New Sleep Style 254 APAP machine - need help please

[mkmary]

I have used a CPAP machine for a little over 2 years and have not been able to have any more sleep studies because I don't have insurance anymore, so I have upped the pressure a bit when I start to have trouble staying asleep or notice I'm really tired during the day but I was concerned that I might not be going high enough or going too high.
I just purchased an APAP machine, Fisher and Paykel Model HC254 because I read that if you can't afford sleep studies the APAP's are a good choice.
I'm not sure of the set up on this new machine. My CPAP was set at 12. The APAP machine came set at 4 on the low end and 20 on the high end and then there is another setting for Apnea Cap. I am not sure what the min and max mean for me as the user. Does it start up at only 4 CmH2o? Or is that how low the pressure will go if I am breathing good? And what the heck is the Apnea Cap setting for? The darn manual and users guide are written for people who know what they are doing and I'm still in the learning stage.

Can anyone help me out with this?

Thank you - Mary

[Hawthorne]

Most auto come set at 4 cm minimum pressure and 20 cm maximum pressure unless a doctor indicates a differetn pressure range.

4 cm is much too low for most people. Right now, that machine will start at 4 cm and go up as high as it needs to to deal with any events you may have. Your titrated pressure was 12 cm so it has to go up to 12 cm before it is any good to you at all.

I don't know much about Fisher & Paykel machines but, if it were my machine and my titrated pressure was 12 cm, I would set the minimum pressure at 11 or 11.5 cm (so the machine doesn't take too long to get to the needed pressure and, in taking that time, allows many events to take place).

Do you know how to change the pressure settings on your machine? It is a good one, especially if you know your titrated pressure (as you do) and you know how to change pressure settings. Also helpful, would be the computer software for your machine which will read detailed data from the card in your machine and you can use that data to set a really good pressure or pressure range for you to get optimum therapy.

Not many people on this forum have this machine but there are some and if you change your title to include the name of the machine you have it may get the attention of those people.

[mkmary]

Thank you, yes I have the disk that tells me how to adjust the machine pressure but not the software. Unfortunately the software is only available to purchase from Australia. I am going to try to see if the local medical supply place would be willing to work with me if they have a copy - perhaps I could get them to run a report for me (fingers crossed!!).

[jdm2857]

If you do look for the software it the "Performance Maximizer" software that you want. Stay away from "Compliance Maximizer".

[Zeke351]

mkmary,

check your pm's.

Zeke351

[Beachmeezer]

I have the same machine - have been able to tweak a little. Not much info out there that I can find and I can't find the software either.
Kim

[Hawthorne]

Someone here (I can't remember who) has the software. That person is not very active on the forum. This post will bump your thread up and, hopefully, they might come on and see it.

You could use the "search", using the name and model of your machine and you might find this person or persons who have (has) the software among the threads and you could do some PMing to them.

[DAK01]

I have had the Sleep Style 254 now for 6 months. Had the 234. Wanted the Auto as it sounded good in the forums. So far I am finding my sleep is not as good as the 234 with a set pressure reading. Is there anything I can do to improve performance of the 254?
Earlier it was suggested the minimum be upped to a number closer to my determined value.

My wife tells me am snoring quite a bit while unite is on. Using Comfortgel mask.

Also, does any one have access or know how to access the software to analyze the memory stick?


Any comments/thoughts are appreciated.


David

[cflame1]

try reading this:
viewtopic/t52936/Where-To-Buy-Performan ... tware.html

[Guest]

Thanks cflame1.


David

[drubin007]

I will pm you with info on where you can get the software...

I am the one that is not very active on here (hiding).

The software is instrumental in changing pressure as well as viewing the reports from nights past.

[Guest]

drubin007

Thank you for the PM re software.

Will keep an eye open for it.


David

[tspisak]

Any suggestion for the apnea cap setting? During my study a few weeks ago (I just got the report today) they had to increase my pressure to 11 to get rid of my snoring. I am going up my min pressure settings from 5 to 8 so the machine doesn't take so long to react but I don't about the apnea cap setting. It was set at 0.