Getting my Remstar auto today! - Updated!

murried2 · Post by **murried2** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:36 am

I'm so excited . My DME called me yesterday and they are coming to set me up with my Remstar auto today. I can't wait to go home and sleep! I'll be interested to see if it works any better than my straight CPAP.

littlebaddow · Post by **littlebaddow** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:07 am

Good news murried
It's a terrific machine, very quiet. When I switched from a straight cpap at 10cm to the remstar auto, it made a huge improvement to my quality of sleep and I spend much of the night at far lower pressure. I hope it works as well for you.

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:18 am

Murried, couple of questions.

Are you getting the one with Cflex? Makes a big difference on comfort.

Which DME are you using? Where are they located? I didn't have any luck with the local DME, just wondering if you are nearby and found a good one...

murried2 · Post by **murried2** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:29 am

Mikesus,

I got the one with C-Flex. I am using Wellmont Home Health, they are located in Bristol. The RT I have is wonderful...very helpful. Turns out we went to the same high school.

I didn't really do any research on the DMEs around here...my doctor sent the orders to this one and I trust his judgement so far.

Where are you located if you don't mind me asking?

Oh...the RT just brought me my machine.....if only my hose/mask wasn't at home I strap that puppy on and take a nap since the boss is away today.

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:52 am

Stafford... That is great that you got that machine from your DME!! I had to go the order route as Lin(Don't)Care doesn't care if you are comfortable or compliant...

murried2 · Post by **murried2** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:05 am

I am thankful that I've not had any problems out of my DME yet...I've heard so many horror stories.

I just went on to cpap.com and ordered the smart card reader and the software. I can't wait to get it...software is backordered and she said that it may be a week before it comes in.

I wish you had better luck with your DME. Where is Stafford?

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:13 am

East of you. Off 95 north of Fredericksburg. Or about 50 miles south of DC... Depending on which way you are going.

The software is great! Derek did an EXCELLENT job reviewing it, make sure you read thru that, it will give you a good headstart!

murried2 · Post by **murried2** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:42 am

Last night was GREAT!!!! I slept like a baby and I actually feel good this morning. I woke up a few times last night because I couldn't hear the machine. It's so much quieter than the Invacare Polaris that I had before.

I can't wait to get my software.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 8:20 am

murried,

That's great to hear. What was your pressure setting on the Polaris? What range did they set you REMstar Auto? What C-flex setting are you using?

slept like a baby... that's nice!

murried2 · Post by **murried2** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 8:29 am

Wading --

The setting on the polaris was originally 13, which was raised to 14 about a week later because I was still snoring at 13.

The setting on the remstar is from 13-16 (16 was highest pressure during my titration). Dr. said to adjust if necessary. My cflex setting is 2.

I am just amazed with this machine. I wish I had gotten one of these orginally, but hey...better late than never, right?

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:24 am

murried,

Looks like you got set-up just fine. When you get the software see what your unresolved AHI is. (it will just show up as AHI) If it is 5 or below you are doing good. It will probably be closer to two though. From there what you can try to do is start droping the low number to afford you more comfort. I'd try it 1cm at a time and leave it for a few days to see that the machine is still catching your apneas. You won't want the low end of your range to be below 6cm because for many below that seems like not enough air. The data from the software will show the amount of minutes you spend at each pressure. If as you lower the bottom you see your still spending most of the time at a higher pressure or that your AHI or snores are increasing, then just leave it at the pressure that worked best for you. The beauty of the auto is that many people find the spend the majority of the night at a comfortable 7cm or 8cm and than only go up to a higher pressure for a total of 20 or 30 minutes during the night. You need to see how it works for you. The Encore pro data will give you the info you need to see how the new settings work for you. Also pay attention to how you feel during the day. If you feel a change for the worse, even if the data doesn't show it, then reset the pressure to where you felt good.

Keep in mind that I give you these suggestions as an APAP user and that I am not a medical proffesional. Many of us, including myself, have had great success with "tweaking" our therapy in this way.

Auto-paps are wonderful machines! especially when they have C-flex

murried2 · Post by **murried2** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:29 am

Wading -

I pretty much told my doctor what to write the prescription for after doing a lot of reading on this forum and another forum I visit . He's very receptive to patient suggestions.

My only problem with tweaking the pressure is that currently i am dealing with a DME...and they'll be reading my cards monthly, so of course they'll know that I've tweaked it. I wonder if I should have my doctor notify them that he's approved me tweaking the pressures as needed.

Anywho....I'll deal with that when the time comes.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 12:14 pm

murried,

Did they give you enough cards to last a month? You won't be able to save a month of the "good" data on one card. If not, sounds like the only data they are interested in is compliance.

It would be a good idea to run the plan I described by your Doc. If he is comfortable with you safely experimenting with the goal of maximizing comfort, while keeping good therapy, I'm sure he would inform the DME of the adjustments.

Sounds like you've got things under control. Always nice to hear!

murried2 · Post by **murried2** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 12:26 pm

They only gave me the one card, so I'm sure you're right about them only caring about compliance.

I've read Derek's review of the software and how to prevent the card from being erased after a download. So, if I only have one card and I download the information daily/weekly, I'd be okay right?

eugene · Post by **eugene** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:25 pm

I have had the diagnostic sleep study, RDI 62.8 and AHI 59.9, last week. I go in for the next sleep study with mask next week. Having had several tests in the late 1990,s and having tried several cpaps and masks without success at that time, I am hoping that this time around I will succeed.

After reading this great forum for awhile and talking with the sleep doc, I think he is going to order the Remstar Auto c-flex with heated humidifer and hopefully the Encore Pro Softwear. I will not know which interface until the next test, but the lab tech suggested the Breeze.

My previous post and the responses received gave me some assurance that the size of the tubes of the Breeze would not adversly affect the ability of the c-flex to detect (function) properly.

I think I would have the option of getting the Aura. I have been impressed with the comments made on this forum about the Aura.

Any advice or suggestions? Thanks for a wonderful forum.

Bill

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Getting my Remstar auto today! - Updated!

Getting my Remstar auto today! - Updated!

Decisions to be made