Any suggestions?

[Davezzz]

Hello again... I'm hoping to get my referral to Resmed in Coleshill in the next few days and I'll be over there like a shot. I'm aware that there's a range of CPAP machines and masks etc available and I know very little about any of them. As I'm going to be paying for the equipment myself I really want to make the best choice. I think I need a humidifier too.

Has anybody had a ResMed machine recently who thinks it's particularly good or bad? Having looked on the web I like the look of the S8 Elite ll (sounds like a caravan?) any idea what these cost and do they tend to have them in stock? Also, there is an opportunity to hire the a for a month for about £80 with a humidifier... any thoughts on this? Personally I fancy buying one outright as I know it'll work...

http://www.resmed.com/en-uk/products...?menu=products

Anyway, any suggestions or advice would be gratefully received!
Thanks
Dave

[gvader]

Hi Dave,

I use the Resmed S8 Escape, does everything that it says on the tin and in the 6 weeks I've been using it I've yet to hear it. Physically it's exactly the same as the Elite, I think they just stick a different label on.

I use a full face mask as I've always been a mouth breather and haven't bothered with a humidifier, works for me.

I can't really comment on the cost of hiring/purchase as I'm lucky enough to get my kit supplied through the NHS from the Oxford sleep clinic. If the £80 is a "try before you buy" then I would try it first though, this will give you the opportunity to discover if you can adapt to CPAP and you can then look at other sources for equipment if you wish (such as http://www.eu-pap.co.uk/cpap-c-2.html).

Good luck.

Regards,

GV

[retsyo]

Hi Dave

Diagnosed in January of this year I have been using a Resmed S8 Autoset Spirit II with an H3i Humidifier and like it a lot. I also use Resmed Mirage Swift II nasal pillows with it. Like you I have to pay as I am temporarily in New Zealand.

The clinic told me it is the latest model - not sure of that as I am in NZ - but it is an all singing and dancing model. It allows me to see through the clinicians menu every morning just how I do each night. The results show the average leakage rate, pressure, AI and OIs per hour, per week, per month, per year.

I left the clinic back in January with an S6 fixed pressure machine set at 6 which I found difficult to cope with. Thankfully I received the S8 within a week and found I needed around 11. I can honestly say that I have got to the stage now when I actually wonder if it is on. It is very quiet and a great piece of tack.

Incidentally I found my leakage figures were high at around .40L/s per hour but this has now reduced to around .20L/s since I have started wearing a chin strap. Leakage was obviously from my mouth.

On the question of masks, I have tried 6 in the few weeks I have been using a machine so don't give up until you are happy with what fits you and is comfy. My clinic just keeps sending me news ones and I return them if I do not like them.

The nasal pillows suit me fine as they do not put any pressure on the bridge of my nose and are very comfy. They also allow me to wear my specs to read before I fall asleep.

Would love to know how much you have to pay for it in the UK - here in NZ where their dollar is particularly strong at the moment all CPAP products are very expensive plus there appears to be a hefty mark up on the RRP.

Good luck.

[Davezzz]

Hi Dave

Diagnosed in January of this year I have been using a Resmed S8 Autoset Spirit II with an H3i Humidifier and like it a lot. I also use Resmed Mirage Swift II nasal pillows with it. Like you I have to pay as I am temporarily in New Zealand.

The clinic told me it is the latest model - not sure of that as I am in NZ - but it is an all singing and dancing model. It allows me to see through the clinicians menu every morning just how I do each night. The results show the average leakage rate, pressure, AI and OIs per hour, per week, per month, per year.

I left the clinic back in January with an S6 fixed pressure machine set at 6 which I found difficult to cope with. Thankfully I received the S8 within a week and found I needed around 11. I can honestly say that I have got to the stage now when I actually wonder if it is on. It is very quiet and a great piece of tack.

Incidentally I found my leakage figures were high at around .40L/s per hour but this has now reduced to around .20L/s since I have started wearing a chin strap. Leakage was obviously from my mouth.

