Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Slartybartfast
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by Slartybartfast » Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:01 am

"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.

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by chunkyfrog » Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:17 am

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?)

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englandsf
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by englandsf » Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:26 am

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...

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palerider
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by palerider » Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:45 am

zoocrewphoto wrote:
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.
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.
*lol* checking the manual, 4cm 45 minute ramp epr off/off is just the *defaults*.

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?

Post by Sleeper Agent » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:07 am

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...
My Res Med does not allow EPR settings on the user menu either.

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palerider
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by palerider » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:24 am

Sleeper Agent wrote:My Res Med does not allow EPR settings on the user menu either.
you'll have to unlock it in the clinician menu then.

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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?

Post by Sleeper Agent » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:28 am

palerider wrote: My Res Med does not allow EPR settings on the user menu either.
you'll have to unlock it in the clinician menu then.[/quote]

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.

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JustTia
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by JustTia » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:37 am

Sleeper Agent wrote:
palerider wrote: My Res Med does not allow EPR settings on the user menu either.
you'll have to unlock it in the clinician menu then.
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]

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?

Post by M'ohms » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:38 am

englandsf wrote:
...thank God for groups like this...
+1.

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palerider
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by palerider » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:55 am

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.
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.

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JustTia
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by JustTia » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:56 am

palerider wrote:
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.
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.

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by chunkyfrog » Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:04 am

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!

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palerider
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by palerider » Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:10 am

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!
eyup. eggzakery.

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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Slartybartfast
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Re: Why no EPR/C-Flex as norm?

Post by Slartybartfast » Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:21 pm

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.