know your machine !!

[sweetpea Mom]

Hi - I've been lurking this forum for about a month now, and love the information that I've gotten. Here's why:

I've just had my second sleep study done, since I was feeling so rotten. The doc upped my pressure from 9 to 11. When the DME tech came to the house to change the pressure, he looked at my (older model) Respironics machine, and politely said "gee that data card is in upside down". I sorta thought he was wrong, but trusted him since my memory isn't the greatest lately. Anyway, I was supposed to get the data card read today so I could take it back to the doc - at 3 pm today. Guess what ? There was no information on the data card !!! When the manager approached me, I told him the story - he was not very pleased with his employee.

So, to make a long story short, I can only urge everyone to KNOW YOUR MACHINE. I would not have been as assertive today if I had not been reading your posts, knowing that I must be pro-active in my own CPAP results and outcome. I thank you for that !!

[Babette]

Glad we've helped you to be more pro-active in your health care!

Now tell us what machine you have, so we can teach you how to read your own smart card!

Best of luck!!!
Barbara

[sweetpea Mom]

oh, you are funny !! (thanks, I needed a smile today - we got 8" of snow last night, with more on the way - and I shoveled all by hand, since I could not figure out how to get the snowblower started )

I have a Respironics Remstar Pro 2 w/ Cflex (got in 2006). I saw my doctor today, hoping and begging for an APAP. The nurse tech is trying to push it thru - stating that I have failed CPAP therapy. With the CPAP I have, the data that I get from it tells me 2 things: (1) the machine is working and (2) I am in compliance. Period. I really want a data capable machine (this forum has been great !!) Trouble is, I've only had this machine 3 years, but I am steadily feeling worse and my sleep study showed that.

If I would have known about this forum 3 years ago, I would have know I could advocate for my own desired machine. But, with the knowledge I've gotten here, and a little perserverence, I am praying that all will go thru.

Thanks for responding to my post - that's really nice of you....

Beth

[Julie]

I would be a bit careful about the tech's saying you failed Cpap therapy... that argument is usually saved for people who need to switch to a Bipap due to central apnea or other complications (severe 02 loss), but you don't "fail" Cpap and then switch to Apap. What happens is that your MD writes a script for Apap (no explanation needed!) and you get that filled. The DME shouldn't make a fuss (though they do) because the billing code for both modes is the same for insce. purposes, though they probably get to keep more on plain Cpaps.

[Guest]

When you pulled the card out of the machine, which side was facing up?

[sweetpea Mom]

Thanks, Julie - I sure have a lot to learn !! I guess I am so deperate to feel human again, I don't care what it takes to get to a better, newer, data capable machine. Since it's only been 3 years since I got my machine, both the tech (nurse practioner) and I feel that Blue Cross may reject the request. At least I will get to "test drive" an APAP first, to see if it makes a difference.

When I pulled out the card in April to have the DME read it - it was white side up, with the data chip (blue side) facing down.

When the tech put it in last Thursday, he put it blue side up, white side down.

I LOVE this forum !!!!!

[akcpapguy]

When I pulled out the card in April to have the DME read it - it was white side up, with the data chip (blue side) facing down.

When the tech put it in last Thursday, he put it blue side up, white side down.

In light of this information, you owe the tech that turned the card over last week an apology. The blue side up is the proper orientation for the data card in that machine, furthermore your card reader is broken since it should have been alarming with an audible alarm and a visual C-1 error code flashing in the LCD display effectively rendering the machine inopperable. Since you were able to use the machine with the card inserted "white side up" one can assume that your card reader is not communicating with the PCA board in your machine. You should track down the individual who placed the card in the machine "white side up", they may have damaged the reader in the process. On the bright side, your machine is now in need of repair which may give you an edge in if you need to justify a new CPAP or an APAP.


AKCPAPGUY

[sweetpea Mom]

THANK YOU, AKCPAP GUY !!! I recall that the other tech from the same DME was the one who installed the card - when I plugged the machine in when I got home, it did give me a C-1 error. Not know what in "sam hill" I am doing, I pulled the card out a little, and it stopped. Yeah, it lit up like a Christmas tree, did give an audible warning, so I wondered what was going on.

Thanks again.....guess I'd better take a trip to my DME tomorrow

[Wulfman]

oh, you are funny !! (thanks, I needed a smile today - we got 8" of snow last night, with more on the way - and I shoveled all by hand, since I could not figure out how to get the snowblower started )

I have a Respironics Remstar Pro 2 w/ Cflex (got in 2006). I saw my doctor today, hoping and begging for an APAP. The nurse tech is trying to push it thru - stating that I have failed CPAP therapy. With the CPAP I have, the data that I get from it tells me 2 things: (1) the machine is working and (2) I am in compliance. Period. I really want a data capable machine (this forum has been great !!) Trouble is, I've only had this machine 3 years, but I am steadily feeling worse and my sleep study showed that.

If I would have known about this forum 3 years ago, I would have know I could advocate for my own desired machine. But, with the knowledge I've gotten here, and a little perserverence, I am praying that all will go thru.

Thanks for responding to my post - that's really nice of you....

Beth

Well, the machine you have IS (or was) fully data-capable. It's the same model I've been using for over 4 1/2 years.
The Pro 2 gives leaks, snores, apneas, hypopneas. All that's needed (in addition to the machine) is the card reader and software to download the data to the computer.


Den

[sweetpea Mom]

Wulfman: uh-oh. What If I use it with the card in (correctly) tonight, and take the card in to be read tomorrow - just to see if I totally killed a good machine ? Guess I could take it in when I talk to the Manager tomorrow, eh ?

thanks for the info......

Beth

[Wulfman]

Wulfman: uh-oh. What If I use it with the card in (correctly) tonight, and take the card in to be read tomorrow - just to see if I totally killed a good machine ? Guess I could take it in when I talk to the Manager tomorrow, eh ?

thanks for the info......

Beth

Should give you the data for the night. Make sure that when "whoever" downloads the data, that when they open the download from the "Interaction List", that they specify "Full Details" and not "Summary". The "Full Details" option will give you all the "good stuff".

By the way, it should make a slight beep when inserting and removing the card (the right way). And, the word "CARD" should appear in the lower right-hand corner of the LCD screen when it's inserted.


Den

[Muse-Inc]

....Blue Cross may reject the request...

They did the one from my sleep doc stating medical necessity. I hadda buy my APAP...Johnny had a Halloween sale and that was enough extra incentive for me. Plus, my co-pay to BCBS was $890 for a dumb CPAP that cost about $350 if purchased outright...I was too muddleheaded to know I had options. Like you, 26.5 months without data and I too was backsliding. I sleep so much better now...'course I had give up my beloved OptiLife pillow mask for the Hybrid. Little over a month now and I am back to sleeping well again.

.... At least I will get to "test drive" an APAP first, to see if it makes a difference

I hope you have the great results I've did when my sleep doc loaned me one to gather data in lieu of a PSG (laidoff couldn't afford the co-pay), was a real eye-opener how well I slept even with sizeable amts of leak.