Why get software?

[DoriC]

My DME provider mails me a new card, I swap it out for the one in my machine and then mail the full card back to them. That way I don't have to worry about any sort of gap. I've heard of lots of companies that do it that way.

My own opinion is that I have better things to do with the 100 bucks or so for software and reader and don't feel like dealing with the hassle of trying to get it setup and running smoothly. The DME provider is happy to do so - it doesn't cost anyone anything - so I'll let them.

Add in that I don't care about random bad nights or anything - all I care about is the long term big picture - over the course of a week/month/year is my treatment working? If it is then I'm happy.

Again, just my opinion of course.

mattman

My opinion is that I don't have anything that has a higher priority than managing my own health. Handing that over to a DME is like asking for a ... fill in the blank.

Mattman, how often do you send your card in to the DME to be read? And do they get back to you right away with any concerns about the reports? Do you know who's interpreting it or even reading it? I have a lot of questions and I'm in Dream Stalker's camp that managing one's therapy every night is a #1 priority. I certainly want to know what is happening on those "random bad nights".

[mattman]

I'll usually hear back from them within a day or two of mailing my card in. Usually just a quick voicemail to the effect of 'Everything still looks great' which is all I really care about.
I know the reports get sent to my Pulmo since when I visit her I always hear the same thing 'I've been getting all the reports and everything looks good.' Usually there will be a comment or two about something odd that happened over a night or two. I know once when I got sick and my AHI went up a bit for a few nights she definately remarked about it. And I tried a different mask for a couple of weeks a year or two ago and I remember she picked that out which surprised me (She noticed the leak rate changed for a bit and then went back to normal when I switched back to my old mask).

I don't fault or hate on anyone for wanting the data. To me, it's just not worth the expense since I'm not the type to care about each individual night. What works for me personally is the bigger picture and therefore what works for me personally is just mailing the card in and going on my merry little way. Should I want I know I can just go in at any time and have them download a card while I stand there (Which I have done when I first started out). I know if I need or want it I can even go in and ask them for a hardcopy of my last download (Which I've done as well).

But again, just for me personally all that adds up to me not needing to drop the cash for the software and card reader. Your mileage my vary! I would certainly at least suggest to someone starting out that you may not need to buy these items. If you can afford it, by all means do so. If money is tight you could very possibly get away with holding off for a bit or possibly skipping them altogether.

mattman

[SleepingUgly]

Tell your husband that not having software is like:

Never balancing your checkbook
Never checking your credit card bills against your receipts
Turning your money over to a financial planner and not learning anything about what it is they are doing with it
etc.

My motto: Don't put your fate solely in the hands of people who care less about it than you do.

[DoriC]

SU, Exactly! That's just what I was trying to say!

[D-Rob70]

I hate drudging up an old thread, but I am sure you guys will know more about this than I would.

My DME sends me a new SD Card in the mail and I replace and send in my old one.

Problem, The DME sends me ANOTHER SD Card and says the first one is defective.

Now, I have all the data in my EncorePro2.2 software. My question is, should I bring this data with me to my Dr.'s appt. on the 6th? Or will they get pissed that I am accessing things that they think I should not be accessing?

And am I the cause of the SD Card being "Defective" by using this software?

[cflame1]

SD card... is the machine in your profile correct? An Mseries doesn't use an SD card... the PR S1's do.

[D-Rob70]

It's probably that one, then. Because it is, indeed, an SD card.

I will research and fix my profile.

[D-Rob70]

Fixed my equipment in my sig/profile.

Any ideas on my problem?

(2 or 3 posts ago)

[cflame1]

Encore Pro has the capability of deleting all the data on the card if it isn't setup not to... at least it does on Smart Cards. Not sure exactly where to check it but somebody else may be able to help you on that.

[Cuda]

Why get software?

I reduced my AHI to almost nothing.

Enough of a reason for me.

[D-Rob70]

So I saved weekly detailed reports for every week that I have been on CPAP (7 weeks). I am just gonna put them on my flash drive and bring it with me to my appointment on Friday.

I hope they don't get all in my ass about messing with this stuff.

Another question. I noticed on the new card the DME sent me, there are some differences. A ".sync" file is there. But there is also a folder that starts with "clear" and it seems to have data on it that is older than my machine has been in my posession. Could this data be from another patient that had this SD card before me and they forgot to clear it off?

I have a lot of questions, I know. LOL

[So Well]

So I saved weekly detailed reports for every week that I have been on CPAP (7 weeks). I am just gonna put them on my flash drive and bring it with me to my appointment on Friday.

You are in bad need of some counseling on how to act in an appointment with a doctor. There is not a doctor on the planet that will look at seven weeks of detailed CPAP data.

If you are not doing well then post two or three charts here illustrating the problems you are having and ask questions before you see the doctor. There are some good people here (not me, I'm an %@#&&*) who will give you some good advice.

