c flex

IBTeri · Post by **IBTeri** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:04 pm

Ok I understand C flex but I dont' understand the differant setting for it.
Last visit to my dme they locked the c flex setting on 3. Since then I have went from 5+ hr a night to 3 or less hours anight. So I would like to know what are the 3 settings and what do they mean? Calling on monday to get them to change the setting. yes I know how to change myself but lol don't want the smart card to rat on me. So going to make them change it so they can't say I'm not following doctors order. After I own it right now its leased than I will have no problem ajusting setting such as of c flex or ramp.

JM · Post by JM » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:16 pm

It's my understanding that the C-FLex settings, like the ramp settings, like the humidifier settings are ones we truly are "allowed" to change on our own. As for an explanation of the different settings, I have not been able to find anything besides them being different comfort settings. In other words, a setting of 3 makes it allot easier to exhale than 2 or 1 and therefore more "comfortable."

JM

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:27 pm

Teri, the C-Flex settings are purely for comfort...they don't have anything to do with your treatment other than your own feelings if you don't sleep well with/without C-Flex.

A few people have reported that C-Flex makes them feel like they have to breathe faster and faster. That could interfere with treatment. You'd know that was happening simply because you were...well, breathing faster and faster while trying to drift off to sleep. In that case, turning C-Flex off completely would be best. Most people don't have that problem with C-Flex, though, and it usually makes breathing out much more comfortable while using a cpap.

The Smart Card cannot "rat" on you if you simply go into the Patient menu on the machine itself and adjust the C-Flex to suit you. For that matter, it can't rat on you even if you went into the clinical "setup" menu to adjust the amount of C-Flex for 1, 2, or 3. The Smart Card and Encore Pro data do not record which C-Flex setting is used. At most, the Smart Card and Encore Pro data will say only whether C-Flex in general is being used or is not being used (turned off in the clinical menu.)

C-flex set for "3" gives the most drop in pressure for exhaling. "2" doesn't give as much drop. "1" gives very little drop. Those are relative drops, depending on how forcefully you normally breathe out. They are not drops in "that many cm's." Choose the one that feels best to you.

The 3 levels of C-Flex you can choose are accessible through the "Patient" menu on the machine...IF the DME has turned on the Patient menu. The Patient menu has to be turned on through the clinical menu (therapy setup menu.)

IBTeri · Post by **IBTeri** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:35 pm

they why do you think she locked it at 3? What would cause her to do that?

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:41 pm

I couldn't delete this, and wanted to after reading the following experts. My contribution was NOTHING compared to theirs!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:44 pm

IBTeri wrote:they why do you think she locked it at 3? What would cause her to do that?

Teri, if she "locked" anything, she probably either:

1. did not turn on the Patient menu for you - maybe forgot to or didn't even know to do that.

or

2. if the patient menu was previously turned on but she deliberately turned it off, maybe she wants to play "god" and doesn't want the patient to be able to change even the things that a patient normally is allowed to change. Or maybe she thinks she knows better than you what "comfort" is.

Either way, I'd insist that the Patient menu be turned on.

Or I'd go into the "setup" menu myself and turn the Patient menu on, set C-Flex the way I wanted it, turn it off, whatever.

As long as you are using your machine often enough to be considered "compliant" and are using it at the prescribed pressure setting, it should not matter AT ALL to the DME what comfort settings you choose....imho.

By the way, there's no such thing as a DME actually "locking" any setting. Settings can always be changed by anyone going into the setup menu. There's no code or password or physical key, other than knowing what buttons have to be held down while plugging a Respironics machine in, in order to go into the "setup" menu. No software is needed to use the buttons with the setup menu on the machine itself.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:57 pm

If you are having trouble with your treatment, C-Flex is unlikely to be responsible for it. Chances are something else in your treatment was changed, at the same time.

I'm guessing you don't have the software, although your SIG says you do. What pressure are you at? I suppect you are having leaks that are too high, are they any worse now? Jim

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): C-FLEX

IBTeri · Post by **IBTeri** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:58 pm

she's wanting to play god. I unlocked it last time but told her my kids did it.
so when I got it back she had did hide everything again on me. I don't understand whats going on than. I can't stand to wear it for more than a few hours and thats when I force myself? Only other thing I can think of is the leaks show over 52% on a 7 day average but on 30 days it shows 49%
I'm confused now.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:59 pm

You can change the cflex settings without upsetting anyone. Don't even need to access the "forbidden menu".

3 is the most relief. I can't stand 3 personally. I use 1

Try them all and see what is best for you.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:11 pm

snoregirl wrote:You can change the cflex settings without upsetting anyone. Don't even need to access the "forbidden menu".

3 is the most relief. I can't stand 3 personally. I use 1

Try them all and see what is best for you.

I agree with trying them all (the C-Flex settings) to see which one suits best.

But if the DME has turned off access to the Patient menu (in the setup menu) a person would have to access the "forbidden" menu (setup menu) first to turn Patient access back on again, wouldn't they?

IBTeri · Post by **IBTeri** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:13 pm

now that I know the smart card wont rat. I suppose it will magicily change over night to the settings that I can stand.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 10:14 pm

It's hard to stop the "Sleep Fairy", he's everywhere. Jim

jeepdoctor · Post by **jeepdoctor** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 10:27 pm

The day I picked my CPAP machine up, the tech at my DME told me that CFlex was the pressure ramp-up function and that only she could change the setting. I looked in the user manual and asked her to explain the information on page 10 which defined CFlex and explained how the user can change the setting. The look on her face was PRICELESS!!!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 2:29 am

Open the little cover on your machine so you can see the LCD display:

Press the Cflex button to the right of the Power button, it will display:

Off 1 2 3

Use the -/+ keys to change to the setting you want, then press the On/Off button.

Cflex should BE comfortable to breathe against. If it makes you short of breath or hyperventilate the wrong setting is being used.

I suggest starting on position #2. Give yourself 5-10 minutes to get used to it, it should feel natural after that.

you can also change the Cflex setting while machine is On and you are breathing, it will not change to the new setting until you press the On/Off button, the On/Off button should blink once indicating the change was accepted.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:59 am

Rested Gal,

Are you saying on the new M machine the patient menu can be locked?

WOW

I don't have M and didn't notice that this poster did.

I guess I stand corrected.

One more reason to buy the tried and true older (tank) version. It will be a cold day when anyone "locks" a patient choice menu from me.