Kim Angevine

Female

San Pedro, CA

United States

Profile Information:

My Interest in Sleep Apnea
I have Sleep Apnea
Treatment Being Used, if any
Auto-Adjusting CPAP
If Machine Being Used, What Type? (e.g., Respironics M Series with A-Flex Auto-Adjusting CPAP)
I'm in the process of buying one. I'm an American, living in Taiwan. CPAP machines are double the price here. I’ve tried two brands. The first one was an Apex (Taiwan made) with a Respironics mask. I hated the mask design and the Apex wasn’t an auto start machine so I'd wake up feeling like I was suffocating. I then tried the ResMed S8 elite with their soft gel mask. Much, much better. Now I have to return the S8 to ResMed because the free trial is over. I’ve been checking different sites to order from. Do you think I’d be taking a chance getting ResMed’s new S9 elite because it’s a brand new machine? By the way, I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
If Mask Being Used, What Type? (e.g., ResMed Activa Nasal Mask)
The ResMed Mirage™ SoftGel Nasal Mask

Comment Wall:

  • Judy

    Welcome to the forum, Kim. Are you paying out of pocket for your CPAP? I'd suggest that you give some consideration to getting an APAP if you can afford it. The Resmed S8 AutoSet II would be an excellent choice. It has EPR (expiration pressure relief) in both straight CPAP and in APAP mode. And the S8s and S8 IIs are real honeys to assemble and disassemble when traveling. I have no experience w/the S9s at all and probably won't have since they aren't offering a bi-level (VPAP) in the S9 series and I'm on a Resmed VPAP Auto. The two S9s are intriguing devices tho. Would it save you any money if you bought online, had the device shipped to someone in the USA and then have them ship it to you? Keep Customs in mind and any Customs as well as shipping charges.

    Mar 13, 2010

  • Judy

    Ooopsie, though. What about any differences in electrical current between the USA and Taiwan?

    Mar 13, 2010

  • Judy

    I didn't know cpap.com would ship out of the USA. They are an excellent company to do business with. And I've had folks in the UK tell me that Resmed has been very responsive and provided help whenever asked. Our US FDA ties Resmeds hands and we can NOT get that kind of service from them in the USA. So there won't be a problem w/different electrical current provision between USA and Taiwan?

    Mar 14, 2010

  • Judy

    First - the S8 Elite is NOT an APAP. It is a straight CPAP w/expiration pressure relief. If you want an APAP (auto titration PAP that can also run in straight CPAP mode) you would want the S8 AutoSet II or the S9 AutoSet. Yes, feel free to increase the humidity as needed. If you run into "rain out" (condensation in hose or mask) you can hang the hose above your head, place the CPAP/APAP below the level of your mattress, buy or make a hose cover, buy an Aussie heated hose for the S8 II or it should NOT be a problem at all w/the S9. Ayr Saline Nasal Gel can heal/soothe those nasal passages in 2-3 days maximum. Just make sure what you use is a nasal saline gel and NOT a petroleump-based product. Being a mouth breather you may need to use a chin strap or a full face mask.

    Mar 15, 2010

  • Judy

    Do you know how to access your data via the LCD screen? That would give you Pressure, Leak, AHI and AI. If your Leak is too high the rest of your data isn't necessarily reliable. Also do you know how to properly set the Mask Selection feature? That needs to be properly set for the data to be reliable as well. Now that we are friends we can correspond via Private Messaging where we can be comfortable sharing e-mail addresses and information more easily.

    Mar 15, 2010