As far as the doctor's appointment, I usually take one graph of a typical night showing that I am doing great. I never had to take a graph showing a problem because the good guys on the forum always answer before I ever get to the doctor.

A very good doctor can only give good answers to three questions from the patient in an appointment. Most doctors do well to answer one or two.

For the doctor's appointment KISS!.

[xenablue]

After having several doctors telling me "You're doing fine, nothing to worry about" when diagnosed as diabetic 2 years ago, I realized I knew way more about my diabetes than they did, and I really wasn't "doing fine" at all.

Now I use my medical team as consultants who work for me, not tell me what to do and I obey blindly.

Same goes for my Dx of OSA 2 months ago - first thing I did was come here, find out there was software and an SD card for my machine and now learning as much as I can about managing my OSA.

No doctor is as concerned about my health as I am. I asked my doctor if he was willing to have amputations alongside me if I fail at glucose management through ignorance. I'm sure I'd get the same look from my neurologist if I asked her similar questions regarding OSA.

Yes, learning about your medical condition/s take time and research, but I feel empowered and in control of my own life and destiny.

Why get software? Because I care about my health and want control of it - not leave it to someone who has many, many other patients to care for.

Cheers,
xena

[DaisyDo]

If it had not been for the EncoreViewer software, I'd be a failed CPAP user, and might even be dead, or at least suffering from pulmonary hypertension due to failure to use CPAP. It was that hard for me before I got the EncoreViewer, and started thrashing out the problems by analyzing the smart card readouts. When my doc told me I needed CPAP, I had checked out the various models online, and told my doctor that I wanted the Respironics Remstar m-series AutoAflex machine, specifically because of it's features. But I also knew I wanted it because the Encore software was available to read the memory card. It turned out I would indeed need it.

My apnea is considered severe. I had had my first sleep study scheduled for two months, but two days before the sleep study I fell asleep at the wheel and scuffed another vehicle. My doctor had the DME set my machine for a pressure of 12. Getting CPAP started did not initially solve my problems. Now I was having a horrible time waking during the night with the feeling that I couldn't exhale. There were problems also with the mask. I was still so sleep deprived that 2 months into CPAP therapy, I fell sound asleep at the wheel again and this time totalled my car against a car parked along the side of my street, just a couple blocks from my home. This time I ended up in the ER with hematomas, and scrapes. The airbags had both exploded releasing caustic powder, which I inhaled.

My doctor had turned me over to his NP, and she was absolutely useless. I went to her in desperation about awakening during the night with the difficulty breathing. Her response? "Try harder". I ask you how a person is supposed to try harder not to wake up when they can't breathe? I complained to her about my mouth dropping open, spurting air, and waking me up. "Her response? Again, "Try harder." I ask you how a person is supposed to try harder to keep their mouth shut when the muscles are starting to relax as sleep draws near? She was an idiot.

That's when I said to myself, something has to give. I ordered the Encore Viewer Software. It showed I was having unacceptable mask leakage. I went back to the DME and tried mask after mask until I found that the Hybrid mask has a little "chin shelf" that keeps the mouth closed, and a shape that keeps my cheeks from puffing out like a chipmunk.

The Encore Viewer printouts also revealed that I was waking every time the pressure rose to 9. Apparently my expiratory effort was not enough to exhale when the pressure gets that high. I switched doctors, pointed this problem out to the new doctor, and he set my pressure back to 8. The apnea control is still good, and I can SLEEP!

So I am very upset that Respironics has abandoned the EncoreViewer software, and intends not to write a new software and smartcard driver for the new Windows, 64 bit operating systems. In fact, I think the abandonment is outrageous! I called Respironics yesterday and all they would do is confirm that the software and driver won't work on a 64 bit system, which I already knew.

I solved the problem by putting Microsoft's free Virtual PC with Windows XP on my machine. I Installed antivirus to the XP system, got the Microsoft .NET framework software update, updated everything (Virtual PC, Windows XP, .NET framework, and the antivirus). Then installed the EncoreViewer software, and driver on the virtual window, and it WORKS!

I think the EncoreViewer software is especially important for a new CPAP user, especially one who is having ongoing problems that the docs aren't ironing out. But as an experienced user, I'm still glad I got it to working again! It saved me.

[Pugsy]

An old thread but a worthy thread and since DaisyDo resurrected it I will share a brief part of my story.

Titrated pressure RX 8 cm. Bear in mind horrible titration night. Out of the 8 hour night I slept 156 minutes.
Started therapy and felt horrible, no change in symptoms at all.
Got the software which at that time was EncoreViewer 1.0.
Easily seen double digit AHI.
8 cm pressure not enough. Ended up needing 10 cm minimum and using APAP because some nights I need higher than 10 cm. AHI dropped to around 2.

Without using the software I don't know how long it would have taken the doctor to figure out what was going on and there is a good chance the machine would have ended up in the closet. I am not the most patient of people.
With the software and the advice from some forum members, I got things dialed in within about a week after getting the software.