Replace Machine Time

[OldLincoln]

My how time flies, it's 5 years and 80K+ hours coming up on my AutoM machine in May. It still seems to work okay but I'm concerned it may wear out and cause problems before too long. Is the "PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP Machine with A-Flex" the machine to buy? I want to stick with Respironics/Phillips as the brains works well for me. How are they holding up for folks? The integral humidifier working okay? Any other issues or praises?

As for my apnea, for the first few years it held absolutely steady at 3.1 then the card reader crapped out but it still feels like 3.1. I'll find out when I take my card in when I see the doc to get the script for a new one. Is the sleep reader product working out well?

Look forward to hearing from you all.

[khauser]

I had a PR System One APAP that unfortunately failed. Apparently there is a known fault with the older PRS1 systems and humidifiers. The result is that if I try to use the humidifier it beeps and fails. It works without the humidifier, though. Nonetheless, I bought another Respironics, this time the newer model, and I'm hopeful they learned from that mistake.

So far, so good. So far is about 2 months, though.

Really, whether you go Respironics or ResMed, you're not going to lose. There is a warranty, also...

-Kevin

[Pugsy]

I started my therapy in 2009 with the M series APAP and then bought the PR S1 APAP a couple of years later due to the lure of the additional data.
You will like the PR System One Auto CPAP...there are 2 models...the 550 and the newest 560. The 560 has the heated hose option which is kind of nice but as you know...not a deal breaker.
Data is on a little SD card so super easy. Also the machine even stores some data on the machine so you don't lose everything if you forget and leave the SD card in the computer. Any SD card will work..no more of that name brand special stuff needed.
If your computer has a SD card slot you don't need anything. If it doesn't any generic reader/adapter will work. They are cheap.

Software is easy to obtain and use. New data categories on the PR S1.
SleepyHead and EncoreBasic will work fine.
Don't buy EncoreViewer...it doesn't show wave form and it costs $100. We can get you the other software for no cost.

The newer machines are a little more quiet though I never thought my M series was very loud.
I don't think they changed the algorithm much if any.

[archangle]

My how time flies, it's 5 years and 80K+ hours coming up on my AutoM machine in May. It still seems to work okay but I'm concerned it may wear out and cause problems before too long. Is the "PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP Machine with A-Flex" the machine to buy? I want to stick with Respironics/Phillips as the brains works well for me. How are they holding up for folks? The integral humidifier working okay? Any other issues or praises?

As for my apnea, for the first few years it held absolutely steady at 3.1 then the card reader crapped out but it still feels like 3.1. I'll find out when I take my card in when I see the doc to get the script for a new one. Is the sleep reader product working out well?

Look forward to hearing from you all.

Yes, the model you mention is a fine machine. The ResMed S9 AutoSet (Not Escape Auto) is just as good. These are the only two Auto machines I'd consider. They're roughly a tossup as to which one is better or more reliable. Either model has their own bad points, but no showstoppers that make one better than the other.

[OldLincoln]

Thanks for the timely and excellent feedback. I have until May so will check back before my appointment. I have a deal with my doc and he will write the specific machine and components including model numbers to keep the DME squared away, although I believe that wouldn't be an issue with my current DME.

[purple]

I was told, and maybe someone else can confirm this. that as of now, as my insurance is Medicare, that if I ask for a new machine on a five year age. Then the DME is required to ask, is my machine working now, if the answer is yes, then no machine for me.

They can also require that I bring my machine in, and if they do not see a failure, they are not going to replace it. A broken humidifier is not a failure of the blower. So the humidifier should be replaced, i guess at my cost.

Likewise, when I now call the DME and say that I want a new mask, as the three months is up on the mask. I have to say the exact reason why the current mask is no longer usable. (PS, Yellow is a reason. I usually say that the mask is eating on my face)

Then again, I will not have to pay for a new humidifier, and thirteen months of co pay.

[LSAT]

My DME has never asked that question...I call in and tell them what I want and they have it ready for pick up the next day. I pay my co pay and I'm on my way.

[Greg6657]

I was told, and maybe someone else can confirm this. that as of now, as my insurance is Medicare, that if I ask for a new machine on a five year age. Then the DME is required to ask, is my machine working now, if the answer is yes, then no machine for me.

They can also require that I bring my machine in, and if they do not see a failure, they are not going to replace it. A broken humidifier is not a failure of the blower. So the humidifier should be replaced, i guess at my cost.

Likewise, when I now call the DME and say that I want a new mask, as the three months is up on the mask. I have to say the exact reason why the current mask is no longer usable. (PS, Yellow is a reason. I usually say that the mask is eating on my face)

Then again, I will not have to pay for a new humidifier, and thirteen months of co pay.

