Respironics M Series PAP Machine with no prescription

[Coloradoguy]

Hi.
1st off I'm new to this Form and wanna thank anyone who can help me...
I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea 12yrs ago..i never did anything about it till now... I have no insurance..
so i'm taking this in my own hands.. i had a family member give me Respironics M Series PAP Machine 3 days ago..with the Sleep Pillow LT mask...
I didnt know what number to set it on so i started with 6 and now i'm at 10..
after using it the first night i have more energy during the day then i have had in YEARS!
I have always been depressed and want to sleep during the day for YEARS!

I have a few questions about the Respironics M Series PAP Machine i use..
the humidifier setting i use is 5.. but i wake up after 4hrs and my mouth and nose is dry..so i look at the water tank and its
empty.. why doesnt it last all night?? I live in Colorado not sure if thats why ??
also last night i had water coming out of the air holes on the mask.. why is that? maybe because i was sleeping more on my stomach??

Thanks for any help
J

[greatunclebill]

first, start experimenting turning the humidifier down one number at a time. the higher the humidifier number, the more water it goes thru. second, place the machine below the level of your body to stop the water. think, water doesn't flow up hill.

i'm not a big fan of titrating yourself, especially without a starting point from a doctor that knows your current medical history. you should be at least talking to a doctor about this. you're taking this in your own hands. be advised you are taking your life in your own hands. theres a reason companies can't sell this prescription item without a prescription. there's a reason it is illegal to transfer a prescription item to another person.

[poppi2]

[quote="Coloradoguy".. Respironics M Series PAP Machine 3 days ago..with the Sleep Pillow LT mask... after 4 hrs and my mouth and nose is dry.[/quote]

Hi J, In a little while you will starting getting lots of good info. One thing you will be asked, is to go into your machine profile under User Control Panel and select your equipment. You will need the exact description of your machine (remove humidifier tank first). After you find your machine, choose "text" rather than image.

I have the Resmed LT pillow. I have enough leakage through my lips such that my mouth dries terribly. I suspect that is the reason for the empty water tank. There are remedies for correcting that, but that usually opens the thread up for some heated discussions.

Good luck, Earl

[LSAT]

We know what machine and mask you have. You shouldn't be making all these pressure adjustments after only 3 days. You should try each pressure for several days before you determine that you need a change. Now that you are at 10...leave it for a week and see how you do.
You really need to borrow an auto machine to self titrate to the correct pressure for you.

[cflame1]

not sure if you're anywhere around these folks but they may also be of some support...

viewtopic/t74972/DENVER-forum-meetup-Sa ... -10am.html

[Pugsy]

last night i had water coming out of the air holes on the mask.. why is that?

Rain out....condensation in the mask partly from the humidified air and partly from the moisture in your own breathe.
Search the forum for various ways to limit rain out.

[archangle]

There's a good chance you have an air leak. Either around the mask, or you're opening your mouth and the air is coming out. If a lot of extra air blows through the machine, you'll use up your water a lot more quickly.

There's an air vent on the mask where air will blow out all the time. DO NOT try to plug this or you'll suffocate.

If the mask doesn't seal on your face correctly, you can leak air around the mask. Also, try turning on the machine, unplugging the hose from the mask, and plugging the end of the hose with your thumb. Listen for air leaking somewhere in the machine or hose.

It should say REMstar Plus, Pro, or Auto below the buttons. Which one is it?

[Coloradoguy]

There's a good chance you have an air leak. Either around the mask, or you're opening your mouth and the air is coming out. If a lot of extra air blows through the machine, you'll use up your water a lot more quickly.

There's an air vent on the mask where air will blow out all the time. DO NOT try to plug this or you'll suffocate.

If the mask doesn't seal on your face correctly, you can leak air around the mask. Also, try turning on the machine, unplugging the hose from the mask, and plugging the end of the hose with your thumb. Listen for air leaking somewhere in the machine or hose.




It should say REMstar Plus, Pro, or Auto below the buttons. Which one is it?

archangle , Thanks.. the machine is is Remstar Auto/ A-flex M series.. there is no leak when i take off the mask and put my thumb over the hole in the hose.. the ONLY leak is at the front Center of the mask.. i was about to try to cover that up.. THANKS for telling me it should be that way !!!!!! last nite i didnt have any water come from the mask.. so maybe it could be from my mouth being open sometimes? but i also put the Machine lover then my bed.. before i had it up on my night stand and its about 5inches higher then my bed.. and i lower the humidifier last night to 3 before i used 5.. last night was perfect.. my sleep pillow mask is a small so i ordered a med just to try it out...

All i can say is its been YEARS that i have felt this good...
Thanks again for any help !
J

[Coloradoguy]

so is my machine a Cpap or BiPap ?
not really sure what is the deference is with both?

I know the machine i had 12yrs ago would blow so much air thur my nose felt like my head would blow up.. i used it 2 nights and gave it back to the company ...

[Pugsy]

The M series Auto CPAP with AFlex...is considered a CPAP machine meaning it delivers one single pressure....constant pressure...even though in APAP mode that pressure can vary...it is still a single pressure. In CPAP mode it delivers a single pressure that doesn't vary.

BiPap machines offer 2 pressures...one for inhale and one for exhale.. immediate variation in pressure with each breath.

The M Series APAP you have is a full data machine. There is software available to see much more than you can see on the LCD screen.
You would need the DT 3500 Infineer smart card reader, a smart card (about the size of a credit card in the back of the machine, and software.

