Last summer, I decided it was time to pull the trigger on buying a new CPAP or Auto. I was originally issued a Respironics M-Series Pro by my DME, and its okay...but kind of noisy.
I had been talking for some time about getting a travel/backup machine.... There have been a number of times...where I'll wake up in the middle of some flight, and be in a panic wondering if I forgot some part to my CPAP, namely its power brick. Even after I purchased a second power brick for my travel bag.
Originally, I had looked at the Everest, with its special battery option....but then I had heard that Intellipap can auto switch from AC to DC if both inputs are connected. (someday I'll buy/build a battery backup system for it)
Anyways...I think I finally went and bought it because they were having Labor Day sales online....got it from
Supplier #1, since they already have my prescription on file. Plus while I was browsing, they gave me an additional discount code on it. Think it came out right around $500 for cpap, humidifier and memory card module w/Software.
But, then it became a question of when do I get around to setting it up and using it. Some how I kept finding excuses to put it off....I had thought I would make the switch after I went on my trip in October. But, due to delays...I got home really late that night and didn't feel like setting up the new machine, etc.
Then I discovered that even though the supplier had taken the time to go into the clinician menus, but had changed the pressure setting to 4-20....(factory default is 5-15). So, I requested the manual from here...and changed the settings.
The prescription on file is based on my December 2008 PSG. I had another PSG in 2010, but they just gave written instructions to DME to change the settings of my machine (no new prescription)...and the DME told me to make the changes myself. I fired my DME last year....over a different issue.
Finally, the day after my birthday (October 28)...did I finally start using my new IntelliPAP AutoAdjust with SmartFlex, etc. I opted to not use the Integrated Heated Humidifier, and stay with my current HC150 setup. The same way I used my old M-Series Pro, only attach the humidifier when I'm traveling.
Wow, this thing is quiet...and best of all, I can't hear it breathe....very annoying hearing something breathing next to you when you're trying to sleep....
The result...is this is my home machine now....and my old M-Series is my travel machine.
I did try the integrated humidifier a while back....because I was having trouble remember to turn on my HC150 before going to bed....but I soon switched back, because even on the lowest setting, I was having rainout issues with it.... Wonder if there's a way to make my Repti-Cord setup turn on automatically with the IntelliPAP....
Oh yeah...I'm not sure about filling the tank on this thing....find it really tricky to pour distilled water from the jug into it. While its been good to pour from jug into HC150 or the tank of the M-Series....even better since I got a funnel for the HC150.
Don't know if another machine is in my future so soon. Using the old M-Series when I'm traveling, I soon remember how annoying its noise is and scramble to find something address it. I do have a Marpac sound conditioner (Marsona TSCI-330) that I travel with....in case the hotel doesn't provide something low that I can set the machine on. I made the mistake one time, of just setting it on the floor....don't ever want to do that again.
It is sometimes terrifying though to not know for sure if the machine is running....I can't hear anything, and I can't really feel the starting pressure in my nose.... but a quick touch of the exhaust ports of my mask...and its all good (or I could go back to wearing a noisy mask
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The Dreamer.
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!