On the question of masks, I have tried 6 in the few weeks I have been using a machine so don't give up until you are happy with what fits you and is comfy. My clinic just keeps sending me news ones and I return them if I do not like them.

The nasal pillows suit me fine as they do not put any pressure on the bridge of my nose and are very comfy. They also allow me to wear my specs to read before I fall asleep.

Would love to know how much you have to pay for it in the UK - here in NZ where their dollar is particularly strong at the moment all CPAP products are very expensive plus there appears to be a hefty mark up on the RRP.

Good luck.

Thanks... I'm going to pay myself because I'll probably lose the will to live sitting on NHS waiting lists. I like the sound of being able to swap masks if they're not suitable... I thought once you bought them you were stuck with them? I'm not sure about the nasal ones as I always seem to have congestion in my nose and I think I'd be asking for trouble. I get the impression that the clinics charge what they like unfortunately... the prices are rarely advertised and I suppose they offer the 'take it or leave it approach' I'll let you know what they charge when I finally get the referral.
Thanks mate,
Dave

[Davezzz]

Hi Dave,

I use the Resmed S8 Escape, does everything that it says on the tin and in the 6 weeks I've been using it I've yet to hear it. Physically it's exactly the same as the Elite, I think they just stick a different label on.

I use a full face mask as I've always been a mouth breather and haven't bothered with a humidifier, works for me.

I can't really comment on the cost of hiring/purchase as I'm lucky enough to get my kit supplied through the NHS from the Oxford sleep clinic. If the £80 is a "try before you buy" then I would try it first though, this will give you the opportunity to discover if you can adapt to CPAP and you can then look at other sources for equipment if you wish (such as http://www.eu-pap.co.uk/cpap-c-2.html).

Good luck.

Regards,

GV

Thanks for the link... good to hear you're happy with the Resmed unit. Is the mask Resmed too? I'm definitely a mouth breather too, so I reckon I'll have a full face type also. I hope I don't need a humidifier, but only time will tell. Anyway, thanks for the reply... Dave A

[retsyo]

Hi Dave

I have not paid a cent yet towards the Resmed machine or masks. Yes the clinic have let me use 5 masks to try - 2 Fisher and Paykel and 3 Resmed. I have since bought a Respironics Comfort Curve from the States but still prefer my Resmed Mirage Swift nasal pillows. The Comfort Curve gave the best results from a leakage view but I cannot get the headgear to fit as comfortably. Probably too impatient.

For years I have suffered with nasal congestion, particularly at night whilst lying down and have had numerous ops on my nose to try to cure it. Have taken dozens of antihistamines etc. as it was thought to be an allergy. I can honestly say that since using the pillows my nasal airways are beautifully clear and I can breathe at last. If there is a problem I put a few drops of Olbas oil on a small piece of cotton wool and put that on top of the filter - a tip given to me by the sleep clinic.

Air blows directly into the nose with the pillows. Not sure if it is a mind thing but I did not find the nasal masks helped the congestion as well, I found they pressed on the sinus passages of my face.

Resmed appear to give a wonderful backup service so ask if you can try several masks before you commit yourself.

[SteveP]

Similar story here...

I have a very long history of nasal congestion, have been prescribed with many different anti-histamines, decongestants, etc.

I have used a nasal mask and a nasal pillow since the beginning (3 months ago) and have never had a problem with the interfaces. It seems that the pressured air is really keeping the upper airways opened, i.e. nose and sinuses. Even with a mild cold when I feel congested, I will start breathing fine as soon as I put on the mask.

SteveP

[gvader]

Hi Dave,

Yes, the current mask I have is ResMed Mirage Quattro.

I find it to be a better fit than the ResMed Ultra Mirage that I had before, the only bugbear about it is that it leaks like an old colander through the joint where the elbow pipe connects to the mask. I've managed to stop the leaks using a small rubber band around the elbow but the down side of this is that it doesn't swivel any more - rather no swivel than getting woken up 20 times a night with whistling noises and cold air blowing around.

