Resmed CPAP Vs Auto set CPAP?

I have been on cpap just over a year. While there is no more complaining from the wife of snoring or stop breathing/gasping for air throughout the night, I have not noticed a boost of energy as some people have described from getting a full nights rest. I have been told that some people have switched from a regular cpap machine to an auto set cpap which alters the pressure as needed has made a huge difference in a greet night sleep and noticed this miracle boost of energy. Before I spend another $800.00 on a Resmed Auto Set CPAP has anyone else notice a huge difference to warrant spending the extra money? I currently am using a resmed escape s-9 which I have been told is a basic model.

If you are going to buy another machine, in general, an auto will give you more options and more data than a cpap. However, it is hard to predict if the auto's method of delivery will help you or not. Delivery method may not be your problem. I would be more concerned with having a machine that reports treatment data. I'm making this suggestion without knowing your circumstances, so take it if you can use it, but if you could get your doctor to order a trial period on an auto (mine was 2-3 weeks), you could use that detailed data to make a more informed decision. A data capable cpap would be cheaper, just depends on your preference. Maybe it's as simple as increasing your pressure a bit to optimize your treatment. What pressure are you using now? You don't mention a problem handling the pressure or having any particular complaints about the treatment or the equipment. Seems from what I've read on here those who really need an apap have some problems they are trying to remedy. What mask are you using? If it is not a full face mask, I'd want to be sure mouth breathing and losing treatment air out the mouth isn't an issue. Good luck sorting through things and working toward feeling better.

Hi dirtydog -- Your S9 Escape is what we not-so-affectionately call a "brick," a machine that records absolutely no information beyond how many hours you use it. So there's no data available that could tell us why you might not be feeling improvement. It could be that your set pressure isn't adequately treating your apnea, but without the data to look at your AHI, leaks, etc., there's just no way to know. So it might be the case that an auto-adjusting machine (S9 Autoset) would be better for you, or it might just be the case that you need straight CPAP but at a higher pressure. Unfortunately there's currently no way to tell.

The S9 Elite (a straight cpap machine) or the S9 Autoset both record information that allows you to monitor your therapy and there's free software available to monitor with. Though more expensive than the Elite, the Autoset has the option to run in auto mode or straight cpap mode, whichever ends up working best for you.

So your biggest problem right now isn't necessarily that you don't have an auto-adjusting machine, it's that you don't have any way to know if your apnea is being effectively treated by your current machine at its current set pressure.

I hope this helps a little.

I use an auto machine because my pressure needs are higher when I sleep on my back. This allows me to sleep most of the night with a pressure of 11-13 and only have it go up in the 15-17 range for very short times when I need it.

This works well for me. For some people, the changes in pressure disturb the sleep, which defeats the purpose.

That said, I will tell you about my mom. She was diagnosed about 20 years ago, back when non-data, straight cpap machines were all there was. She was using her machine but never felt any real improvement. Then, last year, I started apap, and I had noticeable improvement. Once I got past my 6 week followup with the doctor, I let me mom use my machine for 2 partial nights. I am a severe night owl, so I was able to do to this without losing any sleep. The first night, I set my machine to straight 10, like her machine. After 4 hours, I checked the on-screen ahi. Only 3.4. Not bad. Then I checked the data. OMG. She had a cluster of events over 30 seconds each, and one of them was 62 seconds long. Even at her prescribed pressure, she had stopped breathing for over a minute. She called my doctor the next day and scheduled an appointment. The next night, we set the machine for 10-13 to see what the machine wanted to do, but not let it get too high. I printed both reports and took them with us to the appointment. The doctor looked at the reports and her old sleep study. He prescribed a new auto machine with data (like mine) and a setting of 10-15. She feels much better now, and she doesn't have long events or clusters like she used to.

I would highly recommend an auto machine with data. The data is most important, as it can tell you more about the events you are having. It isn't just the number of them, but if hey are clustered, long, and disturbing you.

If you can convince your doctor that you need an auto machine or a machine with data, you might be able to get insurance to pay for the new machine, and then you can keep the escape as a backup. Since you already use a Resmed machine, I would recommend you go for the Resmed S9 autoset. The algorithm is the same. Some people have trouble adjusting when they switch brands and the machines work a little differently. And your humidifier would be compatible, so you won't have to get a new unit.

Cpap.com has a sale on ResMed machines right now.
The S9 Elite is 649.00 and has a fixed cpap mode pressure like your current Escape.
The S9 AutoSet is 724.00 it has a fixed cpap mode plus apap (auto adjusting pressure) mode...so 2 machines in one.
You already have a humidifier that would work with either machine.

Both the Elite and the AutoSet are full efficacy data machines and software is readily available and easy to use so you can see for sure what is going on with your therapy.

There can be any number of reasons why we don't wake up with the ball of fire energy that we read about some people having.
Some of it could be related to things that the cpap therapy machine can't fix but some of it could be related to things that the cpap therapy can fix...like sub optimal therapy for any number of reasons.
Since we need optimal therapy to have the best chance of ever attaining that ball of fire energy level, that's why we like to be able to evaluate our therapy to see if it is optimal or not and work from there.
So the first thing we do is use the software to evaluate therapy...leaks...events.
Then if that is optimal we start looking at other possible factors.

Without the data that the software provides we have to go by how we feel and that makes the job a lot more difficult.
It might be that your therapy pressure is sub optimal...it might be that leaks are an issue and you don't know it. If leaks are an issue changing the pressure isn't going to likely be able to provide the results we want.

So it isn't so much that the Autoset is better because it offers auto adjusting pressures but instead the Autoset offers the data to be able to determine if any changes need to be made to anything.
Now there are some people who find that there pressure needs vary during the night. It's common to perhaps need a little more pressure in REM stage sleep or supine sleeping. This is where the Autoset comes in handy in apap mode. It let's a person use a lower pressure for the bulk of the night and then it auto adjusts during periods where higher pressure is needed.

Auto adjusting pressures don't work for everyone but it's nice to have it available just in case it is needed.
The Autoset can be used in cpap mode as well as apap mode.
The Elite only offers cpap mode.

If a person can afford to get the S9 Autoset...I suggest that they go for it but if the added dollars over the Elite takes food off the table then get the Elite. Main thing is to get access to the data so the therapy can be evaluated and adjustments made (if needed) to have the best chance of feeling better.
If the data already points to optimal therapy on paper then we start looking at other possible causes for not feeling as good as we like and there is a long list of reasons why we maybe don't feel as good as the reports say we should.

If new machine prices are a real hardship...there are ways to get slightly used or even new open box machines.
Secondwindcpap.com is a source for gently used low hour machines as well as new open box machines.
Craigslist is an option but gets more iffy unless you find one local to where you live so you can check it out first hand. Often those sellers don't have a clue what they have and want full DME retail prices.
I saw a low hours used PR S1 460 machine local to me...full data and all the goodies and 2 masks included for $250. If anyone wants it...send me a PM and we can work out something.
So deals are out there but hit or miss and seems like never when we really are wanting one.