CPAP machines and software

Hi,

Background: I'm a long time CPAP user - 8 years. My wife has been using a machine since Feb.

Has anyone who has used the F&P Performance Maximizer software then moved on to another brand of machine? I've come to depend on being able to get information from my HC244 machine, which they no longer make.

My wife's CPAP machine - another HC244 - broke in an insidiuous way. Basically her AHI increased to untreated levels over a 2 week period. It is still under warranty. In working out what the problem a learnt a lot - like how to build a home made water manometer to check the pressure. (All you need is an old semi-transparent CPAP tube, some red cordial and a ruler). Back to the machine - Pressure when it first starts up is fine but something is going on through the night. We were only able to determine this after trying all the usual - adjusting mask etc. failed. Then we swapped machines (with appropriate change in pressure to our own prescription). Her AHI immediately went from 20's and 30's back down to 1. Meanwhile mine went from a 30 day average of 3, to 14 the first night and 20 the next. I took it in for repair this morning with all the graphs from the performance maximizer software and a detailed explanation. The CPAP dealer also finally unlocked my 8 year old HC221 which still works so the pressure could be updated to current perscription. I will be using the old HC221 while my wife continues to use my HC244. I'm just hoping the HC221 doesn't give up the ghost over Christmas.

The trouble is the F&P 200 series is no longer made, and the Performance Maximizer software has been superceded (and is a pain to install especially on Win 7). I have an opportunity to buy spare machines from old stock - for which I would pay full price - $875 whcih I am considering. But since my machine was replaced in the first few days due to an early defect on the plug for the power cord which would snap the connector (F&P replaced the straight cords with angled cords), then replaced a second time due to defect. Now my wife's machine has died in this peculiar way. I'm not keen to go to the Icon series either, as it's double the price, and I've heard has an even higher defect rate.

So I think my only other decent option is the Resmed S9 series. The Devilbiss Standard Plus I've been told hasn't been approved in Australia, and the Standard doesn't graph AHI/leak. After buying one of the horrible Respironics masks with the break-if-you-breath-on-it ball socket link design, I'll avoid that brand at all cost.

Has anyone used the Resmed software to monitor themselves? Better yet has anyone used both Resmed and F&P software and able to give me a comparison. Also are there any major flaws or annoyances with the S9 Elite that I should be aware of? It's about $350 dearer than the HC244 but if I decide not to buy the HC244 for spare/backup/next machine I could hold off on the S9 purchase until my old HC221 dies.

Being without CPAP is not an option for either me or my wife, even short term.

...and by the way after 8 years I still hate CPAP with a passion, but I literally couldn't live without it (almost a classic love/hate relationship ). It is a "success story" in the sense that it lets me get on with the part of my life that doesn't involve sleep. I do not go to bed unless I'm tired enough to drop off quickly. Without CPAP I'm certain I would not have a job anymore, and would feel awful all the time...and that's without thinking about further consequences to my family if my wife was untreated.

ResMed's software has a tutorial you can watch and get an idea how it compares to the F & P Performance Maximizer software. Not many members use Performance Maximizer. I don't recall seeing any reports from it to compare to ResScan.

ResScan tutorial here. http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/resscan_tutorial/
You can find a link for ResScan in Uncle Bob's signature. I do think it has sample files that you can play with. memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=38643

Pugsy wrote:ResMed's software has a tutorial you can watch and get an idea how it compares to the F & P Performance Maximizer software. Not many members use Performance Maximizer. I don't recall seeing any reports from it to compare to ResScan.

ResScan tutorial here. http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/resscan_tutorial/
You can find a link for ResScan in Uncle Bob's signature. I do think it has sample files that you can play with. memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=38643

Thanks Pugsy. Aware of the tutorial - ran across it earlier today - but haven't watched it. Wasn't sure how good it was. Now I definitely will and appreciate your recommending it.

Thing with machines and software is that you only tend to learn the flaws and pitfalls as you use them, not through the marketing video. I know the machines I have used intimately, and their flaws when working are minor (hard to clean tank) and can be worked around (buggy software - just restart)

I've read the S9 starts it's day at midday and AHI is reset at that point so you can't see your previous day's AHI on the machine after midday. You have to use the software. My father has an S9 so I took a look at the chamber (which for him holds enough water for only one day) and it seems rather complicated, but I was told by the clinician today that you only have to take it apart to clean, not to refill. I think those two flaws might make things rather cumbersome. I rarely think of checking my machine until just before I turn it on for the next use. My wife's been better about checking in the morning but only because she realizes she's been having major issues.

At $875 an old 244 seems one of the cheaper machines at the moment. Wish I had as much confidence in it as the 221 which just keeps ticking (knock on wood).

