RemStar M Series C-Flex CPAP and smart card

[sleephunter]

Hello everyone, new member here but been lurking for a long time.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about a month ago and have been trying really hard to become compliant. Unfortunately, it hasn't been going well.

I have finally found an interface that I am comfortable with (stomach sleeper) and have been reading as much as I can to find out how to figure out whats not working with my treatment.

My machine is a RemStar M Series but didn't come with the smart card slot. The cover is there and the bay bay is just waiting to slide one of those puppies in there but it didnt come with one. What is the best thing to do in order to get a smart card reader installed? Should I ask my sleep doctor for a prescription to get the reader installed?

Secondly, if by some miracle I get a smart card slot, what software works with the ResMed. I have been reading about Encore but see that the recent updates from ResMed were stopped. Which version are compatible with the ResMed M Series? How do I go about getting a version of the software? Can my sleep doctor prescribe a recent copy of the software?

I apologize for the myriad of questions I have posed. But as stated I am new to this whole apnea treatment scene and want to learn quickly what I can do to take control of my treatment. Nobody can heal me better than me helping myself

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, Prescription, Smart Card

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, Prescription, Smart Card

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, Prescription, Smart Card

[Guest]

What machine do you REALLY have?
The title of the thread mentions APAP, but when I click on the picture of your machine, it takes me to an M Series Pro. Both of those machines SHOULD have come with a card slot and card.
If your machine is, in fact, the "Plus" model (typically given out by DMEs), it won't do any good to get the card slot and card because that machine only records hours slept.....compliance.

By the way.....you also used the name ResMed in your post.....which is not the manufacturer of the M Series machines.....it's Respironics, which has the "REMstar" line (M Series machines).

Den

[Guest]

By the way......Welcome to the forum!

Den

[sleephunter]

I apologize I am not home right now so I can't get the name / model right. Sorry about that. What makes it worse is that I am so tired I really get remember specifically which it is.

I think your right. Its the Plus version. It is the default machine that I got from the supplier.

( I updated the original post to RemStar).

So the plus version only shows hours of sleep? The documentation shows information on modem / smart card halding, doesn't this mean that there should be support for those options even if not currently installed? I guess I am baffled as to why they would add those options if it would only store compliance information.

What would you suggest I do to upgrade to a data capable (or more capable) machine?

Again, thanks in advance for your help.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Smart Card

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Smart Card

[Snoredog]

I would NOT bother "upgrading" your REMSTAR with a SmartCard module, the machine isn't capable of generating any data once you do install it.

If the machine is capable of detailed data or at a minimum compliance data it would already have a SmartCard module installed.

You are better off putting that money towards a A-Flex machine which can with the right software provide detailed data.

[sleephunter]

I would NOT bother "upgrading" your REMSTAR with a SmartCard module, the machine isn't capable of generating any data once you do install it.

If the machine is capable of detailed data or at a minimum compliance data it would already have a SmartCard module installed.

You are better off putting that money towards a A-Flex machine which can with the right software provide detailed data.

Thanks SnoreDog, I am only roughly 1 month into my treatment and I know my machine is on rental for the first three months. I have an appointment with my Sleep Doctor tomorrow, maybe I will ask about changing the machine out to a more capable machine.

I really want to get a handle on this, every day I feel like I am getting worse and worse.

Thanks again.

[DreamStalker]

I would NOT bother "upgrading" your REMSTAR with a SmartCard module, the machine isn't capable of generating any data once you do install it.

If the machine is capable of detailed data or at a minimum compliance data it would already have a SmartCard module installed.

You are better off putting that money towards a A-Flex machine which can with the right software provide detailed data.

Thanks SnoreDog, I am only roughly 1 month into my treatment and I know my machine is on rental for the first three months. I have an appointment with my Sleep Doctor tomorrow, maybe I will ask about changing the machine out to a more capable machine.

I really want to get a handle on this, every day I feel like I am getting worse and worse.

Thanks again.

If your doc seems hesitant, ask him/her if they would prescribe blood pressure meds without monitoring the effects of the meds ... or insulin without monitoring the effects.

[geoDoug]

I am only roughly 1 month into my treatment and I know my machine is on rental for the first three months. I have an appointment with my Sleep Doctor tomorrow, maybe I will ask about changing the machine out to a more capable machine.

When I started on CPAP I had the same machine (Remstar Plus). I did the research and after a couple months had my doctor write a prescription that said "Remstar M-Series Pro with C-flex" second line: "all needed supplies and accessories."

I gave that to my DME (Apria). It got me exactly what I wanted. For now anyway.

Doug.