I know what your saying, I went to my doctor for being tired more and more, he did the standard battery of test and even another sleep study that came back everything was set right. Anyway I bought a CMS50 pulseox. I started keeping a reading over several weeks. I finally took my results back to my doc and showed him. Long story short I need a new machine. We talked about what I wanted and he agreed. He wrote the script and when I contacted my DME they told me "I had to write a statement why I needed a new machine, the script, a download of my current machine," With this one I just laughed and said the only dump you'll get from this one is when I chuck it in the lake behind my house. (its a brick) and "my sleep "studies" OK I can understand why they would want a recent study but all 2 of them first one over 6 years ago. They said they will have to contact him (my Doc) and verify I use the machine. BCBS isnt making it very easy on either the patient or DME with these kinds of requirements. I'm still not sure that they arent going to want to check out the machine first. Like I and my doctor said if it was working all night and was working correctly my O2 stats wouldn't be dropping down to 71% at times every night.


Greg

[m1k2s3]

How ironic - I am in exactly the same position as Old Lincoln. Last year was year 5 for me and as my machine seemed to be working fine, I thought no need to replace it. Then this year, the night before I'm scheduled to leave for a vacation in Punta Cana, my machine died. The tech has determined it's shoring out so because it's an old machine, likely it can't be repaired so I need to replace it. In Ontario, you can get your machine replaced every 5 years provided that -you go through the entire process again to get a new prescription for a machine. Ministry funds 75% ( up to a maximum of $780)

So I've been looking and I've narrowed down the search to three: S9 Elite, S9 Escape or the PR System One, Unfortunately because of the cost ( my CPAP provider has the S9 Elite at a whopping $1800 - yes machines are very expensive here), I'm leaning towards the PR System One.

[Catalytic]

So I've been looking and I've narrowed down the search to three: S9 Elite, S9 Escape or the PR System One, Unfortunately because of the cost ( my CPAP provider has the S9 Elite at a whopping $1800 - yes machines are very expensive here), I'm leaning towards the PR System One.

The S9 Escape doesn't provide much data. Pugsy will be along soon with a link to recommended machines.

[Pugsy]

I'm leaning towards the PR System One.

Which PR System One? Does having data available an important consideration for you?
If so...become familiar with the machines that offer full efficacy data and those that don't.
In the ResMed line...avoid anything with Escape in the model name.
In the PR System One line...anything with "Plus" in front of the term CPAP in the model name or any model number below 450.

Are you going to try to utilize your Provincial benefits to get a new machine or just buy one outright?
If you are just going to buy outright you might take a look at secondwindcpap.com. They have some gently used and/or new open box specials that have some real attractive prices. They will ship to Canada.

[Doodeedoo]

If you have used your machine 80K+ hours in 5 years you must live in another dimension or have several people using the machine at the same time. 80K hours in 5 years means using it almost 44 hours per day. You probably meant 8K+ hours which is more likely.
If the machine works OK and serves its purpose, stay with it.

[DannyP]

My Five years was up this past october and my machine was functioning to some extent I guess. The past few months I was beginning to feel more tired and sleepy even after ten Hrs of sleep a night so i came to ther conclusion That My Orginal machine wasn't giving me the needed therapy that I needed in the Beginning Five plus years ago so I started the progress of trying to get a new Machine. My Orginal machine was the Respironics M series data capable set at Pressure of 13. I convinced my PCP to write the script for the S 9 auto machine with pressure set 13 to 15 cm. I figured why pay for another costly sleep study when possibly the s 9 auto would take care of any needed pressure increase. And Yes My DME asked if my current machine was still working and I Fibbed a little and said No. I have Medicare and BC/BS and New Medicare requirement are that if machine is still working or repairable then No New Machine My New s 9 auto is due to be delivered one day this week and I will clean up the old machine and use it as a back up Machine.

[lewsterr]

I purchased the PR System One Auto CPAP Machine with A-Flex back in October 2011, and have not had a bit of trouble. It replaced an old Fisher-Paykel brick that I had for about 10 years. I have the Model 50 (without the heated hose). As they say...you never miss anything you never had. I remove the SD card every week or two to check the data and, if I forget to insert it back into the machine, it will store the data and write it to the card when I remember to do so. The machine, so far, has been a solid performer.

[OldLincoln]

If you have used your machine 80K+ hours in 5 years you must live in another dimension or have several people using the machine at the same time. 80K hours in 5 years means using it almost 44 hours per day. You probably meant 8K+ hours which is more likely.
If the machine works OK and serves its purpose, stay with it.

Good catch!! I guess my brain didn't regenerate over these years and when I wrote the post that's what popped up in my head. I'd checked it not too long ago but like most things it got confused. I just checked it now and the therapy hours are 15885 while the blower hours about 10 more. Also I don't think it's really working right. As a pretty firm rule I don't lay down without it, even for a rest as I generally snooze. Also, when I wake up with non-stop yawning, I'll strap it on an lay there for a short while.