problems with hdm z1

[robo2084]

I took the plunge and bought and HDM Z1 with auto pap. Unfortunately my first night with it was a disaster compared to the resmed airsense 10 I normally use. A couple of things struck me:

1) the apap seems horrendous. the machine just seems to arbitrarily increase pressure to very high levels. my resmed rarely goes above 9; the z1 seems to go as high as i let the maximum go. (also the qualitative feel of the pressure is higher; when my resmed is on 6 it is mucch more comfortable than the z1 on 6)

2) the epap is much less comfortable; the resmed gives me space for a full exhale whereas the z1 seems to keep much more pressure

I was somewhat more annoyed by 1 than 2.

I'm assuming there's no solution to any of this?

I know people complain about the noise of this unit too- i was able to adapt to that part.

[Julie]

Did you buy privately or through a DME with a prescripton?

[Cardsfan]

I believe the Z1 has a trial period so you can try it and return it.

[robo2084]

Sadly, I was dumb and bought through secondwindcpap.

Lesson learned! Hoping for better from the resmed mini.

[Julie]

They are a terrific place to deal with! Talk to them and see what they say.

[Goofproof]

Lesson learned! Hoping for better from the resmed mini.

If you are still under the impression a small cpap, is as good as a large one, lesson NOT learned. Jim

[Chevie]

Sadly, I was dumb and bought through secondwindcpap.

Buying from secondwind was not dumb. They will take it back. Send them the link to this thread.

The dumb part was buying that little machine. Anything that says "As seen on TV!" is questionable.

[robo2084]

well, I figured a medical device, being FDA approved, has to go through some level of testing. I was assuming that the therapeutic value of the device would be as good as the larger ones, at the expense of some convenience (humidity, noise).

Really, though, I do suspect that the problem with the Z1 is as much software as hardware. That is, if one could put the Resmed algorithms into the Z1 it would be a much better device. This is why I still have some hope for the Resmed Mini. I'm certainly not willing to write the mini off before it even hits the market...

[chunkyfrog]

The FDA is not immune to corruption.
They have passed all kinds of snake oil--apparently the price was met.

[robo2084]

I am willing to suffer a BIT for something I can travel with. I am tempted to try it on CPAP mode at a lower fixed pressure....

[Noel-sacre]

The one I have wont start on the battery sometimes, even when the battery is fully charged, it has done it once on the 240v supply.

[Goofproof]

The FDA is not immune to corruption.
They have passed all kinds of snake oil--apparently the price was met.

So has the WHO, it seems no one is immune to corruption. Lies are for sale from all. Jim

[realshelby]

I took the plunge and bought and HDM Z1 with auto pap. Unfortunately my first night with it was a disaster compared to the resmed airsense 10 I normally use. A couple of things struck me:

1) the apap seems horrendous. the machine just seems to arbitrarily increase pressure to very high levels. my resmed rarely goes above 9; the z1 seems to go as high as i let the maximum go. (also the qualitative feel of the pressure is higher; when my resmed is on 6 it is mucch more comfortable than the z1 on 6)

2) the epap is much less comfortable; the resmed gives me space for a full exhale whereas the z1 seems to keep much more pressure

I was somewhat more annoyed by 1 than 2.

I'm assuming there's no solution to any of this?

I know people complain about the noise of this unit too- i was able to adapt to that part.

I have a Z1 also. Yes, the "pressure" feels a bit different. Yet I have not found mine to seem to increase pressure to a level that seems much higher than my 10 Autoset. The algorithms are certainly not the same as the larger machines. I would say the Z1 doesn't react nearly as fast as my home unit. It takes some getting used to.

I turned my epap down to 1. Couldn't stand the noise the higher levels made. So it is harder to exhale with, but that too just takes some time to get used to. One thing I can tell you is that the Z1 does seem to learn your breathing and will adapt to breathing cycles. But certainly not on the first night. Takes a few days for it to learn you, and you to learn it.

Mine serves well enough. I will be taking it with me for 7 days next week. Exactly what it is for. But for a home unit, it is NOT nearly as comfortable!

[ChicagoGranny]

the Z1 does seem to learn your breathing

There is no learning capability built into the Z1.

[realshelby]

the Z1 does seem to learn your breathing

There is no learning capability built into the Z1.

Like I said in my post, you have to learn it and it does learn you. While it may be more "you" than it learning, there is a difference.

Z-Breathe® Comfort Feature

One of the greatest issues CPAP users complain about is the difficulty in exhaling against the pressure exerted by the CPAP machine. Z-Breathe is a proprietary comfort feature designed to minimize the typical pressure swings due to the spikes in pressure during exhalation and drops in pressure during inhalation to deliver a more comfortable therapy. Z-Breathe has 3 settings so you can set it to suit your own personal needs.

Of course the different settings make a difference, but the algorithms seem to adjust to the user as well.