C-Flex Setting

Jim Eads · Post by **Jim Eads** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:04 pm

Just curious...

Why would you want the C-Flex set on anything except 3?

Jim

DSM-guest · Post by **DSM-guest** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:33 pm

Do a search of posts using search arg Aerophagia.

Cheers

DSM

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:34 pm

pressure differential.

I was getting aerophagia occasionally with c-flex at 3. My auto is ranged 6 to 10 so it's not like I'm a high pressure person. Knocked c-flex down one notch and aerophagia never happened again.

It's all about options.

The REMstar starts pressuring UP at the tail end of your exhalation.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:59 pm

I started on 3 and switched to 2, to give my lungs more of a work out. I seem to be a lazy breather at rest and didn't want to make myself weaker.

In march I will try 1, once a lab rat always a lab rat.

Goofproof Logged on Moneypit III, finally!

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 5:43 pm

At the highest pressure relief (3) your airway is able to close in a little more so that on the next inhalation you have to overcome more initial resistance.

john5757 · Post by **john5757** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:15 pm

...and I have not been able to sleep as well with C-flex engaged, I wake up gasping and several people has mention their AHI are not as low with C-Flex on. I view C-flex as a "training wheels" when first starting on CPAP. I do not need it. By slow deep breathing for a minute when starting CPAP therapy I was surprise how easy it was to breath and never noticed the pressure on CPAP at all.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): C-FLEX, CPAP, AHI

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): C-FLEX, CPAP, AHI

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:16 pm

The CFlex settings are somewhat dynamic, the amount of relief of each setting offers can vary based upon YOUR particular breathing pattern.

While the brochure seems to indicate a 1 corresponding to 1cm, 2 to 2cm and 3 to 3cm, you can acutually obtain more relief than 3cm based upon your particular breathing pattern.

The 3 settings are really "comfort" setting, some people the 3 setting can cause shortness of breath and/or hyperventilating. You should set it where it is most comfortable for you based upon your pressure and breathing pattern.

However, if your pressure is low (under 8cm) it is probably not going to offer you any relief and may even contribute to starving for air. Cflex helps when your just starting out getting used to the machine or if your your pressure is higher than 10cm.

I use it on 2 and my pressure is 10. I tried 1 and I tried 3 it was like learning to walk again.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:09 am

...and I have not been able to sleep as well with C-flex engaged, I wake up gasping

Some users don't do well with C-FLEX as it can trigger breath-stacking. The exhalation relief from C-FLEX is NOT for the entire length of time that the user exhales -relief is only provided at the beginning of exhalation. For some users, their normal exhalation is cut short by the increase in pressure when the brief C-FLEX relief ends. These users begin an inhalation before they were finished exhaling. The breaths become shorter and more rapid. The user wakes up gasping / panting for air.

This does not happen to everyone and, for many users, C-FLEX is a good thing. However, if you are one of the users who does not like C-FLEX, you have the option of turning it off. However, you paid alot of money to Respironics for C-FLEX so, my suggestion, as always, is to trial as many machines as possible BEFORE you buy.

Just because people on this forum rave about C-FLEX, that does not mean that it will work for you. All of us like to talk about the machine/feature/mask/etc., that worked for us, with the implication that it will work well for others. While this might well be the case, we do ourselves a big favour when we rely less on the opinions of others and rely more on our own research and 'test-drive' of the machine/feature/mask... to ensure that it is really the right purchase for the individual.

Check out all of the features of all of the machines so that you get the one that is best for you. It might be worth bearing in mind that the new ResMed machines have exhalation relief (although not in autopap mode) that uses a different methodology than C-FLEX. The theory with the ResMed EPR, as I understand it, is that it maintains pressure relief throughout the entire length of the exhalation as defined by the user. I've not tried one so, do your own research if you are thinking of buying.

Machine	Mask