CD use

Dot · Post by **Dot** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 6:51 pm

I`ve seen lots of mention of a CD for getting information on how you do on the C-PAP machine but don`t really know what the Cd is or how it works?
My machine has the small disk that I was required to mail in during the first few months. After renting the machine thru Community (Senior)Blue for one full year, they finally turned the machine over into my name. So, now noone reads those disks to see how I`m doing. Live alone, so noone to tell me what i`m doing while sleeping. Dr once asked me if I was still snoring at night-- how does one know when they are asleep. Is it a CD explaining the disk, or is there a machine that can read the disk for me, or what.
Thanks for any help you can give me. Figure I`m on my own now as far as using the machine goes-- noone checking anymore. Still see Dr, but that can`t tell me how I`m doing when on the machine.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 7:50 pm

Dot, if you tell us what model CPAP you have some kind folks here might be able to answer your question. Is it by any chance a Remstar Plus, Remstar Pro, or Remstar Auto?

Dot · Post by **Dot** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 8:47 pm

It`s a Remstar pro with c-flex. I just had the machine turned into my name, so now it`s my responsibility to have it checked and to know when it might need any service done. Had a year of using it, but the home Theraphy was in charge of it while I was renting it. Now that I`m the owner and more on my own, i need to understand more about how it works and how to read it. Appreciate any help understanding it that I can get. Thanks.

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:13 pm

My understanding is the original Remstar Pro with C-Flex has a smartcard that only stores "hours slept" (also called "compliance" statistics). If so, they were simply checking to see if you were sleeping with the machine. Insurance companies often require these "compliance" checks before they will agree to purchase or permanently lease the machine for you. They won't buy the machine for you if you're not using it.

Only the very latest version of RemStar Pro 2 model with C-Flex can also keep track of sleep event type statistics (apneas, hypopneas, snores, AHI, etc.) . For this you would get a SmartCard reader and Encore Pro software. If you have the original RemStar Pro with C-Flex, then I wouldn't suggest even bothering to buy the software and card reader. You'd only get compliance or "hours slept" statistics.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:24 pm

Hi Dot,

If the machine is a Remstar Pro with C-Flex (and not a Remstar Pro 2 with C-Flex) the only information they were looking at on the "smart card" you were sending to them was just to see how many hours you were using the machine. They just wanted to make sure you were actually using the machine so that insurance or Medicare would continue renting it.

You don't need a CD (software) for a Remstar Pro with C-flex. That machine doesn't record the things you're interested in...it won't give any "nightly data" of interest. Just hours of use. If you feel good, that's the best barometer of how your treatment is going.

Are you feeling pretty good on the treatment? Any problems? I'm not a doctor, but I understand why you'd be worried with it all in your lap now.

These machines are generally very reliable and most seem to run fine for years and years. They don't require servicing, as far as I know. The only thing you need to do is change the filter in the back of the machine from time to time.

Keep reading the message board and ask anything you wonder about. Lots of nice people here will give you all the support you can imagine! You'll do fine.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:29 pm

Dot, if you don't mind my asking, are you on Medicare? The reason I ask is....there is a "schedule" of things you are entitled to. The home health care place that provided you your machine may or may not have given you a list of how often you can get a new mask, new headgear, new filters, etc....all paid for by Medicare.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 10:09 am

Thanks everyone. Appreciate all your answers.
I have Community Blue ( also called Senior Blue) and when after a years rental Home Theraphy sent me a notice saying they were transfering the machine into my name and told me to reg. it for the ballance of the guarantee. Used # they gave and Co. said guarantee only covers under Home Theraphy as they were origional buyers and any service needed would need to come thru them. So, Home Theraphy says for me to send in the warranty card which only they had and manufacture says I would have to take the machine to Home theraphy and they would need to send it back if it ever needed repairs. I`m responsible for taking it in for the annual pressure check-ups to Home Theraphy. Confusing since they don`t agree with each other over the guarantee. So according to the letter, it is due now for the annual pressure check,now need to see if local place can do it since other place is 50 miles away.
Know i can order semi annually thru home theraphy for filters and other supplies. My Ins. doesn`t cover C-PAP machines and etc..

patlgirl · Post by **patlgirl** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 12:13 pm

This question about the RemStar with C-Flex was very interesting to me. I have that machine and was wondering if the card was monitoring my sleep apneas and how well I was sleeping. See on the top of the machine how many hours I have used it during a total of all nights.
Now I know that the total of hours is all that is registering on the card inside, plus why it is doing that.(insurance payment) Hummm....

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 12:41 pm

If you are worried about the pressure setting you can buy a manometer to check it from cpap.com here for $49

Personally I wouldn't be too worried about it tho. If you feel like you are getting treatment, that is measurement enough. Using air to splint open your airway is not rocket science and if perchance your machine is .5 +/- CM/H2O, I I doubt that it would affect you. The best meter for measuring therapy is your body. If you don't feel like you did pre cpap, then it is working...

Dot · Post by **Dot** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 4:49 pm

I had a friend tell me about two things that happened to her so I wouldn`t get worried if they happened to me.
First, she said she woke up one night and couldn`t breath too good. Scared her till she noticed her plug in clock wasn`t working either-- power was out.
Second thing was she woke up one night feeling like she was drowning.Seems noone told her to keep the machine lower than her head so she was inhailing water from the machine.
Anyone else have any useful things that happened to them that would help others who are new on the machine.
Better to be warned and know what to check than to be scared not knowing what is happening.
Thanks again for all your help explaining the card etc. Just noticed that I was listed just as guest when i posted the thankyou before.
Patigirl, they sure are a wonderful bunch of people in this site and they are great at answering any questions one might have.