Oh BOY! I get to meet Mr Resperonics!

[Berniem]

Got A call from Dr Sleep's office today. They set up an appointment with Dr Sleep, The Sleep Lady (Tech) The Resperonics Rep and me. Seems no one there is that familier with the Autopap Cflex Smart card Combo that they are giving me at the appointment. So Mr Resperonics is going to coach me how to use it. One of the problems we are having is to determine the correct pressure for meI'm a little concerned that my doc and her assistants need to be trained on this also (you would think that they would have had some training before), but I really don't care as long as I get help. At the lab where the appointment will be held, they have a lot of different masks that they use during the sleep tests. I only got a chance to use 2 of them at my test so I am going to ask to borrow a bunch of different ones because the one I have is very uncomfortable. I want to demo them at home and try to make a decision on the best one for me.

Does anyone have anymore suggestions for questions I should ask at the appointment?


Bernie

[Wulfman]

Got A call from Dr Sleep's office today. They set up an appointment with Dr Sleep, The Sleep Lady (Tech) The Resperonics Rep and me. Seems no one there is that familier with the Autopap Cflex Smart card Combo that they are giving me at the appointment. So Mr Resperonics is going to coach me how to use it. One of the problems we are having is to determine the correct pressure for me I'm a little concerned that my doc and her assistants need to be trained on this also (you would think that they would have had some training before), but I really don't care as long as I get help. At the lab where the appointment will be held, they have a lot of different masks that they use during the sleep tests. I only got a chance to use 2 of them at my test so I am going to ask to borrow a bunch of different ones because the one I have is very uncomfortable. I want to demo them at home and try to make a decision on the best one for me.

Does anyone have anymore suggestions for questions I should ask at the appointment?


Bernie

That's a sad commentary on the people who are SUPPOSED to "know" this therapy!!!
(unfortunately, all too common)

Good luck.

Den

[rested gal]

Since you already have an M machine basic cpap with the integrated humidifier, that humidifier can be used with the M Auto.

If the M Auto they'll be giving you doesn't have a humidifier with it, get the Respironics rep to hook up the new Auto to your existing humidifier right there. That much "figuring out" (what to plug into what) will already be done for you then.

Inquire about what pressure range they're going to set for you. If they say "4 to 20" (or "4" to anything) ask them to set the low at 5 or 6 instead of 4. A low pressure of 4 can feel stifling...can make a person feel like, "Gee, I need more air coming in." 5 or 6 as the low will probably feel better to you. And may even make the treatment with the machine go better -- it won't have as far to have to move up, should it need to deliver more pressure to prevent apneas at some points during the night.

[christinequilts]

My word of advice- write your questions down before hand!

I only wish I would have taken my own advice when my VPAP Adapt SV was done by the ResMed rep last fall, as a hands on training for my DME's staff, since it was so new on the market- they'd had 'classroom/lecture' training prior, but it was their first set up.

I got most of my question answered, but there were a few I forgot.

[Slinky]

Hopefully, "Mr Respironics" will also know HOW to properly fit a mask and show/train the sleep lab staff how to do so as well. (Machine at your pressure, mask fitting sitting up, laying on back, on each side, on tummy).

Good luck! This could be a great opportunity for you. I certainly hope it is and that you reap lots of benefits from it, INCLUDING RESTFUL SLEEP.

[Goofproof]

If "Mr Respironics", has any troubles, you can give him this web sight address, and I'm sure someone here will be able to answer most of his questions. Jim

[Slinky]

Giggle. I swear you are incorrigible, GoofProof!!!

[Berniem]

Good advice all.

I intend to ask all these questions and insist on answers I can understand .
I do see it as an opportunity to get all the parties together and hopefully work with me on the same playing field.
Interesting factoid: I have talked with 3 people in Dr Sleep's office including the Doctor and not one of them ever heard of this web site. I am not crtiicizing much at this point, but IMO it seems that these people are not as wordly about this subject as they should be. In a few short weeks I have found out a lot of stuff that I would have thought my medical provder(s) should have told me. I understand that i didn't ask the questions from the beginning, but how could I ask a question about something I hardly knew anything about to begin with? I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but begins to wonder.

[Wulfman]

Bernie,

They're not as "worldly" because they're concentrating on the $$$ and getting their patients out as soon as possible. "Time is money."

One thing I'd like to know from "Mr. Respironics" is why the manufacturers don't consider the (real) users (us) as customers. Their main concern seems to be with the DME suppliers and helping them make money by making sure they get the cheapest (low-end) machines. Tell him that the companies should only make machines that record the detailed statistics and package a version of Encore Pro for the user base. This would SERIOUSLY cut the non-compliance statistics......because the end users could monitor their own therapy......which is the way it SHOULD BE.
It's seems to me like they WANT people to be non-compliant.

Thanks,

Den