A-Flex a good thing? Or a sales pitch?

mrammell · Post by **mrammell** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 6:23 pm

While on the road, I use a traveling unit, the Everest Aura (now Polaris?) it has no exhale pressure relief. I hate not having exhale relief. Think I'll sell that. At home I use, Remstar Pro2 with C-Flex. I want my traveling machine to have the "exhale relief" Any of you use the RemstarM with A-Flex? Does that do as well or better than the M w/C-flex? Thanks

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 6:56 pm

I have a Remstar M series Auto with CFlex and a 420e. Before the Cflex machine, I had 2-3 of the non-Cflex versions, but I also had my original Pro w/Cflex to fall back on. They would treat me fine but after a few weeks use I'd start to see my aerophagia returning.

So I would go back on the Cflex until that cleared up. I no longer have those other machines, now just the 420e and the M series Auto w/cflex.

If I use the 420e for only a few weeks my aerophagia again starts returning where I have to switch back to the M to clear it up (I also go back to my prescription stash of PrevAcid for a few weeks).

For comfort with this therapy, I don't think you can beat CFlex, from what I hear A-Flex is even better.

That little 420e is a great little machine, offers tweakable parameters, gives excellent reports but I sure miss that Cflex comfort.

laguy442 · Post by **laguy442** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:58 am

I have used both. I personally really like the A-flex which is what I am now using. I find the machine even easier on the exhale than what I experienced on with C-Flex. I have mine set to 3 although I have experimented with all 3 settings. It is the first machine I have ever slept the entire nite with (assuming I don't have mask problems). For the relatively small difference in price between C-Flex and A-Flex I would go A-Flex. I liked it so much I bought my own machine since my insurance and DME were not cooperating.

JimW · Post by **JimW** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:44 pm

One possible consideration - if you currently have Encore Pro in a version prior to 1.8, it's not likely to work with an A-Flex machine. (This, of course, if you wish to use software.) 1.8 is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain legitimately. C-Flex machines will work with previous versions of Encore Pro.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:53 pm

[quote="JimW"]One possible consideration - if you currently have Encore Pro in a version prior to 1.8, it's not likely to work with an A-Flex machine. (This, of course, if you wish to use software.) 1.8 is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain legitimately. C-Flex machines will work with previous versions of Encore Pro.

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 4:27 pm

I have been using the new M Series Auto with A-Flex for the last month and find it to be an advancement to the Respironics Auto line of machines.

C-flex will drop pressure on exhalation, but A-Flex will actually measure the flow wave and your work of breathing on inhalation and can adjust upward in real time as much as 2cm instantaneously. Basically, that means that as you inhale, if the machine feels that your work of breathing has increased and you will not take a deep enough breath to keep the flow wave at uniform rate, it will increase IPAP pressure for that breath to smooth out the flow wave. You can actually hear the machine moving as you take a breath.

This is by far the best auto unit that I have used to date. It is comfortable and smart. A-Flex is not a fluff feature, it is a true advancement to the platform.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 5:14 pm

[quote="Titrator"]I have been using the new M Series Auto with A-Flex for the last month and find it to be an advancement to the Respironics Auto line of machines.

C-flex will drop pressure on exhalation, but A-Flex will actually measure the flow wave and your work of breathing on inhalation and can adjust upward in real time as much as 2cm instantaneously. Basically, that means that as you inhale, if the machine feels that your work of breathing has increased and you will not take a deep enough breath to keep the flow wave at uniform rate, it will increase IPAP pressure for that breath to smooth out the flow wave. You can actually hear the machine moving as you take a breath.

This is by far the best auto unit that I have used to date. It is comfortable and smart. A-Flex is not a fluff feature, it is a true advancement to the platform.

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 6:38 pm

The sound of the A-Flex machine doesn't bother me at all. It may be quieter than the original M-series. I did the testing on the CPAP.com Battery Pack with different machines and I do recall thinking that the M Series Pro was lougder than the Classic Remstar Pro. I attribute that to it's smaller size. The bigger you build them, the more insulation you can stuff in the box.

Ted

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:46 pm

Does anyone know whether the A-flex machine helps aerophagia better than the C-Flex. I seem to have a continuing problem with it, though not as bad as it was at first. Thank goodness for that!!!!

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:32 pm

Titrator wrote:I have been using the new M Series Auto with A-Flex for the last month and find it to be an advancement to the Respironics Auto line of machines.

Thanks for the info on A-Flex. Have you used a BiPAP in the past and how does A-Flex comfort compare?

-James

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:56 pm

JSkinner,

I have used the BPAP Pro, VPAP III, BIPAP Auto, and I would have to say that the A-Flex machine reminds me of the Bipap Auto the most. I used the Bipap Auto directly after my weight loss surgery when my pressure were 20cm / 14cm. The A-flex is as comfortable and as smart. Your thinking that it is more like a Bipap Auto is dead on. It does remind me of the Bipap Auto, but it costs half as much, and you don't need a special Rx to get it. A standard cpap prescription gets an autopap as well as cpap.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=2197

Titrator Ted

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:09 pm

Bumping for information sake

gasp · Post by **gasp** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:51 pm

Titrator wrote: ...C-flex will drop pressure on exhalation, but A-Flex will actually measure the flow wave and your work of breathing on inhalation and can adjust upward in real time as much as 2cm instantaneously. ...

I am getting the A-Flex on Thursday and hope it will make exhalation easier on nights when my asthma is kicking up.

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:34 pm

Titrator wrote: Your thinking that it is more like a Bipap Auto is dead on. It does remind me of the Bipap Auto, but it costs half as much, and you don't need a special Rx to get it.

Would you say that BiPAP is still superior with respect to comfort or are they getting very close?

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:36 pm

gasp wrote:
Titrator wrote: ...C-flex will drop pressure on exhalation, but A-Flex will actually measure the flow wave and your work of breathing on inhalation and can adjust upward in real time as much as 2cm instantaneously. ...
I am getting the A-Flex on Thursday and hope it will make exhalation easier on nights when my asthma is kicking up.

Keep us up to date on how it goes after you get it. I'm sure users like myself of C-Flex then going to A-Flex is what everyone is probably interested in and wanting to hear.

comfort of therapy: If it feels like you are getting less pressure to ease symptoms of aerophagia (not suggesting you have that) that would be an added plus.

noise: noise is an important factor for me, I don't like wearing ear plugs unless I absolutely have to, besides it not being very safe in case of a fire etc.

improvements or fixed some things: I know I am only dreaming here, but it would sure be nice if they added a software/firmware feature which allowed you to disable those annoying blue LED's like the Classic machine has. I wish the spammers that come here would direct their efforts to Respironics on resolving this. You shouldn't have to spend $600 on a product then put duct tape on it to use it. Bright lights on my stereo or computer in a well lit room is fine, but when I'm trying to sleep I don't want to be staring at headlights.

I was going to order a A-flex machine the other day, don't really need it, but wanted to see what it was about, but I decided I wasn't going to be the guinea pig this time around, besides I needed a new MacMini to replace my G4, so I got that instead yesterday.

Let us know how it goes.

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