Respironics REMstar | auto question

[Jabba]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I was prescribed a CPAP machine in 2007. I tried it out and got frustrated with it, unplugged it after 6 weeks and put it away.

I've decided to give it another go. I turned it on, and the ramp button is not working. Machine stays at 5 cm pressure. I think the memory was wiped out (batter ROM? )

I've read the manual and have am able to get into Therapy Setup mode. I'm confused on how to set up the machine to start at 5.0 cm and go up to 9.0 cm (what doctor prescribed).

I guess I'm confused about the Auto part and the Cflex part. Could someone here help me set this machine up properly again? I want it to scale up, but also take advantage of the Auto and Cflex part. Can that be done? Whats the difference between Auto and Cflex?

Model: REMAuto w/C-Flex Core Pack Canada
Model No: CA1017477
S/N: 4692614

My contact person at the company is off on holidays....

Thanks for your help.

[ww]

Be very careful what you do unless you know what your script should be. The memory is not wiped out by storage. You can get the original DME that you got the machine from to set it back to your script values (probably for no charge). You can also call your sleep doc's office and have them mail or e-mail you a copy of your script and it should contain all the data you need for future reference.

[LinkC]

Well, I'll have a go at SOME of your questions...

AUTO measures your Apnea Index (apneas/hr) and adjusts pressure up or down (within set limits) to minimize apneas.

C-flex reduces the pressure when you start to exhale to make it easier (you aren't exhaling against the full pressure.)

The terms are a bit confusing because there's also an A-flex (a derivitive of C-flex); and AUTO is sometimes called "APAP".

If it's a RemStar and the "ramp" is indeed stuck on, you can go into clinician setup and change the ramp starting pressure to 9. That will give you 9 without ramping up to it. I'd be a bit leery of using a machine that appears to not work correctly, tho.

That being said, if it's been almost 2 years, I'd strongly urge you to see a sleep doc before re-starting therapy on your own. Who knows what's changed since then?

[jules]

the machine is the legacy series (Tank)

you don't want to use ramp in APAP mode

to get data you need to get encore pro or encore viewer and the card reader

if you find dsm's webpage - there is a complete manual for this machine

http://www.internetage.ws/cpapdata/manu ... d-auto.pdf

[GumbyCT]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I was prescribed a CPAP machine in 2007. I tried it out and got frustrated with it, unplugged it after 6 weeks and put it away.

I've decided to give it another go. I turned it on, and the ramp button is not working. Machine stays at 5 cm pressure. I think the memory was wiped out (batter ROM? )

I've read the manual and have am able to get into Therapy Setup mode. I'm confused on how to set up the machine to start at 5.0 cm and go up to 9.0 cm (what doctor prescribed).

I guess I'm confused about the Auto part and the Cflex part. Could someone here help me set this machine up properly again? I want it to scale up, but also take advantage of the Auto and Cflex part. Can that be done? Whats the difference between Auto and Cflex?

Model: REMAuto w/C-Flex Core Pack Canada
Model No: CA1017477
S/N: 4692614

My contact person at the company is off on holidays....

Thanks for your help.

I am thinking that it is starting at 5cm which is very low and will NOT increase pressure UNTIL it senses an apnea or hypop. This is a normal working expectation. Is this what you are seeing?

Auto's do NOT just keep increasing. I think if your battery or another problem were present, you would see an error code on the LCD.

Jabba lots of good stuff here to help you along the way. But it doesn't come in pill form or overnite.

[Jabba]

Thank you for your replies. I set the machine to CFLE and will try this tonight. I'll call Debbie when she gets back from her trip down South (she's my contact person).

Good point on being reassed. I'll call me Doctor and see what she has to say. That link to the book is good and explains things better than my book.

My firmware version is 2.8. Does anyone know what kind of data is stored on the smart card? I believe it only records usage since it is not a Pro 2. Am I correct? I would hate to buy a card/software if all it tells me how long the machine was on...

[Jabba]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I was prescribed a CPAP machine in 2007. I tried it out and got frustrated with it, unplugged it after 6 weeks and put it away.

I've decided to give it another go. I turned it on, and the ramp button is not working. Machine stays at 5 cm pressure. I think the memory was wiped out (batter ROM? )

I've read the manual and have am able to get into Therapy Setup mode. I'm confused on how to set up the machine to start at 5.0 cm and go up to 9.0 cm (what doctor prescribed).

I guess I'm confused about the Auto part and the Cflex part. Could someone here help me set this machine up properly again? I want it to scale up, but also take advantage of the Auto and Cflex part. Can that be done? Whats the difference between Auto and Cflex?

Model: REMAuto w/C-Flex Core Pack Canada
Model No: CA1017477
S/N: 4692614

My contact person at the company is off on holidays....

Thanks for your help.

I am thinking that it is starting at 5cm which is very low and will NOT increase pressure UNTIL it senses an apnea or hypop. This is a normal working expectation. Is this what you are seeing?

Auto's do NOT just keep increasing. I think if your battery or another problem were present, you would see an error code on the LCD.

Jabba lots of good stuff here to help you along the way. But it doesn't come in pill form or overnite.

Well, yeah, machine just stayed at 5:00 even after 2 hours of trying to get to sleep and the ramp button didn't do nothing (which I remember it did when I first got the machine). This is why I think something got reset somewhere or an internal battery wore out from being unplugged for so long (have not opened the machine).

