New REMstar Auto M Series Device

[ICantGetNoSleep]

The provider manuals can be bought off of ebay.

[SleepFitness]

I recently traded in my M-Series Plus w/C-FLEX for a M-Series Auto w/C-FLEX.

The firmware that came loaded is v4.01. Just an FYI if anyone's curious.

Also, I can confirm that I recieved a user manual for the Auto that looks a lot like the CPAP manual I had... I'll check to see if its any different.

Sure enough, I had a nice glossy page that said REMOVE FROM PACKAGE AFTER SETTING UP MACHINE.... a provider instructions list.

It's pretty much a flow chart of the set up options (which as mentioned is accessed the same way as on the Plus/Pro CPAP's: hold down the <> arrow keys when pluggin it in and release AFTER hearing two beeps).

The CPAP Split option allows you to run in CPAP mode for the amount of time entered, then revert to APAP. Only question I had was how do you set the CPAP pressure used for the Split Therapy option... I don't know really. Does it just use the minimum presure? maximum pressure? 90% of max? I dunno... I just leave it in APAP for now.

[rested gal]

The CPAP Split option allows you to run in CPAP mode for the amount of time entered, then revert to APAP. Only question I had was how do you set the CPAP pressure used for the Split Therapy option... I don't know really. Does it just use the minimum presure? maximum pressure? 90% of max? I dunno... I just leave it in APAP for now.

Split Night Therapy will run at the minimum pressure of the range you already have set, and will deliver that one minimum pressure for the amount of time you have set for Split Night.

For example, if you already have your range set at, say, 6 - 20, and you set a Split Night time of 180 (minutes), the machine will blow only 6 cm's of pressure for the first three hours. It will record events (apneas, hypopneas) but will not raise the pressure above that steady 6, no matter what's happening. After the 3 hours are up, it will begin operating as an autopap using the range of 6 - 20.

Other than for curiosity's sake to see what the data looks like the next morning (if you have the software), there's no good reason to set the machine to use "Split Night." If you ever do set it for Split Night anyway, be sure to remember to change it back to normal operation by resetting Split Night to 0 time. Otherwise it will start out every night doing Split Night from then on.

For practical purposes Split Night should always be set at 0 (zero) so Split Night won't be used at all.

[blowfish]

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[newCPAPguy]

I agree with blarg as far as taking responsibility for your own treatment . . ., I had my Dr. approve a minimum pressure increase after 1 week of waiting, and after his office neglected to forward the prescription change, was informed by the device provider that it might be another week before they would schedule time with a respiratory tech to make the adjustment that I just made in <3 minutes . . .

here it is mth712, free of charge . . . (internet access not withstanding)

www.cpap-supply.com/v/cpap-machine-manu ... 0guide.pdf

I do believe in keeping the Dr. and tech in the loop, but they have a less vested interest in the outcome of this process than I do, as their recent performance shows . . .

[Wulfman]

This thread is almost a year old. I would imagine that mth712 received the needed information back then. But thanks for posting.

Den

[its me mth712]

Holy old thread Batman...

[rested gal]

I'll bet a lot of old threads that happen to resurface help a lot of new people.

Long live the old threads... may they wake up, yawn, stretch, and amble up to the top often!

[I am MTH712]

Doesn't even look like you rested gal. Unfortunately I haven't been doing good with Cpap since I had to go to night shift and came back to days. I got out of the routine when on nights and haven't been able to get back in it.

My new job the past year or so I sit on my rear about 80% more than my old job and when I came back to days I found myself dozing off all the time at my desk. I never thought I could doze off at work. I realized I had a big problem and mentioned it to my shrink that has treated me for Depression I have had forever it seems.

He asked me if I wanted to try Provigil and I said yea even though I think this new young shrink is a pill pusher. I had read about it years ago and said I would never use it but I am so tired of not being able to keep up with men 20 years older and 50 pounds fatter than me.

I can say it took a week to get the insurance to pay. I took the script to the pharmacy and they said it needed to go through review before they covered it. I asked how much is it if I buy it and she said $620 for 60 x 200mg. I looked at my Wife with my mouth hanging open and was shocked. I said yes it needs to go through something. So a week later it was approved after my Doc fought for it and they said I had to fail CPAP or Autopap and although I really haven't failed treatment totally when they found out I had been on it for 20 years they approved it. They pay 90% which surprised me. I pay like $65 and they pay $420 so I guess they get it cheaper than you or I could without insurance.

I don't have too much to report on the drug except I didn't think it worked the first week at 100mg twice so I went to the 200mg once or twice a day and it does work. I feel weird and had some dizziness but I have slept without cpap 4 hours the last several nights and am awake all day and getting better every day. The strange thing is my wife says I don't snore as much or as loud on the drug without cpap?(haven't used cpap in months since going to night shift). I know I need more sleep cpap or not and I really need to try and get back on cpap soon. I have severe allergies that always had caused problems with cpap and I had a tumor removed from a sinus and deviated septum fixed 20 years ago and the cpap makes the scars under my upper lip and in my sinus hurt bad.

In my new job it is so slow that night shift often sleeps on the floor at night until they are needed to fix a machine. This is with the approval of our very laid back supervisor. We also have a manager on the east cost who I always knew wouldn't like the sleeping too much.... You would get fired sleeping on any job I had before. So here I have been back on day shift and had the flu then a cold and adjusting back to days and i kept dozing at my desk feeling very embarassed so took it upon myself to explain to my Supervisor that I had no desire to sleep at work and I was very embarassed and sorry and he said don't worry about it as long as the customer is happy and they are. I was still bothered so that is why I went to Doc and went on Provigil.

So here I have my first review at my new job Yesterday over the phone since my Manager is in Ct. and I am in Mo. . I got an average joe review which is better than I have been feeling I deserved lately. Then at the end of the review my Manager mumbled something about no then yea I gotta bring this up and he said an unnamed person said I have been napping at my desk... He said it was not someone I usually work with but someone that seen this.
I didn't bring up the Apnea at first but I told him considering our Supervisor said he was going to bring in a cot for 3rd shift Techs at one time and considering one 3rd shift Tech keeps a roll up cot at work he sleeps on at night I didn't feel like I was going to get in too much trouble for dozing off staring at my computer for a couple minutes. He interrupted me and said he was aware of that 3rd shift Tech and he has a medical condition. I already knew about his condition of Irritable Bowel Syndrom because he used this medical condition as a reason he had to stay on 3rd shift. We all know he wants to be on 3rd because it is easier and no supervisors are around because he said as much.

I then informed my Manager that I actually never wanted to use it as an excuse but I have well documented Severe OSA and other conditions I feel are none of his business and I disclosed all of it on my hire documents as requested. I told him I really didn't want to ever use it as an excuse on the job.So I kind of over defended myself and he Thanked me for telling him so he would have an answer if it came up. He told me I did a great job the past year and just keep it up.

So now I feel I will never go anywhere here at this Job. They know too much.

Mike