Remstar Auto - Runaway Machine or Runaway Body?

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sat May 14, 2005 12:39 pm

neversleeps wrote:
Still hoping to hear from you wader! Aside from the CFlex, are there other reasons you much prefer the REMstar? I'm thinking of trying the 420E for the possible auto benefit that my unusual problem prevents me from getting from the REMstar.

I realize it would just be a matter of opinion and personal comfort if the only difference between the two machines is the CFlex, but is there more?

I sent you a PM on the subject.

Dan01 · Post by **Dan01** » Sat May 14, 2005 1:59 pm

I have got these results from my auto CPAP, but really have nothing to compare it to. I wonder if someone has similar results from their Remstar Auto?

http://www.alpha-zone.com/cpap/051105.jpg

glassgal · Post by **glassgal** » Sat May 14, 2005 3:16 pm

I also have a consistantly high snore recorded -- I have the PB420e, so was able to control the runaway pressure by turning off the IFL1. I also raised the bottom pressure until it seemed to reduce the snore and not bottom out, while still being comfortable. I am currently at 10-17 cm/H2O.

I recently took a trip that involved staying in a motel room with my sister, and she reported that I did not snore. I always carried earplugs for roomates pre-APAP!

I believe that my machine is picking up some other noise or possibly turbulence in the hose. I have a history of clenching my teeth and wear an acrylic night guard -- I could be clenching on that and making enough noise for the machine to pick up. These machines are very sensitive and can react to strange things -- there was a post by Derek some time back about snoring where he experimented with different noises to see what his machine recorded -- you might want to search for that. It was probably in February or March. There was also someone who had a white noise machine next to their APAP and it was picking that up -- moving the noise source further from the bed (if you can figure out what it is! ) might help.

Good luck!

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sat May 14, 2005 3:38 pm

Jane,

Thank you so much for your post! The first thing I'm going to try is recording myself all night. (Rested gal's wise suggestion.) If I'm really snoring as much as the data indicates, I'll try doing 10-13 I think.

If I'm NOT really snoring that much, I will be on the prowl for vibrations. I don't have a clock or white noise machine nearby. But I sure hear a lot of noise through my hose, so maybe that's part of it. The thing is, wouldn't everyone have the same amount of noise through their hose at the same pressure? Then a lot of people should have data indicating major snoring.

I'm now going to hunt for Derek's noise experimentation post. I appreciate you suggestions!

glassgal · Post by **glassgal** » Sat May 14, 2005 3:50 pm

Hi neverleeps,

I use the NasalAire II as my primary interface -- I haven't been able to get the Aura to work yet. The NAII has 2 small diameter tubes going to the prongs that go in your nose. I suspect that the small diameter of the tubes has something to do with the snores being recorded, or turbulence where they join to the main hose. This is also where the sensor line ends, so the noise is being recorded at the juncture of the main hose and the interface hose.

With that said, I feel good and don't think that the snore is a big problem. All of my other numbers are good, so I'm not getting too excited about the snores.

Good luck,

Tired-in-Tenn · Post by **Tired-in-Tenn** » Sat May 14, 2005 4:21 pm

WillSucceed wrote:neversleeps wrote:

Forum members/posters:
For months now I have been reading the virtues of RemStar Auto with C-Flex as though it is the answer to everyones prayers. Clearly, it is not. I've also encouraged (in MANY posts) those who are getting ready to purchase a flow generator to trial ALL of the auto machines, for several weeks each, BEFORE they make their selection, so that they can get the machine that fits their individual needs the best.

...

<- smiley face inserted to set the tone of my message to follow...I'm not being critical of what you said... I haven't read this entire thread, but thought I'd interject my *opinion*

I'd recommend the Remstar auto w/Cflex to anybody! (except those that need a BIPAP) ...however, for those that have the luxury of being able to try several machines, by all means do so if you can... but for someone like myself, who couldn't try any machines let alone couldn't afford a sleep study and whose health insurance didn't pay for any of the machine, I'd recommend the Remstar auto without hesitation! Reason being, if the APAP setting isn't for you, you have the option of using it as a straight CPAP or CPAP with Cflex. For me, the APAP setting was perfect. I've tried it on straight CPAP and I know that I wouldn't have continued to use the machine for very long if I had to have constant pressure blowing all night long... Just some feedback from a very happy Remstar Auto W/Cflex user! ...now, I'll go and read the rest of this thread...