If you don't have a smart card..those are easily found for about $10.
The DT3500 can be found for around $40
Send me a note if you want to access your data...I can help you find the smart card, the card reader and help you with the software. Only $ would be the card reader and smart card if you don't have one.

For an example of what your software reports would look like. I have an example of the detailed report (most important report IMHO) here
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64906&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... re+options
You will need to disregard the SleepyHead and Onkor examples as those software programs don't support your machine.
You can use either Encore Viewer 2.0 or Encore Pro with your M series machine.
Encore Viewer would be sufficient for your machine but it only comes in a 32 bit version. So if your computer is 64 bit..we have to either make it work (there is a work around) or just bite the bullet and get Encore Pro which has a 32 bit and 64 bit version available.
Pro is big, bulky and slow and 90% of the stuff in it is for DME or doctor office use.
Patient reports for the M series machine are identical. There is nothing lost using Viewer with M series machines like there is with the new PR S1 machines.

Congratulations on having a good night last night.
If you find you need more moisture than a setting of 3 there are some comfort items that help minimize rain out and let you use more humidity.
This one is extra nice because it is nice and soft against the skin.
http://www.padacheek.com/PACSwiftII_Barrel_cozy.html

Hose cozies also help. You can make your own easily or they are found all over the internet.
Ebay, etc.
Padacheek make an exceptionally nice one..
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_Hosecover.html

I used a M Series APAP for 2 years until I got the "more data" bug last spring. I still use that machine for travel. Do you have the provider/clinical manual for that machine? If not, send me a note and I will get you one.

[archangle]

Plugging the exhaust vent is probably the easiest way to kill yourself with a CPAP. We should keep this in mind whenever we talk to the newbies, especially those who got the machines through other than normal machines.

[Gale Hawkins]

Hi.
1st off I'm new to this Form and wanna thank anyone who can help me...
I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea 12yrs ago..i never did anything about it till now... I have no insurance..
so i'm taking this in my own hands.. i had a family member give me Respironics M Series PAP Machine 3 days ago..with the Sleep Pillow LT mask...
I didnt know what number to set it on so i started with 6 and now i'm at 10..
after using it the first night i have more energy during the day then i have had in YEARS!
I have always been depressed and want to sleep during the day for YEARS! J

Been there and done that.

Read, Read and Read and things should start clicking. Eight years ago I started with a used machine off of E-Bay for the same reasons.

I had to go with a chin strap (used a long stocking at first to test for the need).

Do not block any holes.

I started at nine and stopped snoring at 12 for the most part and have been at 12 for eight years now. Have you had any heart attacks or stokes over the past 12 years due to not using a CPAP machine?

Keep in mind you can get info that can kill from the web. Never act on ANY web posting but use the web to train yourself of the subject. When did you have your last physical? Self treatment worked for me but I do have a health related terminal degree but self treating a known killer is risky for anyone.

[Coloradoguy]

Gale! i see we have something else in common! not only RV'ing lol
I never had any heart attacks or strokes ... I found out 1yr ago i'm type 2 diabetic i take meds for it and its under control... I have had had Deep Depression for 12yrs and been on meds for 8mos now for that...
but even taking meds for my depression still didnt help... i still felt there was more to me not feeling good... till 4 days ago!! i still cant get over how 4 nights of using this Machine has changed me for the better...

[Otter]

the humidifier setting i use is 5.. but i wake up after 4hrs and my mouth and nose is dry..so i look at the water tank and its
empty.. why doesnt it last all night?? I live in Colorado not sure if thats why ??

Yep, that's the main reason. A room humidifier will help make that little tank last.

also last night i had water coming out of the air holes on the mask.. why is that? maybe because i was sleeping more on my stomach??

A hoze cozy will help reduce rainout, but it may be that it won't be such a problem for you if you can get by with a lower humidity setting. Obviously, a lower setting will help keep the tank from running dry too.

I didnt know what number to set it on so i started with 6 and now i'm at 10..

You shouldn't be making all these pressure adjustments after only 3 days. You should try each pressure for several days before you determine that you need a change.

Having titrated myself, I can't agree with this. With a sleep study as a starting point, it would make sense to try the prescribed setting for a week or so before making changes, but without PSG, it's a different situation. The first week or two of self-titration is equivalent to one night at a sleep lab. It takes longer because there's no one to adjust the pressure for you while you're asleep, but the process is about the same. Start out low, and increase the pressure until your apnea stops. It makes no sense to wait a week at too low a pressure to see what happens. Once you have your pressure more or less dialed in, though, it will make sense to wait longer between changes.

You really need to borrow an auto machine to self titrate to the correct pressure for you.

APAP is definitely helpful, but I don't think it's essential. The machine in Colorado's sig is an auto, though. If that's really what you have, CG, are you using auto mode?

I think that machine also has full data, but I'm not sure. Someone help me out on this. If it does log efficacy data and you can find a card reader for it and a copy of Encore Pro, that will make it much easier to find the right settings.

It can be done without data, though. This study was done back when all CPAP machines were bricks, and the group who self-titrated did just as well as the lab-titrated group. So much for all the FUD about how dangerous it is to adjust your own settings.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12598214

[comet313]

You're story is similar to mind due to the fact that I was diagnosed years ago and was tired of having palpitations and feeling sleepy all day. Just been using it for over a week and feel so much better. This community is great and very supportive. Good luck!!