Soft for my Respironics REMStar Auto A-Flex M-Series?

[yamar2001]

Which software would I use?
I know I need to purchase an external card reader because the machine is old.

I ask because lately my leak rates/AHI is going up..and I'd like to be able to track this.
My leak was up to 32.4 last night, and AHI was 7.6

I'm used to those numbers being closer to 26 and 4 respectively.
I'm concerned because last time I saw the Resp. therapist she said I may need to move into a large nasal pillow and since I was diagnosed with apnea six years ago, my nostrils have stretches considerably, and the large would make it even worse.

Lots of people claim the nostril will not stretch from nasal pillows... heck the Resp. therapist told me she's trained to say they won't, but even she admitted that many, many people had noticed the same thing, had done before and after pictures comparisons etc. The medium used to fit just fine she said, but now its borderline.

In any case, I think at this point in my apnea I should take control a bit more...and monitor my software weekly...and see if there's anything I can do to help myself.

I once received software from someone via email but I did not use it...partially because I'm stubborn, and partially because I get extremely frustrated when I am forced to deal with more sleep apnea bs. Thanks in advance gang!

[DiverCTHunter]

PM Pugsy about how to get Encore Basic.

[Pugsy]

PM sent.

BTW the nasal pillows won't stretch out the nostrils unless you have them too tight. I have been using nasal pillow mask for nearly 4 years now...I still use the XSmall or Small size...just like I did when I started.

A properly fitted nasal pillow rests gently against the nostril and does not cause the nostril to expand.
Only the inner cone goes just a tiny bit into the nostril cavity. Just the tip of the cone.
Now if someone is trying to cram the whole thing into the nostril...yeah but that would hurt like the dickens.

[yamar2001]

I wear it tight enough that it definitely expands my nostrils... maybe I need to look into loosening it, I just found it works better when I wear it tighter.

I think doing a side by side comparison (with the software) is the best thing I can do for myself at this point.

The airflow doesn't expand your nostrils at all either pugsy? Weird... definitely does for me... I think I'm wearin it a little tight.

[Pugsy]

The airflow doesn't expand your nostrils at all either pugsy?

Not that I can tell but I don't have a mirror to see and my pressures range from 12 to 20.

Take a plain nasal pillow not hooked up to anything...place it gently against your nostrils...slight pressure...it won't stretch out the nostril. It doesn't take much tension to maintain the seal at that gentle pressure.
I bet you have the straps a little too tight..

[yamar2001]

I'm excited to download the software and begin taking a closer look at my #'s
I was under the impression if my AHI was under control, that's all I had to worry about but after looking around this site quite a bit I realize there's more to the story.

Wanted to point out... with my 32.6 leak rate, my machine measures intentional leak (air coming out when I exhale) as well as unintentional.

Even still, its gone up significantly lately.

Thanks gang!

[Pugsy]

Wanted to point out... with my 32.6 leak rate, my machine measures intentional leak (air coming out when I exhale) as well as unintentional.

Even still, its gone up significantly lately.

Yeah, maybe but if you look at the fine print on the paperwork where the graph for vent rate per pressure setting..there's a plus or minus variation of 5 or 6 anyway and also remember that if your machine is increasing the pressure to higher levels that also increases that vent rate.
That 7 day average for leaks on your machine's LCD screen is just sorely limited.

I would assume that with the increase in AHI that your machine has also increased the pressure and may even be maxing it out if you are in APAP mode.
Maybe your pressure needs have changed a bit.
Large leak territory isn't until you reach 90 L/min (total leak) though, so you have a long way to go before you have to worry about that.