-Not-So-Tired-In-Tenn

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 14, 2005 4:37 pm

Tired-in-Tenn,

Your reply reiterates what was said here, and the quote you attribute to me belongs to WillSucceed (which you have no doubt figured out now that you have actually read the whole post).

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sat May 14, 2005 4:39 pm

ARRRRRRRGGGGHHH!!!!!

GUESTED AGAIN!!!!!!

That was me!

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Sun May 15, 2005 3:52 pm

I think advise of different APAPs for different people is valid. I know the algorithm on the Spirit S7 did nothing for me. Slept lousy. After 5 weeks I switched to the PB 420E. Immediately got better sleep and felt like I was finally getting somewhere. Different Algorithm! Yes, I did have the runaway pressures after about 3 weeks I think. And after asking on this forum it was suggeted I turn off the 1FL1 to 0. That worked. I don't know what about my data set off the runaway, I only know that each time it did this it got higher. I still have a lot of "accoustical vibrations". I don't think they are snores.

I have a split night scheduled tomorrow night and maybe after a week or so I will find out what it shows, wearing my OWN mask and after 6 months of 100% compliance and being relatively used to the therapy. I know at times during the night I am getting up to 11 but am usually around 6, sometimes up to 7 or 9.

loonlvr · Post by **loonlvr** » Sun May 15, 2005 6:02 pm

Glass gal: I agree with you about the snore index. The only thing I think snoring affects is a roommate or spouse. Looks to me one can have a horrific snore index and an AHI of 1! I'd trade that any day for my AHi of around 10. One thing no one seems to have thought of is doing a test. Put on the mask and breath normally for a certain amount of time in complete quite. Then turn on a radio for awhile. Then rustle the hose for awhile. Keep track of all the times. Then down load the software results and see what it says.Compare the times. Since your awake you will know what actions caused what. Call it the "wide awake calibration test" . copyrighted 2005 loonlvr aka not loony.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:49 pm

Sorry loonster! Derek beat us to it!!!

See:

viewtopic.php?t=1463&start=0&postdays=0 ... experiment

So, if I have my events under control, it seems the general consensus is I don't need to worry about my almost constant redline snores?

I've heard they do trachea surgery on toy dogs... maybe I could sign up for a human trial.....

loonlvr · Post by **loonlvr** » Sun May 15, 2005 8:04 pm

Thanx Never Sleeps. Seems like I took part in that discussion eh? Guess I'm sleeping more and remembering less. Hope there s no correlation there.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sun May 15, 2005 8:10 pm

loonlvr----

I hadn't noticed that!!! No offense, but that's pretty darn funny!!! You crack me up!!!! So you wrote something and then forgot you did it.... that never happens to me!! So you wrote something and then forgot you did it.... that never happens to me!!

jdacal · Post by **jdacal** » Wed May 18, 2005 5:21 pm

I recently got my auto c-flex unit and am seeing the runaway problem.

It seems to respond more to my snore index than to the actual apneas/hypopneas.

Machine ends up at maximum pressure (I've tried several) and stays there, with only an occasional quick dip and back up it goes.

I only have about 5 days of data but will post my report online after I get to 10 days so maybe some of you can suggest something.

First thing I will try after 10 days is shutting off the C-flex feature. I know for a fact that I have a problem with the exhaling portion. Sometimes I wake up, when I doze off without the machine and if I exhale slowly while lying down can actually feel like a "flap" close that complete stops exhalation unless I quickly sit up. I'm thinking the c-flex may be allowing this to act-up and/or cause snoring that I would not have without the c-flex.

One other thing that occurs to me is that I have read others who used to have the old autopap without cflex and didn't have run-away pressures. I'm sure the cflex feature required changes to the firmware that controls the unit. Being a fairly new unit it is possible that they many not have the algorithms down pat yet, might even have a few bugs in it. Has anyone heard if Respironics makes firmware upgrades available to providers after a unit has hit the market? Or do they only upgrade firmware on newer versions of the machines as they are released?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 18, 2005 6:04 pm

Instead of shutting off c-flex, try adjusting it. It has settings of 1-3, 3 giving the most relief from pressure

Remstar Auto - Runaway Machine or Runaway Body?

Re: Runaway pressures