Questions From a Newbie

Hello. I'm new to this and have a few questions. I've already learned a few tricks from reading the boards, but I still am wondering about some things. There seems to be a limit on what I can post so I'll try to be succint. BTW, I have a Respironics M series w/Aflex. (Big twisty button in the middle.) The loaner machine during my "trial period" was the older style Cflex with the 3 glowing blue buttons.

1. What's this supposed to feel like? On the loaner, I felt a distinct sensation of blowing air, even at level 4. I actually liked that. On my machine, I can't feel a thing, even at high levels. I can pull off the mask and know it's blowing. I can open my mouth and realize that I've broken a pressure seal. But otherwise, it's almost like breathing normally. And to be frank, that's a little weird feeling. I'm sure I can get used to it, but it seems like I should feel *something*. At low levels it's even kind of stuffy since I'm breathing into the mask.

2. How can I sleep for a full 7-8 hours with the mask on the whole time and still not get "credit" for a >4 hour session? I realize that there's a difference between having the blower on and actually getting the therapy, but I figure I ought to get "credit" if I'm sleeping with this thing the whole night.

3. Am I right thinking that the DME did absolutely nothing other than pull a machine off the shelf and send it to me? No one told me what my prescription pressure is. I will get that fixed as I deal with my health service (Kaiser). I'm used to working the system. However, when I look at the secret setup menu, the min pressure is 4 and the max is 20. No other readings. This seems a lot like "we'll just let the machine do the work and figure out what pressure he's supposed to be getting."

4. Is there any way to get the main screen backlight to turn on? If I wake up, I usually want to see what the pressure is, but I can't see the darn thing clearly.

I have a few more minor questions, but that's it for now. Thanks in advance. I'm enjoying reading this forum.

Hi and welcome! First, take a moment to go up to the User Control Panel---> Profile--->Edit Equipment and choose your gear from the pull down menus. Then choose to show it in TEXT. This will post your equipment in blue at the bottom of each post as mine shows below.

Sounds like you got a good machine, but it wasn't set with any pressure range other than being wide open at 4-20. You need to get copies of both your sleep study/tritration study as well as your Rx for the machine/mask. You are entitled to have these under the law so insist that you get them. You may need to pay for copies, but the records are yours.

Once you ascertain the Rx pressure range, you can set it yourself, if you want to. You can get the clinician's manual and software for your machine and take charge of your own health. Others with your machine will be along to help you access those items.

If your Rx only shows the 4-20 range, then it is important to view your titration results to see what pressure was needed to stop your events. If it is, for example, 10, then the usual recommended pressure range would be 8-12.... 2 above and 2 below. Having the pressure range wide open, as you have, makes the machine work overtime to catch events, and having it wide open can also lead to central apneas.

In the meantime..... you have landed in the right place. Read, read, read.... ask questions, and become as knowledgable, pro-active, and empowered as you can be!!

"The big twisty button" indicates that you have a PR System One Auto machine, not a series M. This is the "latest and greatest" of the PR line and it's what Kaiser is giving out these days.

Your Series M loaner was for the purposes of "auto titration" and to see if you would be compliant. The sleep techs at Kaiser should have read your card when you returned the machine and instructed Crapria to set the machine to your titrated pressure range. Sounds like Crapria failed to do that. You should call the Kaiser sleep lab and they will have you bring the machine in to reset the pressure range.

To get a copy of your study and associated records, you have to make a request with the Kaiser Medical records department and you will have to pay for the copies (yes, they can charge you under HIPAA regulations).

1. What's this supposed to feel like? On the loaner, I felt a distinct sensation of blowing air, even at level 4. I actually liked that. On my machine, I can't feel a thing, even at high levels. I can pull off the mask and know it's blowing. I can open my mouth and realize that I've broken a pressure seal. But otherwise, it's almost like breathing normally. And to be frank, that's a little weird feeling. I'm sure I can get used to it, but it seems like I should feel *something*.

. Surprise! You aren’t supposed to feel the air blowing. That’s a good thing. It means you’re acclimated and it should not disturb your sleep. Other people here would kill not to feel the air blowing.

At low levels it's even kind of stuffy since I'm breathing into the mask.

. The wide open setting 4-20 is the culprit here. When the pressure is only 4 you might feel like you are not getting enough air. That’s why you need to check with Kaiser about what the settings should be. The techs are usually happy to set the bottom number higher if you request it.

2. How can I sleep for a full 7-8 hours with the mask on the whole time and still not get "credit" for a >4 hour session?

The blower hours reset at a certain point, so the <4 hours may be a “split” report. Purchase Encore Viewer software and you will be able to see a more detailed report including compliance. It should be fine. Besides that, If you are Kaiser Medicare Advantage you will need to be checked for compliance, but if you are straight Kaiser don’t worry about it. They already bought the machine for you based on your compliance during the home titration week with the loaner. You won’t have to prove up your compliance.

3. Am I right thinking that the DME did absolutely nothing other than pull a machine off the shelf and send it to me? No one told me what my prescription pressure is. I will get that fixed as I deal with my health service (Kaiser). I'm used to working the system. However, when I look at the secret setup menu, the min pressure is 4 and the max is 20. No other readings. This seems a lot like "we'll just let the machine do the work and figure out what pressure he's supposed to be getting."

As I said above, the week with the “loaner” was your titration, so they should have set the pressure on this machine for you. Crapria does NOTHING other than drop ship whatever Kaiser instructs them to send (they are supposed to set the machine for you before sending it). Your DME is Kaiser, not Crapria. Crapria is merely Kaiser’s supplier. So if you have problems, call the sleep techs at Kaiser. They are very helpful in my local Kaiser, YMMV.

4. Is there any way to get the main screen backlight to turn on?

. No backlight. Sorry.