I have an appt next week to get my CPAP machine and mask and they said the only machine they have is the Respironics M series.  It has the heated humidifier.  

Is this a good CPAP machine?  

Thanks...  :)

1sleepygal wrote:

I have an appt next week to get my CPAP machine and mask and they said the only machine they have is the Respironics M series.  It has the heated humidifier.  

Is this a good CPAP machine?  

Thanks...  :)

Respironics (now Phillips) make good machines OK.

On the other hand..........as a consumer and patient (AKA a paying customer) you are entitled to a better service than 'Respironics, take it or leave it' attitude. Your DME supplier should be able to provide you with a selection of brands and models within each brand.

Most important piece of equipment (IMHO) is the mask..............and YOU must insist on a full selection from which to choose.

IMHO, this is not a particularly good way to start, what in effect, is a long term relationship with your DME.

I think it might be a good idea to shop around for another DME............check with your insurers.

Best of luck.

Daniel.


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The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

As usual, Daniel has given EXCELLENT advice.

Call your insurance and ask them what local DME CPAP providers they are contracted with. Hopefully you will have the option of more than just this one as that gives you more bargaining/negotiating room to get the equipment you want (w/in reason, of course).

Yes, any of the Respironics M Series devices provide good therapy. IF you are satisfied w/JUST good therapy. However, Respironics has recently been purchased by Phillipps and they have just released an new series of xPAPs, the PR SystemOne, making the M Series outdated. AND you do NOT want ANY Respironics/PR device that has PLUS in the name. The Plus provides good therapy, but no data except Compliance data and compliance data is absolutelyl of NO VALUE to you or anyone but the DME provider to get paid by your insurance company.

And Daniel is oh so right about the mask being THE most important piece of your equipment!!! Once you pressure need has been established a comfortable, relatively leak free mask is THE KEY to CPAP therapy success. Ideally your equipment order would say something similiar to "nasal mask, full face mask, or nasal pillows mask of patient's choice".

Always keep in mind that this is YOUR health, YOUR sleep, YOUR therapy, YOU are the one to endure the benefits - or consequences - of CPAP therapy, YOU are the one PAYING for these sleep professionals' (including the doctor) expertise and advice; whether YOU are PAYING out of pocket or thru insurance is of NO CONSEQUENCE, YOU are still the one who is paying. NEVER FORGET THIS!

Good luck. May you take to CPAP like a duck to water!!!


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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 mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Thanks for the replies.  I didn't know which DME to choose so I just picked one.  I don't know which one my insurance covers.  I thought they would cover them all (?).  Maybe I should make a few calls.  Maybe I will go with another DME if I have a choice of machines.

What are some good CPAP machines?  

Thank so much for your help!  :)

you should definitely call your insurance to make sure they don't contract with some particular DME. But I believe that usually the DME will not deal with you unless your insurance works with them. It probably depends if you have an HMO or some other kind of plan. My insurance (HMO) gave me a choice of a number of DME's. I called the DME and they required a copy of the prescription and my insurance info to confirm coverage before going any further. In my case I split the costs 50-50 with the insurance.

I have one of the Respironics M-series machines. It seems to be doing the job for me. I don't have anything else to compare it to. I am also not obsessed with the data the machine may or may not produce. But I do admit that I check the machine in set up mode every few days to check the leak rate and see what it thinks my AHI is (0.6 at this point). I generally feel a good bit better already after a few weeks.

I prefer the Resmed xPAPs after having used both a Resmed and a Respironics pre-M Series. Both brands provide excellent therapy in all their models. However, I prefer the ease of access to and amount of data available via the fully data capable Resmeds over the somewhat fussy access and limited data available via the LCD screen w/the fully data capable Respironics.

You do NOT want a Resmed S8 Compact, S8 Escape, or Escape II. You do NOT want ANY Respironics w/Plus in the model name. All of these are capable of ONLY compliance data. Compiance data is of absolutely no value to you are your doctor. Its ONLY value is to provide proof to your insurance than you ARE using your CPAP so that the local DME provider gets their reimbursement.

The Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR, S8 Elite II w/EPR and Respironics M Series Pro w/C-Flex fully data capable CPAPs and you should be happy w/either of these models.

DeVilbiss, Covidien (Puritan Bennett) and Fisher & Paykel also produce excellent CPAPs that provide excellent therapy. However, I am not familiar w/which of their models provide full data capability. You would have to explore those models yourself to determine their capabilities beyond providing excellent therapy. Personally, I will NOT accept an xPAP that does NOT allow ME easy access to my data.


_________________
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 mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Thanks so much for the information!  Now I feel a little better prepared.  :)

You're welcome. If and/or when you see your doctor BEFORE your equipment order is written, ask that he include "efficacy and usuage data access turned ON; full face, nasal cushion or nasal pillows mask of patient' choice".

OR - request that you be given a copy of your equipment order (script) and ask your family doctor to re-write your script w/those two items included.

In fact, it wouldn't be a bad idea at all for you to call your insurance company and ask them what local DME CPAP providers they are contracted with. Hopefully you will have the option of more than just one as that gives you more bargaining/negotiating room to get the equipment you want (w/in reason, of course). It doesn' hurt to "shop" your local DME provider options to see which has the most lenient mask exchange policy and whose staff you are comfortable with.

Whilst talking w/your insurance company it would not be a bad idea at all to ask about your DME (durable medical equipment) benefits. Do you have an annual deductable? What is the fiscal year for your annual deductable? This close to the end of the year, if your annual deductable begins again in January you may find yourself w/a hefty bill w/the local DME and that it will be cheaper for you to buy your CPAP online out of pocket than to pay your deductable and copay.

It is always a good idea to request a copy 1] of the doctor's dictated results from your in-lab PSGs (sleep evaluation, CPAP titration or split-night) which are usually 1-2 pages each, 2] of the full scored data summary report w/condensed graphs (also sometimes called the full disclosure report) which are usually 5+ pages each AND 3] your equipment order (script). You should always carry your script w/you when you travel in case your CPAP is stolen, broken or lost. Assuming you are in the USA you have a LEGAL RIGHT to these copies under HIPAA.


_________________
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 mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Thanks for the extra information.  I really appreciate it.  I think I will take the time to do the things you have suggested.  Being so new at all this, I probably would have just taken the first machine they gave me.

Thanks for helping me be better prepared.  I am so grateful that I found my way here!  

You're more than welcome. I wish this type of info had been available to me BEFORE I even had my first in-lab PSG.


_________________
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 mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

I assumed you are not a truck driver....

If you are then there is some more information to consider about which CPAP.... (need.. MUST HAVE compliance data capabilities.. wireless data transfer real nice).

Power supply - 12-V for the both the CPAP and humidifier is nice... need to know pure versus modified sine wave power if runing it off an  invertor in the truck.

Cleanable versus replaced air intake filters..

Humidification chamber design to prevent "sloshing" if a team driver...

FYI - in case some one else is looking at the thread.....


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Just a truck driver with sleep apnea

Thanks, TruckerDad! I've cut and pasted to a list I've started of things it would be great if newbies knew BEFORE they have their first sleep study!!!


_________________
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 mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

TruckerDad, no I am not a truck driver.  Thanks for the info, just in case I was.

1sleepygal wrote:

I have an appt next week to get my CPAP machine and mask and they said the only machine they have is the Respironics M series.  It has the heated humidifier.  

Is this a good CPAP machine?  

Thanks...  :)

I've used both and agree with other posters that Resmed is preferred.  For some reason I find their technology more comfortable for me, and I definitely prefer their data interface.   I think their humidification is better than Respironics (Phillips) albeit I think Fisher-Paykel's humidifiers are the best.  

I like to see specific data every day and Resmed is  very good with those data details.

So let us know what you end up with.  Good luck!

I called another DME provider and found one that carries the resmed S8 elite II but it doesn't have the "EPR".  She said since we are in a rural area it is hard to get good service for that feature, so they just put a card in the machine to get the data.  It gets data on the amount of compliance and the mask leakage rate.  What other data does the other machine get?  

Is this still a good machine without the EPR capability?  Thanks!  :)