Grateful Newbie Needs Guidance..

[MyTurn]

Firstly, thankyou to the angels who started this forum, and who continue to provide such support/wisdom/humour. I have been reading from the sidelines for the last 3 weeks, since being diagnosed with severe OSA. (from sleep study).
I go back tomorrow to get my study results (and know to ask for a copy for sure)
I have kept a diary since this journey began. Like most I felt a difference in my energy level for about the first 4 days.(now seeming to be way less) I still continue to wake up several times at night, and last night was the worst. Nasal congestion and sneezing, during the day, has also been an issue.
SInce Wednesday (and thanks to the forum), I am the proud owner of the M Series Auto CPAP with A-flex. The machine is set at 7, ramp 4, and m series heated humidifier at 3. (oops and c flex at 2).
My first query, is, how do I enable the A-flex, and how will I know what setting?
With my very limited knowledge, I feel that the A-flex may make a difference to my waking up??? (also realize this is the early stages of therapy and having my lab report will also help?)
Where can I find the best thread, for deciding on nose mask.Currently I have a loaner of the Fischer and Paykel Fex Fit, as well as the Nasal Pillows from Resmed.
I return them both tomorrow, and will need to make a purchase.
The machine (and snuggle hose cover/chinstap/respironicssmart card reader+encoreviewer software) came from CPAP.com (another place with angels-who knew?)
I do not have insurance to cover the above, however, I know that how I have felt for the last years, is not living,and having taken care of others for so long, it really is My Turn.
Thanks for listening to the rambling, and any comments will be gratefully received.
Kathy

[Wulfman]

Welcome to the forum, Kathy.

You've already made some good decisions.
Yes, the folks at CPAP.COM were the ones who started this forum, too.

If you purchased the machine from CPAP.COM, the "Setup" instructions should be in there. It's on an instruction card......try looking for it in the carrying bag. I've heard it might be in a pocket in there.

If you can't find it, let us know and we'll re-post the instructions.

Den

[MyTurn]

Welcome to the forum, Kathy.

You've already made some good decisions.
Yes, the folks at CPAP.COM were the ones who started this forum, too.

If you purchased the machine from CPAP.COM, the "Setup" instructions should be in there. It's on an instruction card......try looking for it in the carrying bag. I've heard it might be in a pocket in there.

If you can't find it, let us know and we'll re-post the instructions.

Den

__Thankyou Den. .I do see I have the card, and realize now it says..Accessing the Provider Mode Screens!!Yippee..Wish me luck_______________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com

[GeneS]

There are probably a lot of ways to optimize your settings. I like to start with the basics.

1. If you use a nasal mask try to eliminate mouth breathing and leaking first so that you dont start adjusting other things when the real problem was mouth breathing or leaking. You can use your card reader and software to verify that your leak rate is not much above the exhaust rate for your mask at your pressure. The data usually comes with your mask.

2. Your pressure is pretty low so first I would try the machine in the auto mode with all the ramps, cflex, humidifier etc turned off and see what pressure it takes to eliminate your apneas and hypnopnea etc. You can do this with software to. I would then set your low pressure setting to the 90% level and the high setting above the highest pressure you recorded.

3. Once you are getting good results with this try aflex, ramps, heated humidity etc. one at a time and see if your treatment improves or gets worse. I would change each item one at a time. Start with apap at 1 and see if it makes things better. If it does try 2. If it gets better try 3. If it gets worse go back to 2. Tweek one setting at a time and give each trial enough time to be sure.

There may be better ways to do it but this is how I like to do it. If I try to change to many things at once I never know what caused the change.


GeneS

[RipVW]

Hello & Welcome, MyTurn! Glad you found this forum--SO much useful info and SO many helpful people here!

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

[Hawthorne]

Welcome! I have had my new Respironics M series Auto with AFlex for almost a month! I was diagnosed 5+ years ago though and have been using an older machine until I bought this one myself. They are so expensive in Canada and CPAP.com has such great prices! Our dollar is good now. Great time to buy!
GeneS suggested you start without the humidifier. You may choose to start with no humidity but if you do you will still need to have the water chamber in place though and I would put the water in it and set the humidfier dial to "0". That way you will not get heated humidity - just, what they call "passover" humidity. I tried to run it without the water chamber but with the humidifier attached and it blow air all over the room! HA! HA! I could run my old one without the water chamber being in place at all. I suggest you put water in it so that you don't accidentaly turn the humidfier dial and cause problem with your humidifier since it would be empty and dry. You could also run just your machine without the humidifier attached. But if you want to set it all up ready and add things gradually using the setup manual as GeneS suggested, you could do what I suggested.
I love this machine! There is just about every option that is available! This is my first time with the reader and software and I am having a great time monitoring my sleep.

[Hawthorne]

P.S. I love the A-Flex!

[GeneS]

Thanks for the Clarification
I agree, I would start with the humidifier full of water and with a zero setting not without the humidifier. I use the tank now and plug the power chord into the cpap and not into the humidifier. You may need heat and will find out but if not you will have less problems with rainout etc.
GeneS

[rested gal]

Hi Kathy,

You're a smart lady, getting the Encore Viewer software so you can monitor your treatment right from the get-go. By the way, I never bother to look at the first 3 pages of the report after downloading the Smart Card. I start "looking" on page 4...at the Daily Details graph. There's a world (well, a "night", anyway LOL!) of info in the graph. I never bother to look at the table of "Events Per Hour". Again, I look only at the Daily Details graph.

As GeneS mentioned, pay special attention to the leak info

Since you say you bought your M Auto with A-flex from cpap.com, and it came set at "7", that's presumably the single cpap pressure your doctor had prescribed?

If so...and if it were me...here's how I'd do the settings for the Auto with A-Flex:

Therapy Mode - Auto
Comfort Type - A-Flex
Auto Max - 20 cmH2O
Auto Min - 7 cmH2O (or 6)
A-Flex Setting - 3
Autoramp Time - 0:00
Mask Alert - Feature: OFF
Auto Off - Feature: OFF
Split Night Time - Off (very important that "split night" be "off.")
Show AHI/Leak - Feature: ON
Patient Reminder - Off

With A-Flex set at 3 (or 2, if less relief feels smoother to you...I like "3") that pressure of 7 isn't going to feel AT ALL the way a straight cpap pressure of 7 feels. It won't feel strong or resistant at all when you breathe out. Very, very comfy exhaling.

Good luck with your treatment. You got yourself a great machine...one of the most comfortable I've used.