Poll on using Exhale Relief (mainly on Respironics & Resmed)

[dsm]

Am adding this poll to get a sense of what numbers of us use exhale relief & in what proportions.
The meaning of exhale relief is people on cpap or Auto who use any of: C-Flex, A-Flex, Bi-Flex, EPR.

Have added an option to say if you did use it but then turned it off ...

[Captain_Midnight]

CFLEX for 2 yrs, then AFLEX for 1.5.

For me, AFLEX (setting 2) is just perfect. I see no reason to try any different product or even a different setting. Current AHI averages < 0.5

Others report varied experiences with AFLEX.



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[DoriC]

This poll really interests me because hubby had such a hard time adjusting to cpap until we learned here that maybe the A/CFlex were causing the problem in his case. We realized they just didn't match his breathing pattern. When we finally shut it off completely, things began to turn around for us.

[elg5cats]

I use EPR........no problems with use. elg5cats

[track]

A-flex is stomach friendly for those that get air pumped into their gut...and that be me...so I use it for that reason.

[cassaro]

I currently use a-flex on setting 3 but will be adjusting this as time goes on. I have only been on cpap for 20 days now and had a few bad nights at first but now I am doing much better. From what I have been reading in the forums I may find that I do even better with a lower number or off all together. But I will give it time and check my data each day and to get a good base line.

[psychomamma]

Thanks to Dori (see above) -- I have now finally been able to sleep at night because I turned my C-Flex off. I was still trying to exhale and the machine would start breathing into me! Now that I have it turned off, I can breathe in my natural rhythm, which is a short inhale and a very long exhale. I would have never thought of this on my own, but it works great.

My next mountain to tackle is aerophagia - I wake up after 4.5 hours bloated like a whale! haha.

LIsa...

[Juliebove]

This poll really interests me because hubby had such a hard time adjusting to cpap until we learned here that maybe the A/CFlex were causing the problem in his case. We realized they just didn't match his breathing pattern. When we finally shut it off completely, things began to turn around for us.

I am thinking this might be my problem too. I tend to breathe more slowly than my machine does. It's very annoying!

[Hermit]

I had a straight cpap which had a habit to fill me up like a tire and or a parade balloon.Extremly uncomfortable.It didn't stay in use for long on my shelf. Was replaced by an Autoset II with the epr set on 3. For me much better.Back in the begining I had a loaner that had c-flex was better than straight cpap but for me still not right.

[yardbird]

I think exhalation relief can be a godsend for some people, especially those just getting started on xPAP therapy. BUT.... and it's a big but... it can also be a curse for some who just don't do well with exhalation relief.

After many years on xpap I gradually turned it down until now I don't use it and I don't miss it at all.

We're all different though.

[nobody]

I voted for CFLEX because that's what I used. I tried the AFLEX for a while and hated it so went back to CFLEX.

[jnk]

I would like to file a formal complaint that, at least as I read it, bilevel users are being excluded from this poll.

[Hawthorne]

You didn't ask the setting of any exhalation relief and I think the setting makes quite a difference - at least it does for me.

I used a straight cpap, with no extra bells and whistles for 6+ years.

In February of 2008, I got an M Series auto with A-Flex. I went straight to A-Flex at 3.

Over the time, since I got this machine, I have tried C-Flex at all settings and A-Flex at all settings and finally seem to have settled on A-Flex at a setting of 1 as the most comfortable for me.

[mikee]

I used A-flex on 3 for about 4 months, now it's at 1 which seems to be a good setting for me

[6PtStar]

When I started almost 3 years ago I don't think I would have made it without C-flex. I am still using it but I really think I coud make it without it now. Jut have not found a good reason to turn it off yet.

Jerry