I'd love to see failure/return rates on the machines.

The ResScan tutorial is not a marketing ploy by ResMed for the software. It was done by a person who uses the machine (I think he is a forum member here) so that new people would understand how to navigate around in the software more easily and to explain the software features.

There are setting changes available on the machine's LCD screen to see data other than last night's data which does reset to zero at noon. So there is more available on the screen than a single night of data.

The water chamber doesn't need to be taken apart and cleaned daily. Some people do it weekly and others go for months. Using distilled water only will reduce chance of mineral build up. Amount of water used nightly depends on pressure used, ambient room temp and humidity and humidifier setting preferences. Not everyone will use up the bulk of the water each night. Some people can go all week without needing to add water.

All machines have pros and cons.

Thanks for posting what you did near the end of your OP! Many newbies come here expecting to love XPAP immediately and see results even quicker. You are 100% correct in your analogy of a 'love/hate' relationship - this is so true!

Good luck with getting both your machines and software squared away!

Cheers,
xena

I have been using my S9 for a year and haven't needed to do anything but rinse and refill the tank. In passover I top off once a week. If it's low, I dump, rinse and refill. Since I started using the Climateline hose I top off every other day.
As Pugsy said, you can see the previous day's AHI on the screen, You just have to access another screen to see it.
I can't think of any reason not to get an S9.

Thank you all for your responses. Most helpful. Seems this Christmas is a time for things to break and resulting unexpected expenses...fa la la la la.... It's been keeping me busy that's for sure.

I would but I suspect my wife would not bother with going through menus. Hard enough to get her to learn how to answer call waiting. (She's not stupid by any means, just can't be bothered with the details of operating gadgets. I suppose I could tape instructions to the machine).

Just got a proper nights sleep with my HC221. Thank @#$% for that! Man it doesn't take long to feel like hell without CPAP. 2 nights and I while I was already a rambling mess - still a coherent one judging by the replies though! Gotta laugh, crying's no fun.

...And Xena, you're most welcome regarding posting my experience. I'm not shy about having an opinion on the state of things. Want to get me started on the whole "oh no we can't let you set your own pressure" thing! Yeah instead let me wait 2-3 months for a doctor's appointment before I can adjust my pressure by +/- 1 which may potentially be the difference between feeling awful, losing my job and being unsafe to drive. It's CRIMINAL.

Better yet get me started on my experience with the Oracle mask. (This is much better, sir! You just hold a rocket in your mouth while it tries to blast out of it, then fall asleep holding that pose....don't forget to breathe properly - that is the point you know! Come by the dungeons some time - we have other torcher devices available!)

Completely off topic but here's what I've learnt in those 8 years.

- Go to bed when tired.
- Get a mask that fits and doesn't leak.
- Get a machine that works and provides you with information about your quality of sleep - especially AHI and leak.
- Regularly look at your AHI and leak readings. If AHI >4-5 or leak suddenly increases do whatever you have to in order to fix the problem.
- Find a CPAP dealer that supports your ability to monitor and change pressure yourself under doctor's supervision. Not one obsessed with having you trudge around town so they can charge you an extra $50 to do it for you.
- Forget the gimmicks - they don't help and are designed to part you from your money.
- Fixed pressure CPAP is much easier to get right IF it works for you.
- Expect to develop an underbite. It's part of the price you pay.
- Use your machine every single night you can. Pray you don't get a bad cold/blocked nose.
- If you get a chest infection, clean out your machine every couple of nights.
- Don't get hooked on sugar and caffiene to keep you awake unless you like the idea of developing diabetes earlier in life.
- Don't get cheap and try to fix your own mask. I once cut the small insert to be larger on an FP Acclaim mask to save a few dollars. Thought nothing of it. It took about 2 months to work out that's why I was getting blisters on my face that wouldn't go away. Embarassing and frustrating. Related: Vaseline on your face to prevent blisters caused by leak is a waste of time.
- The western medical profession is unfortunately rife with unscientific nonsense and conflict of interest. Take what science they have then take charge of your own sleep therapy. Do not expect your doctor to understand your case well, understand the difficulties you have with machine/mask, understand your desire to monitor, or understand fringe cases. Do your own research online, (I still have a sleep specialist that doesn't believe sleep apnea caused my wife to have a seizure - one of the most disruptive events to our lives especially since we have young children and it meant she couldn't drive for 6 months. Even after being presented with research papers found on Pubmed.Her neurologist, though much more open minded, had no experience with sleep apnea - but at least she took more than a brief glance at the medical papers and did not try to put her on anti-epileptic drugs without giving the sleep therapy a chance )