Auto Pap question

Lavendel · Post by **Lavendel** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:19 pm

Sorry if I'm repeating a question that has been already asked here, but I have been reading post after post & am still confused
I have the Remstar CPAP & am thinking about getting the Remstar Auto Pap. My question is:
Can you set the pressures yourself? I don't have insurance & live in a small town in the south with dr's who seem to be leftovers from the dark ages I would have to travel at least 70 miles to find someone who knows anything about sleep apnea.
Anyway, that's why I'd like to know if you can adjust the pressures yourself. I don't want to get one & find out I need to find someone to do this or that I need to spend money to get a dr. to do it.
Thanks

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:37 pm

You need a Doctor's Prescription to buy a CPAP. As for the pressures, I think you can just tell cpap.com where you want the upper and lower pressures set. You'll have to check with them. Also, ask on this forum if anyone knows how to set the pressures on your prospective machine. That's how I found out how to program mine.

Peter

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:39 pm

Yes you may set it yourself. Also purchase the software bundled deal at cpap.com so you may monitor your treatment. I'm sure rested gal or wader can give more specific information.

Lavendel · Post by **Lavendel** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:53 pm

Thanks so much! I'm hoping that my prescription for my CPAP will also work for an auto pap.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:10 pm

The Rx needs to have the pressure min/max stated IMHO

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:18 pm

I'm confused again
If you can change the settings on an auto pap yourself, why would the prescription need a minimum & max setting listed?
When I had my study I used an auto CPAP & it wasn't set. It started out at 4 & went up to 20 if needed. Why does an auto pap need to be set & if it is set, how are people changing the settings??
Thanks for all the help!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 3:27 am

Lavendel, I don't think a prescription for an autopap has to have any pressure mentioned at all, if you are buying it online from cpap.com. All the prescription has to say is autopap. It will come already set with the factory default of 4 - 20 cm H2O.

I personally don't think it's a good idea to run any autopap with the setting range "wide open" (4-20). So, when you get it, you can change the range to whatever you or your doctor think best. Example, if your prescribed pressure is "10", you might want to set the range at 6 for the low and 15 for the high. (I'm not a doctor....that's simply what I'd try out for a range to start with, if my original prescription said "10".)

If you get the software, you can view your overnight results for several days or a week, and decide if you want to raise or lower either end of the range.

Two manuals come with any machine you order online. A user's manual and a clinician's manual. The clinician's manual is the important one - it has the instructions about how to change pressures, etc.

If you'll call the tollfree support number for cpap.com, I'm sure the people there can tell you for sure just what the prescription needs to say. But as far as i know, just the word "Autopap" on a prescription will open the door for you to buy any autopap you wish. Masks, humidifiers, software, accessories - none of those things need a prescription.