REMstar Auto A-Flex question

Hi,
I am a "renewed" cpap user, after a failed attempt two years ago.
I dumped my non-responsive Dr, lying DME and personal bad attitude.
I had a new sleep study.
I have just received a REMstar Auto A-Flex, and an FX for her mask.
I had a wonderful first night last night: 6:12 hours, and and AHI of 1.5, with no large leaks.

Now for my questions:
1. I see that the (small, annoyingly flat, non-backlit) screen will give me weekly and monthly averages of data. Is there any way to access this data on a daily basis, or does it continue to aggregate? I am fine if this involves having to purchase software. I have a computer running windows7, if that makes any difference.

2. As an observant Jewish person, I would like to be able to use my machine without physically turning it on on Friday night as I go to sleep. Instead, I would like to turn it on at sunset, which may be a few hours before I actually to to sleep, and then not turn it off again until Saturday night after sunset. I believe that this usage will not damage the machine. However, I think that this will skew the weekly and monthly data collection. Is there a way to turn off the data collection for that 24+ hour period of time? (OK with me if it requires me to access menus that are technically not open to me as a patient) Please do not reply with your opinions about my decision, which is based on my religious conviction. I have consulted my rabbi regarding the best way for me to deal with this, with the understanding that my health is the primary consideration. His advice was to find a way to avoid physically turning the machine on and off during the sabbath. If this is not possible (ie, if it will result in therapy that is ineffective or less than ideal for me and my health) then I will return to him with this information for his consideration. If you think that this objective would be easier to achieve with a different machine altogether, then please advise me.

I know you are a very knowledgeable and experienced group of people, and I thank you in advance for any help you can offer.

To your first point I believe you need a software called Encore Pro to fully access all the information.

As to your second point I believe that your machine has an auto-on function in which it will turn on by itself when you put the mask on. Being a non-jew forgive my ignorance but would the auto function break the Sabbath? The reason I ask is when I was younger I knew a jewish family that would hire a neighbor boy to turn things on for them. They said as long as they didn't throw the switch or turn the knob they were fine. If you used the auto function you would have to turn the machine on, it would turn itself on.

Just the some random thoughts.

Hi Deb,

What an awesome first night! You're on a good roll this time. CPAP t'shuvah--who knew!

You need to purchase Encore Viewer 2.0 software to access the data, but I know people have been having issues running it in Windows 7. SOme people use a "virtual machine" set up, others dig out an older computer to run it, and I think there are some other software work arounds. I will have to let others answer that question. If you want to see the type of data you can get, I have a data tutorial on my blog here http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/2010/0 ... -tutorial/.

I'm not sure about the Shabbos issue. I think you can simply turn the unit on before Shabbos and it will keep running until physically turned off as long as the automatic off isn't enabled. I have used this feature to dry the hose on occasion. It's noisy and that seems like an awfully long time to run the machine as it will run at max the entire time since the air meets no resistance. It seems very wasteful to me, but I know that may not enter into the halachic discussion. On your software, this will show up as a black line on the leak data.

I have a feeling a timer won't work to turn it on--I think you have to physically press the button or breathe in, although a timer might work to turn the machine off in the morning.

There is an automatic on feature so that when you put the mask on and start breathing, the machine will automatically turn itself on. But it's for you and your rabbi to decide if there is a halachic difference between physically turnign the machine on by pressing the button with your hand or by breathing into the mask. The electronic "fire" which trips the circuit is still produced either way. They sure didn't anticipate situations like this in the Talmud!

I have an older REMstar M-series machine that self starts by donning the mask and breathing a couple of deep breaths. I suspect your machine will do the same.

As for software you have two options the EncoreView software and the Encore Pro software. I won't make any recommendations, as there are many threads about the software on this board. You can judge the merits and make your own choice.

Welcome back to the to the society of "Hosers"

Pat

to add to what was said above... the auto off will turn the machine off when the mask is removed (or you have a large leak).

So would just masking up and breathing be ok? Because if you know that your mask fits well, I wouldn't think that you would have to touch the machine... just let the settings work for you.

You can set your machine to have Auto On - ON so that the machine comes on when you put the mask on and connect the hose.

You can also set Auto off to ON. This way the machine will go off a few minutes after you remove your mask, I think. I have never used the Auto off feature but always have the Auto On enabled. You won't have to turn it on or off.

I doubt that enabling the Auto ON and Auto OFF features will affect your data.

You have informaiton about the software from others.

I hope you'll update us on your Rabbi's opinion of the Auto On/Off setting. I'd be very interested to know what he thinks. It might be a great option for you. Good luck.

Thank you to everyone who has already replied.

So, the only way to access daily data is through the Encore software? Does the SD card
need to be read daily, or will the data be accessible by date (for instance, if I would
download the card on a Sunday, could I look at the data for the previous days
individually?)

In terms of my sabbath usage issue, I have the auto on and auto off features turned OFF.
It is an arguable point, but technically having the machine turn off or on by virtue of
any action on my part (pressing a button, putting on a mask, inhaling, or exhaling) is
all the same type of issue, and it is what I am trying to avoid. Once I am using the
device therapeutically, without physically turning it on, it is OK for it to respond to
my breathing patterns on the sabbath. I had realized that a timer would not work for
turning the machine on (since the large button actually needs to be depressed), but
perhaps I could put it on a timer to cut the power in the mornings. I assume there is some
kind of battery back up to save the data? In any case, would
leaving the machine on for at least a few hours (from sunset until bedtime) without
actually using it skew the data (by averaging in either noncompliance or a very large
leak), or will it just disregard such a long period of inactivity? Is it possible to
turn off the data collection for a day?

Thanks for help with the slightly arcane minutia of apap usage for the observant Jewish
person!

Encore stores all the data and you can access it any time you want. Your machine also has a memory, so even if the card is not in there it will store data--I'm not sure how long but I once forgot to put the card back in for almost a week and the data for that time was written to the card as soon as I put it back in.

I don't think you have to worry about running it skewing your compliance data. The software can distinguish between when you are running it without the mask on and when you are. You need the time when you are wearing the mask for compliance and that will show up regardless. The time running without the mask won't count against you, as long as the time running with the mask on is enough to meet your complaince requirements.

I don't think there's a way to turn off the compliance data recording anyway, but I could be wrong.

This was posted in 2010 and al ot have changed since then. For one thing, most of the newer machines have a mode that the machine will go on and off when you put the mask on and off (by sensing your breathing). I believe that the rabbis are content with the arrangement.

Note that in any case, should the machine turn off at night (for instance a momentary electric outage), you should turn it back on regardless of what day it is, as Sleep Apnea is a life threatening condition!