I'm tempted to try the FlexFit 432 from Fisher & Paykel (http://www.eu-pap.co.uk/flexifit-ful...mask-o-11.html) but as this would mean forking out my own money (rest of my kit was supplied by the NHS) my Scottish upbringing is causing me to dither!

Regards,

GV

[Joe McManus]

LOL @ Scottish upbringing comment.

At least with that one you get all the sizes in one box so there's little chance it won't fit!

[Davezzz]

Similar story here...

I have a very long history of nasal congestion, have been prescribed with many different anti-histamines, decongestants, etc.

I have used a nasal mask and a nasal pillow since the beginning (3 months ago) and have never had a problem with the interfaces. It seems that the pressured air is really keeping the upper airways opened, i.e. nose and sinuses. Even with a mild cold when I feel congested, I will start breathing fine as soon as I put on the mask.

SteveP

This is almost amazing! I've always had nasal/sinus issues and a series of useless nasal sprays... With such all-round benefits of CPAP, why on earth would a ENT specialist recommend painful and invasive throat surgery with a crappy 66% success rate? Shocking really...

[Davezzz]

Hi Dave,

Yes, the current mask I have is ResMed Mirage Quattro... it is that it leaks like an old colander through the joint where the elbow pipe connects to the mask. I've managed to stop the leaks using a small rubber band around the elbow ..... my Scottish upbringing is causing me to dither!

Regards,

GV

Hello GV,
I know a chap who has the same prob with his mask on the elbow joint, he used some ptfe tape which plumbers use... not sure if it still swivels though?

My other half is Scottish, and me spending money on CPAP seems to be exempt from her 'frugal' spending attitude. A new car, well that's another story all together!?

[Davezzz]

Hi Dave
.....
Would love to know how much you have to pay for it in the UK - here in NZ where their dollar is particularly strong at the moment all CPAP products are very expensive plus there appears to be a hefty mark up on the RRP.

Good luck.

Well here goes: "The purchase price of the S8 AutoSet Spirit II is £478.00 or £455.00 if you join our free sleepVantage customer service scheme. However, if you decided to purchase the S8 following your rental trial then £25.00 of the £50.00 rental fee would be credited against the cost of the new machine."

ouch!

[Davezzz]

Dave
Dont go near the MIRAGE LIBERTY MASK its utter rubbish !!!!!!!!!!!!!
That only leaves you the MIRAGE QUATTRO full face mask and it will leak on the elbow joint,...

Cheers, what did you say about the humidifier? I forgot what you said... I blame the apnea!

[Andysee]

Hi Dave.

Sorry to chip in so late in the thread but I was diagnosed in January and decided to buy my own machine. I chose the Remed S8 as well. Very quiet and certainly seems to be working well judging how well I've responded.
Very good machine to view your results if you are into that which I am.
I have not heard anyone slagging the model yet.

Best regards
Andy

[Davezzz]

Hi Dave.

Sorry to chip in so late in the thread but I was diagnosed in January and decided to buy my own machine. I chose the Remed S8 as well. Very quiet and certainly seems to be working well judging how well I've responded.
Very good machine to view your results if you are into that which I am.
I have not heard anyone slagging the model yet.

Best regards
Andy

Hi Andy, I think the machine's excellent... really quiet. I got mine yesterday afternoon and had it on for the first time last night. Well it's 2.15 in the morning and I'm not in a deep sleep as you can see! Unfortunately I wake up unable to breathe against the pressure of the machine and the mask is doing my head in! When I last woke up it was on 13.4 and I had an itch on the top of my nose which I could not access without removing the mask?! How bloody annoying is that? Well I'm not giving up yet...
Glad you're pleased with yours, let's hope I get used to mine soon!
All the best,
Dave A