Should I invest in software?

[ChelseaChestnut]

I am very new to using cpap and I am curious about software. Can I even use it with my equipment? What are the benefits? Thanks!
ChelseaChestnut

[mayondair]

YES! There is no other way to know if therapy is working for you. You will be able to troubleshoot with soft wear, possibly avoiding expensive sleep studies. Do not trust DMEs, Docs or anyone else they will not take the time to look at daily data. There are lots of horror stories about unattentive docs and incompetent DMEs. Look out for yourself .Encore Viewer for 99$ from out host will do the trick. Easy to use.

[cflame1]

Chelsea,
Find a user named Uncle_Bob and look at his signature for some links.

[trike-mike]

I concur with getting software. Data is paramount for you to know for yourself how you're doing. Without data such as I had and definitely that I am getting with the data-capapble machine, I can pay attention to how things are going and see what is and isn't working for me. Additionally, it is reassuring to actually see, some mornings, that last night wasn't as bad as it seemed

My RCP is rather unresponsive and trying to get some real feedback would take its toll on my sanity. Having my own data gives me insight not otherwise available to me and there a lot of people here that can help you interpret from a layman's level and, if nothing else, arm you with the questions and information to take back to your sleep doc.

[DoriC]

Yes! Daily Data is essential to successful therapy! Knowledge is Power!

[chunkyfrog]

If they will sell the software; buy it.
The folks who won't may someday get the picture!

[Gerald]

Chelsea......

Reading some of your other posts, I get the impression that you're really serious about getting the best possible therapy. What Mayondaire, Trike, and Dori say is correct. "Listen" to what they're saying....because it's right. No one can manage your therapy better than you can.

Remember........you can't manage what you can't measure. Your goal is the best possible therapy....at the lowest possible pressures....with the greatest possible comfort.

Get the software as soon as you can.....You'll do well.

[Janknitz]

If you want to see what kind of data you get from Encore Viewer, check out my blog at http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/2010/0 ... -tutorial/.

It's very helpful, even when you are not having any problems, just to know how well things are going. And if you are having a problem, you can take a look and see what may be causing it.

[mattman]

Just because I tend to hold a different view on this, I'll chime in.

My answer when people ask me usually is "It depends".

If you are working with a DME who is local, you can almost always get the card read anytime you want for free. It's not something anyone can bill for (That I've ever seen) and any that I've run across have always been willing to do it on the fly, especially if you call ahead.

IF that's the case and it's easy for you to run over there every week or so when you are starting out and then every few months once your established - then I don't see the value in spending the money.

From there, adjust your threshold for what you consider a good value up or down as needed. If you have no worries about spending the money then the threshold for "a good value" may be they are next door and willing to walk over to you and bring you your data along with a muffin basket. If money is really tight right now than the threshold may be much much lower.

Ultimately I just don't tend to automatically say buy the software unless there is a real value to you. Only you can decide if that's the case.

Just one slightly differing viewpoint!

mattman

[mayondair]

Mattman, you must have a very cooperative DME. My new DME,( not the one I fired for trying to pawn off a brick) gave me a really hard time about a download for a doc apt. Wouldn't give me a print out, acted like I wanted top secret material. I have heard some DMEs want to charge $50 for this service. Much better to have soft wear and take care of yourself IMHO

[roster]

I am very new to using cpap and I am curious about software. Can I even use it with my equipment? What are the benefits? Thanks!
ChelseaChestnut

I used it for one day and I never wanted to be without it again.

Now this doesn't mean I look at the reports every day. In fact, I rarely look at them unless I think there was a problem the night before. After I got my settings optimized and the mask leak under control, it was not necessary to look at the reports.

But .... I always want the data and reports available in case something changes and over time it is likely something will change because our bodies are changing.

[Janknitz]

I've heard of some DME's billing for downloading services and charging insurance.

AND, not all the DME's who download data will provide it to the patient--some will only give it to a physician.

Imagine if a diabetic's glucose meter worked that way!

[Baby's Daddy]

Using a cpap machine without the software is rather like driving a car with a blindfold on!
Go for it! You won't regret it.

B.D.

[So Well]

Using a cpap machine without the software is rather like driving a car with a blindfold on!
Go for it! You won't regret it.

B.D.

Good one.

I believe it is Captain Midnight who says "it is like flying a plane in a cloud without instruments".

[diboja]

Using a cpap machine without the software is rather like driving a car with a blindfold on!
Go for it! You won't regret it.

B.D.

I believe it is Captain Midnight who says "it is like flying a plane in a cloud without instruments".

The above comments are exactly how I felt until I received my software a few days ago! I also ordered the card reader but found that I could use the SD slot on my computer and I did not need the reader.

I had to get some help from a friend who gave me advice on interpretation of the information and my provider was also a big help.

My provider has been willing to read my SD card every three months (free of charge) but driving an hour long trip was a bit of an inconvenience and I am now able to obtain the data when I want it. Some folks read their information every day but I will probably extract the data possibly once a week and that is good enough for me.

For the small price of the software it was worth it!