my new remstar m auto experience

[magoo]

i've used this forum to extract so much info before my recent cpap purchase that i wanted to share for what it's worth my newfound joy: c-flex. i was all but giving up on cpap with my old solo lx and mask. i was diagnosed with "severe" osa, so i hated to quit using the machine, and through recommendations of several of you i bought a aura nasal interface. though i love the new-found freedom it gives (i'm a side/back sleeper), i was having problems exhaling, and i couldn't get used to this either. after reading about all the noise problems some people were having, i was hesitant to spend the money, but i took the plunge and got a remstar m auto and am glad i did. though my doc prescribed a constant flow of 10, i bought an auto just so i would be using the lowest pressure possible. the auto gives my average at 7.9, with a 7 day ahi of 1.0 and a leak rate of 17.8. if i wake during the night, the inhale/exhale almost feels normal. and i have to honestly say i can barely hear the machine running. my wife asked me when i'm going to turn it on and i say: "it IS on !!!" it has the attached humidifier, and i wonder if that somehow acts as a muffler. anyway, i pay the first $1000 out of pocket, so it wasn't a trivial purchase for me. but if you're having problems adjusting to cpap i wholeheartedly recommend the remstar m auto w/c-flex and the aura nasal pillows. i make sure to lube up my nostrils with vaseline or vicks and it has so far kept them from getting sore. my next purchase will be the card reader and software, so i can dig through the other numbers and monitor where i'm at.

thanks everyone so much for your help and guidance.

matt

[byront]

Good news Matt! Your numbers are looking really good. I have this same machine and humidifier, I also really love it. But I have recently discovered that it may be a bit more noisy than I had thought, although I have never been able to compare it to another machine because this is my first. I recently did a night in straight cpap mode with it set at my 90% average of 11.5cm. For me the noise level, and comfort level, was completely different. I woke up to numerous mask leaks throughout the night, and the constant high pressure kept waking me up. In apap mode my sleep time is spent primarily in the 8 and 9cm range and only goes up to 11.5 when needed - which I have found via EncorePro is not very often. I definitely noticed more noise in cpap mode since it was at a constant 11.5cm, but in apap mode I often would have to check to make sure the machine was still on. One thing is for sure, I am sold on apap. And the C-Flex, - I'm sold on that also. Not to burst your bubble or anything but next time you go in for a new machine check out buying out of your own pocket instead of going through insurance. I got the Auto M w/ Heated Humidifier, hose, bag, manuel w/clinician setup guide, extra filters, ComfortFull 2 mask, and shipping (2 day) for about $100 less than you paid going through insurance. You may be getting more than that when including service provided by your DME - but it seems that most folks don't. Just something to keep in mind next time around. Again - great to hear you never gave up and are finally having some success. --- BT

[Snoredog]

I always crack up when I hear a report the older Remstar Auto is noisy (one prior to your M series Auto). Noisy as compared to what?

If you had one of the old machines like your LX then you know what noise is.

That M uses the same algorithm as the one I have, it will do a good job for you and very quietly.

If it gets too loud turn down your hearing aid