Its very difficult to get used to the machine, but lately I've been feeling really tired during the day so I'm pretty sure its the APNEA. I'll book an appt. with the sleep therapist. Hopefully I don't have to sleep at the sleep clinic again...

[jules]

ramp is not an option for the APAP tank in either Auto modes - it is okay for the m series machine but not the legacy / tank

do you have split study turned on somehow? or just try to use ramp in AFLE or APAP?

ramp should be fine in either cflex or cpap mode

you get full enhanced data with the card reader and software as long as you got a workable card

[Jabba]

ramp is not an option for the APAP tank in either Auto modes - it is okay for the m series machine but not the legacy / tank

do you have split study turned on somehow? or just try to use ramp in AFLE or APAP?

ramp should be fine in either cflex or cpap mode

you get full enhanced data with the card reader and software as long as you got a workable card

Yeah, I was playing around with it and Ramp only works in CPAP and CFLE mode. It was in AFLE when I first went into the menu with a value of 5.00 cm on the lower and 15 on the upper. What is split study used for?

[jules]

my understanding is to diagnose the first half of the night then treat the second half

[Wulfman]

In case you don't have all the setting options......

Den



REMstar Auto w/C-Flex Setup

When in the Setup Menu, the humidifier ^ and ramp v buttons operate as up and down keys to change the settings, the left/right user buttons < > allow you to go to the previous/next question or setting, and the pressure start/stop button is used to exit the Setup Menu. Holding the humidifier or ramp buttons down will cause the values to change more quickly.

To enter the Therapy Setup Menu, hold the two top user buttons < > down while plugging in the power cord.
Continue holding the buttons down until the REMstar Auto w/C-Flex beeps twice.

Note: The word "setup" will appear on all of the screens indicating that you are in the Therapy Setup Menu.
(If you press the Pressure start/stop button, you will exit the Setup Menu.)

A. Compliance hours/nights: (recommend leaving alone, but CAN be cleared at this point)
Select next setting with >

B. Therapy mode: (CPAP/CFLE/APAP/AFLE) select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >

B1. If CPAP or CFLE select pressure setting: Select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >

B1a. C-Flex mode (if you chose CFLE mode): Select setting 1, 2 or 3 with ^
Select next setting with >

B2. If APAP or AFLE, select minimum pressure setting: Select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >

B2a. If APAP or AFLE, select maximum pressure setting: Select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >

B2b. C-Flex mode (if you chose AFLE mode): Select setting 1, 2 or 3 with ^
Select next setting with >

C: Ramp time setting: Select with ^ or v
(ramp time will be turned off with a setting of 0:00)
(if using APAP or AFLE mode, Ramp setting MUST be set to 0:00)
Select next setting with >

D. Ramp pressure setting: Select with ^ or v (use only in CPAP or CFLE mode)
Select next setting with >

E. Patient disconnect setting: 1 = on 0 = off Select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >

F. Buttons lights setting: 1 = on 0 = off Select with ^ or v

(Last setting. Use On/Off button to exit Setup)

[Jabba]

Thats some good info.....Thanks for the answer jules...

B2a. If APAP or AFLE, select maximum pressure setting: Select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >


Wonder why mine was set to 15 cm (in AFLE) if my doctor presscribed 9 cm. ?

[Wulfman]

Thats some good info.....Thanks for the answer jules...

B2a. If APAP or AFLE, select maximum pressure setting: Select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >


Wonder why mine was set to 15 cm (in AFLE) if my doctor presscribed 9 cm. ?

It depends on whether you were using the machine in CPAP mode or APAP mode.
The pressure settings for CPAP/CFLE mode and APAP/AFLE mode can be programmed independently and will be retained.
For example, if your machine WAS set to CPAP/CFLE mode, it could have been set to 9 cm. and your APAP/AFLE settings could have been set to 5 - 15 cm.

Does that help?

Den

[nate fry]

You unplug it , and then press the two buttons and plug in . It will unlock it and you can set what ever you want.Look at the lock icon, when it is unlocked set it how you want.

[Jabba]

For example, if your machine WAS set to CPAP/CFLE mode, it could have been set to 9 cm. and your APAP/AFLE settings could have been set to 5 - 15 cm.

Does that help?

Den

Thanks Den, yeah, that makes sense. Why would the upper limit be set to 15 when my prescription was 9? I assume that the machine will let its self go up to 15 if I needed it. Is it bad to go beyond the 9 my sleep doctor prescribed?

Sorry to be asking so many questions. I guess first time around I did this without educating myself so much about it. I didn't think this forum (or any for CPAP) existed. I guess it goes to say there is a fofum for everything out there... These sleep clinics should give each new patient this web site ( or other web resources ) ...

Well, I set the machine at CFLE, lowe 5, upper 9, 45 ramp. Seemed top work much better than the last 2 nights. I was able to use the machine til 2:30 (approx 4 hours) before I took it off. I do feel more rested although still feeling tired today, but not so much as yesterday...

Anyone have any idea how long it will take for me to adjust to sleeping with it 8 hours? I am looking forward to this day...

I find the air on my face cool and tends to keep me up / is a nuissance. I've been thinking of heating the water before I go to bed. I live in Canada and its must be -20 out there today... Any other canucks here?

BTW, my real name is Garry, I always use Jabba for forum names. I'll post a Hi thread next as I have a feeling I'll be digging into this site for info / wisdom (sure looks like its a deep well)...