "Uncle Bob" next.

ResScan needs a massive overhaul. Maybe ResMed will realize that.

flash2 wrote:Dream- LOLOLOLOLOL. Loved the app. I needed the laugh. thank you.

Big S wrote:I started with a PR S1 and I could hear the vibrations coming up the hose.... it was not fun...

Thanks for this comparison. Very few of us have had the chance to compare. My first machine was an M-Series Pro, and it too suffered from hose vibration transmission and the induced autonomic 'speed-breathing' problem that comes with the body trying to anticipate the flow generator's algorithm. Apparently they still haven't fixed that with the S1 either. I understand it has to do with the c/a flex feature. If you turn it all the way off, the tendency to speed-breathe is considerably reduced. That's pretty wild that the filters don't stay put. Congratulations on getting an S9.

Physician wrote:

Big S wrote: I have to say, however, I am having similar problems with Resmed and software (I'm a retired engineer and I need data!). I guess I'll be trying to find "Uncle Bob" next.

ResScan needs a massive overhaul. Maybe ResMed will realize that.

In their favor, they do keep making updates though. I didn't even know 3.12 came out in October. I'd just installed 3.11. I've been away too long.