Exchanged my ResMed S8 Auto Vantage yesterday for a Respironics REMstar Auto with A-Flex.  I used the ResMed APAP for 6 days and got what I felt to be the worst sleep of my life.  I was afraid to sleep with the machine and just dreaded the thought of sleeping because I knew what an ordeal it was going to be.  I had to wait until I was beyond tired (usually between 4-7 am) to fall asleep.  The main problem was exhaling against the positive air pressure and it resulted in lousy and interrupted sleep.  My sinus condition doesn't help matters either; I'll be having a turbinoplasty later this month and hope to switch from a full face mask to a nasal mask.  I awoke many times wearing the ResMed short on breath and with my ticker in overdrive.  When I exchanged machines yesterday, I asked the supplier to download the data card.  While on the ResMed, my AHI was 9.6 (apnea index of 1.7 and hypopnea index of 7.9).  This is an improvement from my sleep study test last month where my AHI was 20.2, but it is unacceptably high for being on XPAP.

I used the Respironics last night for the first time and got great sleep.  The A-Flex feature is great.  It decreases the air pressure when you exhale and makes breathing a heck of a lot more comfortable.  I'll take the data card in for a download in a week or so just to make sure the machine's working as good as I think it is.

*** I talked to my doctor and supplier after learning about the A-Flex feature here on this site.  I am newly diagnosed and was really disappointed with the sleep I was getting (or not getting) with the ResMed.  Again, exhaling against the positive pressure was the main problem and I thought I would encounter that problem with any XPAP....until I found out about A-Flex..  It was really discouraging and disappointing after hearing from others how the machine would benefit me only to see the opposite happen.  I feel much better about getting some shuteye with my new machine.  THANKS to the folks on this board for providing a valuable resource.....information!!

Ray

GMCS2000 wrote:

Exchanged my ResMed S8 Auto Vantage yesterday for a Respironics REMstar Auto with A-Flex.  I used the ResMed APAP for 6 days and got what I felt to be the worst sleep of my life.  I was afraid to sleep with the machine and just dreaded the thought of sleeping because I knew what an ordeal it was going to be.  I had to wait until I was beyond tired (usually between 4-7 am) to fall asleep.  The main problem was exhaling against the positive air pressure and it resulted in lousy and interrupted sleep.  My sinus condition doesn't help matters either; I'll be having a turbinoplasty later this month and hope to switch from a full face mask to a nasal mask.  I awoke many times wearing the ResMed short on breath and with my ticker in overdrive.  When I exchanged machines yesterday, I asked the supplier to download the data card.  While on the ResMed, my AHI was 9.6 (apnea index of 1.7 and hypopnea index of 7.9).  This is an improvement from my sleep study test last month where my AHI was 20.2, but it is unacceptably high for being on XPAP.

I used the Respironics last night for the first time and got great sleep.  The A-Flex feature is great.  It decreases the air pressure when you exhale and makes breathing a heck of a lot more comfortable.  I'll take the data card in for a download in a week or so just to make sure the machine's working as good as I think it is.

*** I talked to my doctor and supplier after learning about the A-Flex feature here on this site.  I am newly diagnosed and was really disappointed with the sleep I was getting (or not getting) with the ResMed.  Again, exhaling against the positive pressure was the main problem and I thought I would encounter that problem with any XPAP....until I found out about A-Flex..  It was really discouraging and disappointing after hearing from others how the machine would benefit me only to see the opposite happen.  I feel much better about getting some shuteye with my new machine.  THANKS to the folks on this board for providing a valuable resource.....information!!

Ray

Curious...Were you not using the EPR feature of the S8?

BarryKaraoke wrote:

GMCS2000 wrote:

Exchanged my ResMed S8 Auto Vantage yesterday for a Respironics REMstar Auto with A-Flex.  I used the ResMed APAP for 6 days and got what I felt to be the worst sleep of my life.  I was afraid to sleep with the machine and just dreaded the thought of sleeping because I knew what an ordeal it was going to be.  I had to wait until I was beyond tired (usually between 4-7 am) to fall asleep.  The main problem was exhaling against the positive air pressure and it resulted in lousy and interrupted sleep.  My sinus condition doesn't help matters either; I'll be having a turbinoplasty later this month and hope to switch from a full face mask to a nasal mask.  I awoke many times wearing the ResMed short on breath and with my ticker in overdrive.  When I exchanged machines yesterday, I asked the supplier to download the data card.  While on the ResMed, my AHI was 9.6 (apnea index of 1.7 and hypopnea index of 7.9).  This is an improvement from my sleep study test last month where my AHI was 20.2, but it is unacceptably high for being on XPAP.

I used the Respironics last night for the first time and got great sleep.  The A-Flex feature is great.  It decreases the air pressure when you exhale and makes breathing a heck of a lot more comfortable.  I'll take the data card in for a download in a week or so just to make sure the machine's working as good as I think it is.

*** I talked to my doctor and supplier after learning about the A-Flex feature here on this site.  I am newly diagnosed and was really disappointed with the sleep I was getting (or not getting) with the ResMed.  Again, exhaling against the positive pressure was the main problem and I thought I would encounter that problem with any XPAP....until I found out about A-Flex..  It was really discouraging and disappointing after hearing from others how the machine would benefit me only to see the opposite happen.  I feel much better about getting some shuteye with my new machine.  THANKS to the folks on this board for providing a valuable resource.....information!!

Ray

Curious...Were you not using the EPR feature of the S8?

No EPR on the old S8 Vantage when used in auto mode.

violet wrote:

No EPR on the old S8 Vantage when used in auto mode.

Ah yes...gotcha.