Just got my machine yesterday

Marilyn · Post by **Marilyn** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:37 pm

Just got my machine yesterday a Remstar Pro 2 W/C flex what ever that means. The mask is a small resmed swift with nasal pillows. The humidifier is a Remstar heated humidifier. I only had it on for a few hours last night, but I am going to hang in there and keep trying to get more time in until get used to it.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:39 pm

The c-flex feature is one that will adapt to your breathing pattern in such a way as to make exhaling easier, as some people have difficulty dealing with that.

capt · Post by **capt** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:49 pm

Here is hoping that all your new equipment helps you. I sincerely hope that your will immediately feel that the treatment is worthwhile. All the best!

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:59 pm

Hi Marilyn, and welcome.

Glad you got your machine and are starting therapy. Pretty soon you will feel a whole lot better.

When you can, you might like to go into your profile and complete the optional section - the one with your equipment, etc. If you type your pressure in the additional comments section, then that info will be included on any of your posts.

Hopefully you won't have any problems, but any questions you have (even what you might term dumb ones), are welcome. And your equipment info will help this forum answer and help you better.

Good Luck and visit us often.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:26 pm

Welcome and I suggest reading the Owners Manual to your machine a few times to know the features. When your first starting out, it seems falling asleep with the mask is the hardest part. There are ways to help with that.

1. Understand and use the ramp feature on your machine. This will start you out with a lower pressure (5cm or so) then over time (5 to 45 minutes) it increases up to your titrated pressure (what ever that is). Hopefully, you will be asleep by the time you reach your prescribed pressure.
2. For comfort, use the Cflex feature, there are 3 settings, try them all, the one that works for you is the one that is easiest to breathe against yet does not cause you to breathe too rapidly or cause hypoventilation. Your titrated pressure can also dictate what setting you can use, if your pressure is low you may not want to use it at all.
3. Try and rid yourself of any nasal congestion, use a saline spray, take a shower before bed etc. Careful using any OTC sprays like Afrin, Vicks etc. they can cause a rebound effect after only a few days use and be the cause of congestion.

Allow yourself a good 4-6 weeks using the mask to get used to things before feeling any relief. If you encounter problems, don't assume it is with the mask/interface, refrain from experimenting with every mask on the market, you'll waste a lot of money doing that. Your equipment setup that you have is pretty popular and should work well for you. Good Luck.

Marilyn · Post by **Marilyn** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:51 pm

Wow thanks for all the help. Snoredog you really laid it on me I appreciate that. Thanks

Linda, Capt and Julie many thanks to you also
My pressure is a low number only 5.

idahogal · Post by **idahogal** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:54 pm

Marilyn, I am a newbie to cpap as well. Just 3 weeks ago I was in your shoes. I had my struggles, posted my questions here, had great feedback and advice and now I sleep like a log. Things are different for each person but hang in there it will get better. I can't even imagine sleeping without my cpap now. I am 100% compliant. I will, however, let you know that you might experience an imediate euphoria and then kind of a let down in a couple of weeks but then you should experience a much more active day. Keep us posted.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:03 pm

ah with your pressure at 5cm, you won't need the ramp or cflex, my bad

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:36 pm

Marilyn, you are very lucky to only need a 5. Way to go.

Now, next step is to educate yourself about "rainout". Because you will probably get a good face washin within a night or two.

Insulate, insulate, insulate. Did I say insulate? .........

Marilyn · Post by **Marilyn** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:32 am

What is "Rain Out?" Why do you say Insulate?

Snoedog what do you mean I won't need the Ramp or Cflex? Then why did they give it to me?

Marilyn

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:20 am

Marilyn wrote:

What is "Rain Out?" Why do you say Insulate?

Snoedog what do you mean I won't need the Ramp or Cflex? Then why did they give it to me?

You won't get rainout in California, it's too dry here even when its raining

rainout is like what happens with a glass of ice water set out on the table, condensation forms on the outside of the glass, with a heated humidifier it can also form on the inside of the hose/mask if the room temp is too cold or humidifier turned up too high. If droplets form on the inside of the hose or mask it is called rainout. The humidity level in your area can also impact if you get rainout or not. I live in California and have never gotten it here.

You won't need ramp or cflex features based upon your current pressure. They are there because the machine comes with these features. If your pressure needed was 10cm, then you could benefit from these features. If your pressure was 10cm you would have a starting pressure which would be lower than that 10cm, most likely 5cm would be the low starting pressure. Use of the Ramp feature allows you to set a timer where the machine starts off at a lower pressure (to allow you to more easily fall asleep) then it increases pressure or ramps up over time (usually 5-45 minutes or time it takes you to fall asleep) until it reaches your final titrated pressure value (10cm). But since your pressure requirement is only 5cm, you would never need or use those features even though they exist.

Cflex is another feature that backs off the pressure when you exhale. If for example you had a pressure requirement of 10cm and was using a Cflex setting of 3, the machine would back off from the 10cm pressure to 7cm pressure on exhale to make it easier to exhale against that pressure. This feature really helps if your pressure is over 10cm. With your 5cm pressure and a Cflex setting of 2 you would be dropping to 3cm (theoretically) which is impossible since the minimum delivery pressure is 4cm. Besides, if you enabled it and it dropped below 5cm, you most likely would be starving for air just to breathe normally.

This is what I would keep an eye on as you use your machine with your current pressure of only 5cm, even 5cm can be almost too low for many patients where you starve for air. Should this happen, you will feel congested and/or stuffy or maybe awaken with headaches (physical symptoms), if so be sure to tell your doctor of this. I don't mention this to make light of your 5cm pressure, only that it can happen with low pressure, yet again you may be just fine with the 5cm pressure, just don't ignore it should it occur. You normally have a 30-day follow-up with your doctor, your machine can record OSA events to the SmartCard, if checked by your doctor, it should reveal if current pressure is found to be too low.

Marilyn · Post by **Marilyn** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:57 pm

Thank youSnoredog. You are in California too? I go back in just 2 weeks and take the machine with me.

Mask

Additional Comments: cpap pressure: 12