Change from old CPAP to exhail relief (cflex, aflex, bipap)

[MikeS]

I have been using my good old plain CPAP for about 6 years now. It is time to replace the old machine... mainly with one that can run on 12v for camping.

My old beast doesn't have any exhale relief system and I am trying to decide if I need to spend the extra money for one that does? I know I can just turn the feature off if I don't like/need it.

I would like to hear from anyone that has changed from a good ole constant pressure CPAP to one with (cflex, aflex etc.) about their experiences. Was it the best upgrade ever? If so did you have problems with your constant pressure cpap before? Did anyone get a new fancy CPAP and then turn off the exhale relief?

There is a low hour System One Auto BIPAP on the local CraigsList for a good price (Cheaper then other system one CPAPs) and I am thinking about buying it knowing I can disable the BIPAP if I want.

From many posts I get the impression that the System One models are far superior to the M series and much better machines?

[Muse-Inc]

I went from straight CPAP to an APAP with exhalation pressue relief. I might be one of the few here who became intolerant of straight pressure -- after almost 24 months of CPA therapy my ribcage started aching until it finally started to hurt when I took deep breaths (like the first few wks as a hosehead)...even when I yawned! Will never know if I'd had exhale relief whether I'd have been able to continue with straight pressure as I don't intend to be without an autoPAP again. I now sleep with a higher range setting than my old CPAP pressure but I have exhale relief on all the time. For me, it makes a huge difference..might not the same for you.

[WillCunningham]

I have my pressure setting at 21 on my bipap and I was really looking forward to the whole "make it easier to exhale" thing. In my case, the bipap setting turned out to be too distracting and annoying so I went back to straight cpap mode. I liked that it was easier breathing out, but there were too many times I would breath irregularly and get out of sync with the machine making it do this weird flutter thing. I found the pressure changes to be very noticeable and also kind of bothersome. I gave up on it after about a week and felt way more refreshed in the mornings after switching back to straight cpap mode. I had a similar reaction to APAP mode too. The pressure changes would disrupt my sleep and I would wind up tired. I don't want to discourage you from trying it though! Many people love it and I am pretty sure I am in the minority. Good Luck!

[MikeS]

Thank you for the replies. Very interesting replies too... one "Can't live without it" and one "Can't live with it".

This leaves me kind of considering saving a few hundred bucks and buying a used ResMed M series, possibly without exhale relief. I haven't had any problems with constant pressure in 6 years or so. This would cover my needs for camping. Hmmm... decisions, decisions, decisions.

[MikeS]

I meant Respironics M series

[Pugsy]

The M series machines offer exhale relief either CFlex or A Flex also. It is easily turned off though in the M series an new PR S1 machines.

I started my therapy with M Series APAP and just this past April got a PR S1 APAP because I wanted the additional data that is available much easier with the SD card.

I found I could either take it or leave it with the CFlex but rather like the AFlex.

[MikeS]

I just got home from a 4 hour round trip in which I bought a RemstarAuto M (I was able to visit my parents which made the drive worth it) for $172. I figured out how to get my setting from my old machine (6.5) and how to set the new machine (I choose 6 minimum 11.5 max). I see the "C-Flex" button but nothing for "A-Flex"? Is the A-Flex setting in the professional setup menu where the pressure settings were? Maybe I should RTM! (Read the manual)

I have 6 years on my old CPAP and it has 6000 hours on it. The guy I bought the RemStarAuto from said he had it for about a year and it has 3000 hours on it. Hmmm.... so much for being truthful.

I am looking forwards to going to sleep tonight. And I am really looking forwards to a good nights sleep tomorrow night in the tent at the camp ground!

Thank you for the replies!

[MikeS]

I just figured out that I have a RemStarAuto without AFlex. Oh well, still a big step up from my old FischerPaykel.

[Pugsy]

My first machine was M Series Auto with C Flex bought from an individual in 2009 with zero hours on it. It appears to have been produced in 2007 from the reporting. I later had a chance to get same machine with A Flex. I used AFlex unit till April this year when I got the PR S1. While I found I rather liked AFlex, it wasn't like I hated CFlex. At my minimum pressure of 10 cm I could breathe easily enough at all CFlex settings and even with it turned off. I tried them all when I first started therapy to see if the CFlex settings made any difference in AHI. No changes in my case.

If you want the full data off the machine the card reader is still available for about $40. It works on EncoreViewer 2 or Encore Pro 2. It would also work with Encore Viewer 1.0 which I have on disc somewhere packed away. So I can help with the software if that interests you at all.

3000 hours is obviously more than a years worth of use unless used for a little over 8 hours each and every night. But it isn't grossly off. Bottom line it is a 3 or 4 year old machine with 3000 hours of use which isn't bad at all. It was a Cadillac in its day. It should serve you well and if you got a good deal on it so much the better.

http://www.apneaboard.com/CPAP%20Adjustment.htm Lists the M Series auto clinical manual as being available by direct download if you need or want it.

[MikeS]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

1st: The camping trip went great. I took the Yellow Top Optima out of my old 67 Ford along with me and shoved it in the tent with us. I hacked together a quick battery cable out of a radio shack universal transformer and a couple small jumper cable clips I had lying around. Everything worked great and I slept much better than I would have without a cpap. When I got home I still had enough juice in the battery to start the old F100 without charging it.

I have been using the Remstar Auto M at home. I really kind of like the cflex feature but I am very dissatisfied with the Series M humidifier. First it only holds half as much water as my old Fischer Parkyl. Second it doesn't put out near the humidity as my old FP. I always have rain out with my FP and don't with the Remstar. My sinuses and throat notice a big difference even on level 5. When sleeping in on a Saturday morning I ran out of water altogether and had an awful sinus headache all day.

The Remstar is still a neat little machine though. Great for its intended purpose of camping and traveling. Being a nerd I am kind of interested in the recorded data. I will have to look on ebay for a reader.

Do the data cards ever fill up and have to be erased? After a couple of weeks of use I started getting a beeping error when shutting the Remstar off and when I turn it back on is shows "Service required". I reset the cpap by holding down the two arrows fora few seconds while plugging the power in (thank you this site!) and it will work fine for the night.

Also, do the System Ones have a larger water tray than the M Series?

[Dojers]

I'm new to the C-Flex+ myself - tonite is my first night using it. I played with it a little bit because it has a demo setting option so I checked it out. Might be ok - haven't had any problem so far with straight pressure so this will be a unique experience as well.

[ThomasMcKean]

I'm new to the C-Flex+ myself - tonite is my first night using it. I played with it a little bit because it has a demo setting option so I checked it out. Might be ok - haven't had any problem so far with straight pressure so this will be a unique experience as well.

Can yew tell a difference between C-Flex and C-Flex+?