Hello everyone! Newbie Questions

[suenos]

First I'll like to say how wonderful it is to have found this forum. I've kicked around it some and read much of the "newbie" stuff. Everyone seems to be very friendly.
I just started using a cpap machine 6 days ago...and what can I say...it will take me some time to adjust to it. I think it will be ok since I believe Iim starting to see some benefit. Reading the many positive stories has propelled me into thinking that, yeah, I will get better at this.
At the moment I can only get about 3 to 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep with the machine. I believe that the pressure may be too much for me...but I'll wait a bit until I get more acclimated with the machine/mask before I see about reducing the pressure.
a few questions:
* I have a Phillips Respironics Plus - C Flex - How current is this machine? Or is it an old model that my provider gave me?
* The machine begins at 4 and ramps up to 9 (where the doctor, I suppose, has recommended). If I find the pressure to be too much at 9, can I reduce it or must it be done by the Doc/Tech?
Thanks in advance for any assistance!

[Emilia]

Yours is an older, out of date machine and is no longer sold on cpap.com. It is also not data capable so you won't get any useful information other than compliance date (hrs used/# days used). As for changing the pressure setting, yes, you can do it yourself, but I would caution you about that since you don't have the data to see if you really need to do that.

If you are new and the machine is a rental from your DME, you probably ought to try to trade it for a more up-to-date machine that is fully data capable. If possible, state you WANT an auto cpap (which can run in either auto or straight cpap modes). This page from cpap.com lists the most up-to-date auto cpap machines....the first three being the most popular models. https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machines/apap-machine.php Any of these three are excellent machines and have software available that will allow YOU to monitor your therapy and make adjustments as needed.

Keep reading and asking quesitons.... those who are more familiar with your brand of machine will weigh in soon.

[brazospearl]

Welcome to the forum, suenos! We're glad to have you here; please read, read, read everything you can on this forum because the learning curve is really steep.

Your DME has provided you with an unacceptable machine; this wasn't "given" to you, buy the way, you have paid for it one way or another, so you need to get your money's worth. Please find a way to get that machine back to them and get a fully data capable machine. This is why: with the machine you have NOBODY will be able to figure out if your therapy is effective or not--not you, not the DME folks, not your doctor--because the machine doesn't record any data. It only records whether or not you've used the thing. This would be like providing a patient who has diabetes with a blood sugar monitor that only records whether or not a sample was taken, but doesn't read the sugar levels. Nobody would think that's a good idea! Please do your research, there are several excellent machines available. Try to get an auto if you can, because that will give you the most flexibility to optimize your therapy.

Good luck, and ask us anything; we're here to help!

[RipVW]

Hello & Welcome, suenos! Glad you found this forum—SO much useful info and everyone here is so willing to help!
You're lucky to have found this forum as you begin CPAP—took me almost year before I found this place and, with the help of folks here, got my CPAP therapy working as it should. It does take time to get everything tweaked and working at its best, so patience is key as one begins CPAP.

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

[suenos]

hi Emilia...
thanks very much for your reply...will take a good look at other machines and see what I can move up to. Take care

Yours is an older, out of date machine and is no longer sold on cpap.com. It is also not data capable so you won't get any useful information other than compliance date (hrs used/# days used). As for changing the pressure setting, yes, you can do it yourself, but I would caution you about that since you don't have the data to see if you really need to do that.

If you are new and the machine is a rental from your DME, you probably ought to try to trade it for a more up-to-date machine that is fully data capable. If possible, state you WANT an auto cpap (which can run in either auto or straight cpap modes). This page from cpap.com lists the most up-to-date auto cpap machines....the first three being the most popular models. https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machines/apap-machine.php Any of these three are excellent machines and have software available that will allow YOU to monitor your therapy and make adjustments as needed.

Keep reading and asking quesitons.... those who are more familiar with your brand of machine will weigh in soon.

[suenos]

Hey Brazospearl and ripvw....thanks for the warm welcome and the info....yes, lots to learn but eventually will get it working well
Thanks again

[Janknitz]

Suenos,

BEFORE you call your DME to request a decent machine, please take a look at my blog http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/ and learn about how to contact your insurance company so that you understand what is covered and how it gets covered. That way, when you contact your DME, they won't be able to play tricks on you to try to stick you with this machine or a bigger bill.

You should also learn about data capable machines that are current on the market (search around for "data capable machines" in the search box above), and go in specifically requesting exactly what you want. Don't let them stick you with any machine due to your ignorance. You're going to be stuck with this machine for 5 or more years, and you need the machine that's best for YOU, not your DME's pocketbook.