Help with a new C-PAP machine.

Hello,

I just bought a CPAP machine (Philips Respironics Remstar Auto A-flex) off of Craigslist. My insurance is junk and it would cost me way too much to go through them.
Both of my parents have sleep apnea and I've shown the symptoms of it for years now. So I jumped at the chance for this machine since it has the AUTO feature.
Could anyone help me with the settings on this machine? Is there anything I need to do other than just set it to AUTO?
I'm pretty green to all of this so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Also, do you guys have any nasal pillow recommendations for a newbie?

There's a lot to do and the first thing is figure out exactly which machine it is.
Look on the bottom of the blower...model number usually starts with DS or REF but not always.
What's the model number???
There were several different models with "Remstar" and Auto with AFlex as part of the model name.

Go here once you figure out exactly which model and request the manual for the machine so you can learn about all the features available.
https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual

There's more to it than just setting it to auto mode with wide option settings.

So you are self diagnosing and self treating...it can be done but takes some education and work.
Let's start with knowing exactly what machine and mask you are using.

Hopefully you have a machine that is compatible with SleepyHead software because you want to be able to monitor and evaluate your therapy results.
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment
Again...need to know what that model number is exactly

Welcome

Many people here, including me like the ResMed P10 nasal pillows.

Buying the fit pack gives you 3 pillow sizes. Here is a link from our sponsor’s site.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html

@Pugsy

Hi, thanks for the reply.
Its model # is REF 550P. I'll take a look at the link you included and start reading.

It looks like it's compatible with sleepyhead which is great. It didn't include an SD card so I need to grab one of those.
Is the program pretty easy to use?

@prodigyplace

Thanks for the reply, that one is a little pricey but I suppose if it's good it'd be worth it.
How do you feel about the Respironics Dreamwear? It's a bit cheaper and I've been seeing some good things.

Okay...550 P...that's the PR System One 50 series Auto CPAP. Ignore the Remstar part of the name. Respironics used it on all their models of machines since time began until the recent change to the DreamStation model.
Did you get the humidifier with it?

Go to WalMart or similar place to get the SD card if you don't have one laying around.
Any cheap generic SD card will work. 1 or 2 GB is plenty big but hard to find any that small anymore..just get smallest and cheapest you can find.

You want to erase the prior users data from the machine because it is still there and will cloud your data.
There is a setting in the clinical setup menu that explains how to "reset/erase data".
You want to erase it prior to inserting a SD card because if you don't the machine will just write that old data to your new SD card.

Do you have a mask yet? I have some masks that someone just donated that you can have for cost of postage.
They are used but have enough life left in them for you to try for size and see if it would remotely work for you and if it does most of them all you would need is a new cushion because the frame part isn't hurt with age.

Can you normally breathe through your nose just fine or do you have chronic nasal congestion issues?
Important to know because it makes a difference in which mask you should start with.

The masks online at places like I forum host...cpap.com...they will require a RX for you to buy one from them and make use of any return insurance that might be available. Do you have a friendly family doctor who would write the RX?
If not...we have ways of getting around that little stumbling block.
EBay and Amazon are good sources.

The DreamWear is a nice little mask and the cushion and gel pillows are interchangeable.

SleepyHead works great with the model 550.

Go to your equipment profile and use the comments section for posting the model machine you are using.
The link to that machine in the drop down menu is broken so it won't show up.
wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile
When you use the comments section just type in
PR S1 Auto CPAP #550 and we will all know what it is.

If you have a mask right now...start with these settings as a starting point.
We will need to use the software to see just how effective they are. They may or may not need to be adjusted.

Mode...Auto
Minimum pressure 6
Maximum pressure 20
Turn AFlex on and set it to 2 or 3 which ever is most comfortable...try both.
Turn off or don't use the ramp feature. At the setting of 6 you won't need it anyway. May need it later if it turns out you end up needing a starting pressure a lot higher than 6...cross that bridge if/when we come to it.

If you got the humidifier with it...set it to 4 for right now. That model machine doesn't crank out all that much humidity at the setting of 5 so it isn't as high of a setting as it may sound.

@Pugsy

Yep it came with the humidifier. I'm on the hunt for an SD card, I know I've got one around here somewhere.
I will definitely erase the existing settings, I was wondering about that!
My nose isn't usually too congested. I actually just went ahead and ordered the Respironics DreamWear Gel Pillow from Amazon, but thank you very much for the offer. That is very kind of you.

I will dial in those settings and be ready to try my first night when my mask and hose arrive on Monday. Is it okay if I PM you if I have more questions?
Thank you sooo much for helping me navigate through this, it's very much appreciated.

The DreamWear gel pillows is a nice little mask and I didn't have one of those. Plus you will get it sooner anyway.
Yes, feel free to send me a PM if you have a question. I get them all the time.

I used to have that same model machine some years ago so I am very familiar with it.

Might as well read up on SleepyHead while waiting for the mask.
Start here
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph ... d#pid73182

and you will want to show us what you are seeing so read this
viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html

You can do this but you need to understand what and why you are doing something.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:39 pm

The DreamWear gel pillows is a nice little mask and I didn't have one of those. Plus you will get it sooner anyway.
Yes, feel free to send me a PM if you have a question. I get them all the time.

I used to have that same model machine some years ago so I am very familiar with it.

Might as well read up on SleepyHead while waiting for the mask.
Start here
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph ... d#pid73182

and you will want to show us what you are seeing so read this
viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html

You can do this but you need to understand what and why you are doing something.

@Pugsy

Okay I've done some reading up on the links you provided.
I've cleared the machine of past data and inserted a blank SD card.
Then I dialed in all the settings you provided.
Do I need to do anything with the tubing type settings or mask check in the Setup menu?

Starting tonight. Wish me luck!

Hose diameter...depending on what size diameter hose you are using...the most common generic is 22 mm.
You will want the hose diameter setting to match up.

Mask setting...none on the 550 P except for mask resistance and that's only for a Respironics mask and the appropriate setting will be on the mask package if you get a Respironics mask.
For other non Respironics masks just set it to 0 which is off. It's not a critical setting.

Be sure and go over to the apneaboard forum (link in my first post here) and request the manual for your machine.
It will explain a lot and also has some good basic information.

Sometimes you can find a small sd card in an old camera,
or the box a camera came in--everybody wants a bigger card in their camera,
and the manufacturers generally cheap out and short you a decent size card.