PR system 1 Remsar Bipap atuo SV advanced user neeeds help

Short Story:
I am really hoping a few of you will be kind enough to share a few great methods (books, a couple of in depth sites, tutorials, etc) to become educated about sleep apnea treatment, complex sleep apnea and PR System One REMstar BiPAP Auto SV Advanced and software for this machine.

Long Story:
I started CPAP treatment approximately 3 years ago. I was diagnosed with some non related (probably) brain issues (aneurysm, aggressive DAVF) at the same time, which have been dealt with over the past three years with 3 endovascular brain surgeries. I share this in a weak attempt to justify my lack of educating myself about sleep disorder treatment. I had in the last few months felt like I was finally back emotionally, physically and intellectually to where I was before my brain issues.

I switched medical providers a year ago and my new general doc ordered oxcimeter, which lead to realization my cpap therapy was not working (no big surprise there, told my first sleep doc the only benefit I was having was no am headache, still tired all the time, etc), which lead to a new sleep doc who has actually taken an interest in me, leading to a new sleep study, which lead to the bipap machine. The new sleep doc has been working and adjusting my pressures almost monthly in an effort to reduce my ahi index. (I think I have the correct acronym!)

My new doc prescribed the above bipap for me approximately six months ago. I'm on my third machine (apparently a batch was sent out with issues with the connection in the area of where you plug in the cord and I was luck enough to get two of them and struggled with them for the first 5 months). Too bad they didn't tell me that when I took the first one back!!!

I think doc went too high on the pressures (the data is not back yet) but my nose is irritated and not sleeping well. I have been trying the quatro fx mask over the weekend and I am an emotional wreck from lack of sleep.

On the bright side this has resulted in me realizing I need to spend some time learning about sleep apnea treatment so that I can make sense of what you folks post. I have periodically lurked on this board and have been reviewing posts over the weekend but I find they are beyond my comprehension in my present state. I went to the new users area and just felt so overwhelmed and do not have the stamina currently to wade thru all the information to discern what would be beneficial to focus on.

So I am really hoping a few of you will be kind enough to share how I can become educated about sleep apnea treatment, complex sleep apnea and PR System One REMstar BiPAP Auto SV Advanced? I called Phillip's today and spoke with some woman with an attitude whom I needed to educate that their literature states EncoreViewer 2 software does not work with this machine. Does anyone know if there is software that will work with this machine? I read some posts about ports in the back but that is really beyond my expertise today and probably any day.

My present plan is try to back up to where I was a month ago. I have a call into my doc to back down my pressures, I'm going to get a Bella mask (had been using swift fx which I like quite a bit but know there are leak issues), see if I am able to get software to monitor my progress (or lack there of !) and to get my hands on all the information from my sleep studies. (I keep requesting results of downloads but do not receive them.) Longer term: educate myself, try to find software so that I can monitor what's going on daily.

Doc just called, at the 18/12 pressures ahi is 5.6, at 17/11 pressures my ahi was 7.7. My plan now is to try the bella mask tonight and keep the pressures at 18/12, research here about how to deal with nose irritation and then . . . see if I can sleep tonite!

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

Check my signature link for information on SleepyHead software. It will work with your machine. Be sure to read the user guide. There is even a Mac version available.

If you want Encore software...you have to use Encore Pro 2.5. The other versions won't work and of course Encore Viewer 2.0 will not work. It has not been updated to show the new data that the PR S1 auto SV machines gather. All the Encore products are Windows based software and won't work on Macs unless you set up a Windows environment.

Send me a private message for more information on Encore Pro 2.5 but I will offer that SleepyHead runs circles around Encore Pro and even though I have both softwares available....I prefer SleepyHead. The bulk of Pro's software is related to DME and/or doctor office stuff which you won't use. The data gathered is the same in Pro or SleepyHead...just presented visually different.

Nasal irritation? Try either increasing the humidifier setting or decreasing. Some people need a lot of added moisture and some people need much less.

Hi Kim,
Sounds like you've been through a lot. And you still have a ways to go. Just start small...learn the terminology. One at a time. Obstructive apnea, central apnea, hypopnea and so on. This all can get very complex and confusing and the machine you're using is one of the most difficult to set up and use. But don't be daunted...for central or complex apnea, it's one of the best.

18/12 Bipap pressure should be do-able but remember that that machine has bursts even higher when you stop breathing. That's where things get tricky with asv machines.

Pugsy wrote: Nasal irritation? Try either increasing the humidifier setting or decreasing. Some people need a lot of added moisture and some people need much less.

Hi Pugsy, hope you're well...

This is good info. Everyone seems to have a "sweet spot" for humidity. Too much or too little cause problems. For me, the lowest setting is just right...but I live in a dry climate. Experiment.

There seem to be more and more people on the forum using asv machines so you've come to the right place for help.
Cheers,
Jamis