Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
- Slartybartfast
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
"It appears that DMEs do not normally turn on exhalation relief on machines at set up - so many folks asking how to use it (and it's "behind the clinician menu).
Why don't they turn it on to patient control automatically so the user can easily control it? Does it need to be on the prescription? "
FWIW, I think there is probably a mindset that's common throughout the DME world. The folks who work in the DME establishment are accustomed to dealing with patients (I almost called them customers!) who are debilitated to some extent. So I don't think it's surprising that they, and the manufacturers who make the equipment they sell, for that matter, would default to the assumption that their patients are mostly incapable of, or unwilling to, learn enough about the use of the equipment to intelligently use it.
Once you leave their store, their next customer is likely to be a caregiver looking for a bedside commode for someone with Alzheimer's .
Folks like us, who are motivated and "with it" enough (and nerdy enough!) to spend the time and energy to learn about therapy are not what they expect when they see us walk in the front door.
Why don't they turn it on to patient control automatically so the user can easily control it? Does it need to be on the prescription? "
FWIW, I think there is probably a mindset that's common throughout the DME world. The folks who work in the DME establishment are accustomed to dealing with patients (I almost called them customers!) who are debilitated to some extent. So I don't think it's surprising that they, and the manufacturers who make the equipment they sell, for that matter, would default to the assumption that their patients are mostly incapable of, or unwilling to, learn enough about the use of the equipment to intelligently use it.
Once you leave their store, their next customer is likely to be a caregiver looking for a bedside commode for someone with Alzheimer's .
Folks like us, who are motivated and "with it" enough (and nerdy enough!) to spend the time and energy to learn about therapy are not what they expect when they see us walk in the front door.
- chunkyfrog
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
Ignorance or laziness; a DME who keeps up with technology and is willing to work with a patient to make things work--is a rare thing.
In the absence of that, it is a DIY project--as are many things that truly matter.
As Slarty mentions, not every patient is up to the DIY thing--they really need the educated, dedicated DME, (is that an oxymoron?)
In the absence of that, it is a DIY project--as are many things that truly matter.
As Slarty mentions, not every patient is up to the DIY thing--they really need the educated, dedicated DME, (is that an oxymoron?)
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
I was lucky - my DME only does CPAP but - lo and behold - the one guy there who made my set up bearable (not good, but bearable) then left. Now they are nothing more than a consumables delivery mechanism to me. My sleep doctor now no longer recommends a single DME in the area.
No wonder such a high percentage of newbies fail and thank God for groups like this...
No wonder such a high percentage of newbies fail and thank God for groups like this...
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
*lol* checking the manual, 4cm 45 minute ramp epr off/off is just the *defaults*.zoocrewphoto wrote:Except they almost always turn on the ramp, starting at 4, which they think will help people get started with cpap, yet it ends up bothering a lot of people so much that they quit if they don't find a forum like this one and make some adjustments.palerider wrote: well, typically, the whole point of epr/xflex is just patient comfort, and that's typically not something the medical profession spends much time thinking about.
I don't believe there's any *thinking* going on at the DME level
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
My Res Med does not allow EPR settings on the user menu either.englandsf wrote:You have a great DME. The ResMed I have does not do that but I think both widely used machines require a setting to allow user access to EPR/Flex - which seems crazy...
Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
you'll have to unlock it in the clinician menu then.Sleeper Agent wrote:My Res Med does not allow EPR settings on the user menu either.
Last edited by palerider on Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
you'll have to unlock it in the clinician menu then.[/quote]palerider wrote: My Res Med does not allow EPR settings on the user menu either.
I just go to the clinician menu whenever I need to change stuff. Don't want my clinic and DME to freak out if they find out I modified the user's menu.
Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
I just go to the clinician menu whenever I need to change stuff. Don't want my clinic and DME to freak out if they find out I modified the user's menu.[/quote]Sleeper Agent wrote:you'll have to unlock it in the clinician menu then.palerider wrote: My Res Med does not allow EPR settings on the user menu either.
Same here. I just make the tweaks, then exit back out of the menu. Still waiting to get hand-slapped for changing over from cpap to apap, lol. My sleep doc gave me a prescription to switch, with pressure 5-15. That prescription is still in my purse. I just came home and changed it, rather than dealing with the stupid DME.
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
+1.englandsf wrote:
...thank God for groups like this...
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
just blink those huge brown eyes of yours at 'em and I'm sure they'll melt, if that doesn't work, bite 'em, it's your RIGHT, no matter what they say, to change things.JustTia wrote: Same here. I just make the tweaks, then exit back out of the menu. Still waiting to get hand-slapped for changing over from cpap to apap, lol. My sleep doc gave me a prescription to switch, with pressure 5-15. That prescription is still in my purse. I just came home and changed it, rather than dealing with the stupid DME.
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Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.
Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.
Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
palerider wrote:just blink those huge brown eyes of yours at 'em and I'm sure they'll melt, if that doesn't work, bite 'em, it's your RIGHT, no matter what they say, to change things.JustTia wrote: Same here. I just make the tweaks, then exit back out of the menu. Still waiting to get hand-slapped for changing over from cpap to apap, lol. My sleep doc gave me a prescription to switch, with pressure 5-15. That prescription is still in my purse. I just came home and changed it, rather than dealing with the stupid DME.
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Mask: Swift™ FX For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
Additional Comments: S9 set to auto, pressure 5-15, Premier style chin strap |
Board culture. Learn it. Embrace it.
- chunkyfrog
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
Once again, a patient buys an RX at the pharmacy; there are directions on the container.
We are trusted to follow those directions. We also have the freedom to NOT follow those directions.
Now riddle me this: What would harm me more--skipping my BP meds or raising my air pressure 1 cm?
OMG! adjusting the machine is treading on somebody's TURF!
We are trusted to follow those directions. We also have the freedom to NOT follow those directions.
Now riddle me this: What would harm me more--skipping my BP meds or raising my air pressure 1 cm?
OMG! adjusting the machine is treading on somebody's TURF!
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
eyup. eggzakery.chunkyfrog wrote:Once again, a patient buys an RX at the pharmacy; there are directions on the container.
We are trusted to follow those directions. We also have the freedom to NOT follow those directions.
Now riddle me this: What would harm me more--skipping my BP meds or raising my air pressure 1 cm?
OMG! adjusting the machine is treading on somebody's TURF!
if I take too many of my vicoden... it's lights out, one way or another, either respiratory failure, or liver failure.
but there's less fuss over that than there is over your cpap.
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Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.
Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.
- Slartybartfast
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?
BP meds! Now don't get me started. Was on 3 of them and they just made me impotent (too much information, I know!).
I stopped them cold turkey and went low-carb and lost some weight and the numbers came down. About that time, I got my sleep test and the machine and felt so much better, I made the mistake of enthusing to my wife something to the effect that CPAP is better than sex. Which I learned was the wrong thing to say to your spouse! But at least now I can have both.
I stopped them cold turkey and went low-carb and lost some weight and the numbers came down. About that time, I got my sleep test and the machine and felt so much better, I made the mistake of enthusing to my wife something to the effect that CPAP is better than sex. Which I learned was the wrong thing to say to your spouse! But at least now I can have both.