Hey all,

I've been diagnosed with sleep apnea recently and am waiting to be fitted with a CPAP machine. Why am I waiting? Because the Doctor/clinic are an organizational disaster, but that's another story for another post.

I've been scanning through the equipment threads, but I can't find a definitive answer as to which machine is considered the best. I'm interested in the auto level features and the bi-level function for exhaling. I'm also concerned about noise level for the sake of my poor wife who has listened to my snoring long enough.

From what I've seen, it looks like the Resmed S8 Elite is the machine of choice but what others should I be considering?

I am waiting on approval for my first CPAP. I asked my sleep doc to write a prescription for the Resmed S8 Autoset II. Everything I read indicates that you should make sure your CPAP is fully data capable AND you can are given access to the nightly AHI info.

Some machines require certain medical conditions to warrant having it.  The BiLevels are not provided in the beginning unless a patient has COPD or other lung conditions, Central/mixed Apnea, a very high pressure needed, and a host of other things.

As for the noise level...some can be annoying however it is beter than sleeping with a snorer...plus there are ear plugs if the bed mate needs.  This is seldom an issue though.


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BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

It appears what you are looking for is some form of expiration pressure relief, rather than a bi-level. As Mrs Rip has stated bi-levels are only scripted under certain circumstances.

An autoPAP is a nice device and can help immensely in finding a better pressure setting if they weren't able to quite pinpoint that "sweet spot" of pressure setting during your in-lab titration study or for determining your pressure need over a period of time as at in-home titration study. They can be used in either straight CPAP mode or in auto mode. BUT they are NOT essental to good therapy by ANY means.

That being said, you've made an excellent choice. The Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR is an EXCELLENT CPAP. I was started out on an Elite and loved it. Good therapy plus easy access to my nightly data via the LCD screen as long as I checked before noon. (These CPAPs run on an internal, 24 hour, noon to noon clock. At noon the previous night's data rolls over into the total averages).

The Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR provides 1 to 3 cms of pressure relief upon exhalation and also has the Ramp feature which allows you to start out at a lower pressure and then gradually build up to your set pressure over a specified period of time selected according to the length of time it usually takes you to fall asleep.

The S8 Elite's Humidaire 3i integrated heated humidifier is easy to use, easy to fill and easy to set up and detach. My S8 Elite was always a very quiet running device.

When you tell your doctor you would like the Resmed S8 II Elite w/EPR be sure to ask that he order access to the advanced patient menu on the script so that you can check your nightly data each morning. It really does give us something to look forward to each morning to be able to check our data and see for ourselves how we are doing!

I liked my S8 Elite so well that when I was brought back in for bi-level titration due to my having COPD I insisted that I be provided w/the Resmed VPAP Auto bi-level and I love it every bit as much as I did my S8 Elite!!! You will be very happy w/the Elite! (But ask for the newer Resmed S8 II Elite w/EPR - that new EasyBreathe technology is GREAT!).

As an aside: I, too, got "auto fever" reading these forums and when the opportunity arose to buy a lightly used Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage (505 actual hours on it) complete I grabbed it. I really liked the Vantage - BUT - after just one week of using it in auto mode to check it out and make sure all was in working order I switched to CPAP mode and never had the occasion to use it in auto mode after that. In my personal opinion a fully data capable CPAP is much more important than an auto PAP.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Now that I've visited the local equipment supplier, they have recommended using the Resmed S8 Compact. Reason: They have never had a single patient complaint or return, while they have seen a number of returns of the Elite due to problems.

My setting is only 5, which they tell me is quite low. I like the fact that the Resmed machines are quite small and are very quiet.


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In the face!