I have some questions, looking for help!

[Guest]

Hi

I am new here, sorry if my questions have been asked before.

I am a 42 yo male diagnosed with severe apnea about 6 years ago and have been on CPAP ever since, using mostly Auto-machines. I tolerate CPAP very well and have not gone one night without it since starting.

Currently, I use a RemStar Auto M-Series with CFlex in combination with a ComfortLite mask. I only got this machine a week ago after my older Remstar broke.

I have the machine set on Auto with a Base pressure of 8.5cm.

My questions are to do with the statistics my RemStar M-Series machine provides. Can someone have a look at these and tell me what they indicate in terms of how well I am tolerating using this machine/mask combo?

* 90% H20 = 9.0cm
* LPM = 29.3
* AHI = 0.9/h

Also, CFlex? I don't have it turned on. My provider told me my base pressure is 'too low' for CFlex to work for me. I don't know anything about CFlex, this is the first time I have had access to it.

Should I try it?

Many thanks for any advice and guidance.

[blarg]

Those numbers look great.

It wouldn't hurt to give C-Flex a try. It's purely a comfort setting, so feel free to use it or not use it, up to you.

[JohnMudie]

Welcome Guest.

Can someone have a look at these and tell me what they indicate in terms of how well I am tolerating using this machine/mask combo?

* 90% H20 = 9.0cm
* LPM = 29.3
* AHI = 0.9/h

Those numbers look real great to me. Your AHI of 0.9 is wonderful. Before APAP my AHI was 27.

But the real question is how are you feeling? The numbers are one thing, your health is the real test.

Your LPM, liters per minute leak rate, shows little or no mask leakage so your mask is fitting well.

You also asked about CFlex. Well I have an M-series Auto like yours except it is set to 8->14 cm and CFlex is turned on. I just love using it.

Would be willing to register and set up your information so we could all remember what machine you are using? That would help us help you.

Most of us with M-series APAP's have bought Encore Pro software to read data off the machine to help us get set up better. With the numbers you are getting, I doubt that you would need it much except to provide an interesting toy.

Oh by the way, if there is anything that you don't understand you might try clicking on the yellow light bulb and red question mark at the top of the page. It sure helped me a lot.

Welcome again

John M

[Nurofen]

Hi

Thanks for the replies to my questions - a big help and is also a relief to know my 'setup' is working well, going by the machine statistics.

Sorry I came in as 'Guest' - being new here, I stuffed up by not logging in properly!

How am I feeling? Well, I've been feeling more daytime (afternoon specifically) tiredness and tired at night than with my previous machine. I've been using the RemStar M-Series for about a month and I have noticed I have been more tired overall. With the stats of the machine looking so good, I'm wondering whether I may be in sleep-debt mode, or maybe even be feeling tired from something unrelated to apnea. I have a cancer history and am on medication for that, so therein may be where the tiredness is coming from. Other than that, I've been feeling quite okay.

I am pleased the LPM result shows little or no leakage as I do wake up from time to time with mask leaks and I have to readjust things. Although after being on CPAP for several years now, I am used to it! This aint an exact science, I know that much!

I will try the C-Flex - guess it's one of those things you have to try for yourself to see if it works for you.

I agree, I would very much like to play around with the Encore Pro software myself, but don't I need a card reader for that and aren't they expensive? Same with the software? I like mucking around with numbers and stats (is part of my occupation) so I may look into it sometime. Right now, I give the card to my Provider and he reads the data and then lets me know changes I might need to make with the machine setup, mask etc.

But with the figures I am getting, I think it best to keep everything the way it is for now.

Once again, many thanks for the help. If I need anything else, I shall be back here as this is obviously a great place to get great assistance and guidance.

Oh, and yep, I did look around this forum at the information databases and found them very helpful.

Thanks again, take care.

[blarg]

I agree, I would very much like to play around with the Encore Pro software myself, but don't I need a card reader for that and aren't they expensive?

$24 plus shipping at http://www.two-factor.com/shop/index.php?productID=115

Same with the software?

$129 at cpap.com. There are other ways to get the software though...

[DreamStalker]

I agree, I would very much like to play around with the Encore Pro software myself, but don't I need a card reader for that and aren't they expensive?

$24 plus shipping at http://www.two-factor.com/shop/index.php?productID=115

Same with the software?

$129 at cpap.com. There are other ways to get the software though...

... but not for too long -- maybe. There are rumors that like ResMed, Respironics may cave to $$ pressures to restrict software only to medical industry service businesses and prohibit sale to patients.

Right now, patients can still buy EncorePro software.

[ddpelp]

Holly crap batman!!! I read the pricing stated above and thought nahh it was 90 bucks for Encore 1.8 a week ago or so.. just checked cpap.com. wow!! They have already started trying to limit those who buy it!! Was bad enough at 90 bucks then the 95 but 129!! Sure glad they had their meeting with the Respironics folks. Maybe I will get kicked off here (hope not) but there are more then two ways to limit those who buy your products.. One restrict the sales and two raise the price so only a few would want to spend the money ..

[ddpelp]

this is why they are doing it .. This site had it slight less then CPAP at 90 bucks note that it now says "Product no longer carried" When I called them before I bought from cpap a few weeks ago they said they would ship 1.8 and had not updated their site. so between then and now still shows 1.6 but nothing sold..


http://www.cpapusa.com/item.php?product ... o+Ver+1.6i


hummm Respironics like most medical companies could not care any less about their users as to them their customers are the DME folks not the end user

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