Why get software?

[ilvsleep]

My spouse has asked me what kind of info will I get from buying the software versus what I can see on my cpap. How will it help my therapy and why can't I just get the doc to tell me what the card says. I am supposed to email my card to the DME who will download data and send it to my doc who will than hopefully, discuss the results with me at my next visit. At some point, the DME will mail back my card. Right now all I can see is my AHI over the course of a week and than 30 days. The large leak and periodic breathing is always 0.
So what do I tell him? What will I learn if I buy the software and see my data? Will I even be able to understand all the data will tell me? I really can't answer him with enough support to buy the software!! HELP me convince him!!

[Wulfman]

My spouse has asked me what kind of info will I get from buying the software versus what I can see on my cpap. How will it help my therapy and why can't I just get the doc to tell me what the card says. I am supposed to email my card to the DME who will download data and send it to my doc who will than hopefully, discuss the results with me at my next visit. At some point, the DME will mail back my card. Right now all I can see is my AHI over the course of a week and than 30 days. The large leak and periodic breathing is always 0.
So what do I tell him? What will I learn if I buy the software and see my data? Will I even be able to understand all the data will tell me? I really can't answer him with enough support to buy the software!! HELP me convince him!!

For those of us who have been using the software since the beginning of our therapy, it's a "no-brainer" to download and monitor our own therapy.

Part of the problem with that first scenario is there's going to be a gap in the time between when you send your card to your DME and getting it (or another one) back to continue collecting data. It's YOUR data.......why let it out of your control?

If you have your own software, you could just e-mail a copy of the reports to the DME.

Understanding the Encore software reports is very easy. It's probably the easiest of all the XPAP software to understand.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... eader.html

If you have a question about how things went during the previous night, you'll be able to see it the next morning while it's fresh in your mind. This is especially helpful for the new users to get their leaks under control and to see whether their prescribed pressure was accurate.

In my opinion, it'll pay for itself in no time.


Den

[Goofproof]

I hope you have better luck than I did, i couldn't find a envelope to EMAIL my card in, so I had to get the software. Jim

I tried FAXing it, but it didn't work and after I ran it thru the FAX machine the card never worked again.

[ilvsleep]

Wulfman, That was my thinking..if the DME has my card how do I continue to collect data? Does the cpap itself store any data until the card is reinserted..like a camera will hold a few pics until the card is put in. I am having trouble with leaks but are they true leaks or just bothersome to me at night. Having the software will let me look the next day and see for myself. My husband is one to do what the doc says no questions asked. I on the other hand ask tons of questions and research my illness! Tha is where our battle is coming in.
Goofproof....FUNNY!!!

[Wulfman]

Wulfman, That was my thinking..if the DME has my card how do I continue to collect data? Does the cpap itself store any data until the card is reinserted..like a camera will hold a few pics until the card is put in. I am having trouble with leaks but are they true leaks or just bothersome to me at night. Having the software will let me look the next day and see for myself. My husband is one to do what the doc says no questions asked. I on the other hand ask tons of questions and research my illness! Tha is where our battle is coming in.
Goofproof....FUNNY!!!

No. As far as I know, your machine won't hold "detailed" data without the card, however, it might store the summary (compliance) information without it.......big deal!

Your husband needs to get over that.......these doctors aren't "gods" and are not infallible. It's a proven fact that the people who take charge of their therapy are better and more compliant patients.


Den

[ilvsleep]

I don't think he is against me having the software as much as will I need it to help my therapy. I feel I really think it will! I quess I am trying to come up with factual answers for him and I to discuss. Would someone be willing to downlaod a nights data so I can see what info it gives?? Tha would be a huge help to me!!
By the way.........after almost 2 weeks of cpap I am starting to feel like a new person!!! I will write a summary in a few days once I get over the residual effects I have been feeling and hopefully it will help sone newbies!

[Wulfman]

I found a couple of links so you can see the reports. The first was one that one of the users posted for input to their therapy and the second is a post by rested gal with some explanations.

http://www.box.net/shared/ru0sbzd608#/s ... 33972138/1

viewtopic.php?p=417959#p417959


Den

[ilvsleep]

Wulfman,
THANK YOU!!!! That is what I was looking for! The only difference in the charts that I see from an apap versus a cpap is the pressure changes is that correct? Everything else would be the same?

[Wulfman]

Wulfman,
THANK YOU!!!! That is what I was looking for! The only difference in the charts that I see from an apap versus a cpap is the pressure changes is that correct? Everything else would be the same?

The reports in rested gal's links are from an Auto Bi-PAP. But, the software takes whatever data from whichever (Philips/Respironics) machine and creates the reports accordingly.

I know there are many other examples buried in these threads, but I grabbed the first ones I could find (I knew what to look for in rested gal's posts).


Den

[djr1215]

Wulfman, That was my thinking..if the DME has my card how do I continue to collect data? Does the cpap itself store any data until the card is reinserted..like a camera will hold a few pics until the card is put in. I am having trouble with leaks but are they true leaks or just bothersome to me at night. Having the software will let me look the next day and see for myself. My husband is one to do what the doc says no questions asked. I on the other hand ask tons of questions and research my illness! Tha is where our battle is coming in.
Goofproof....FUNNY!!!

My smart card continued to collect the detailed data once when I forgot to put it back in, but it was only for 1 night. I don't know how much it would hold if you had several days without the card.

[mattman]

My DME provider mails me a new card, I swap it out for the one in my machine and then mail the full card back to them. That way I don't have to worry about any sort of gap. I've heard of lots of companies that do it that way.

My own opinion is that I have better things to do with the 100 bucks or so for software and reader and don't feel like dealing with the hassle of trying to get it setup and running smoothly. The DME provider is happy to do so - it doesn't cost anyone anything - so I'll let them.

Add in that I don't care about random bad nights or anything - all I care about is the long term big picture - over the course of a week/month/year is my treatment working? If it is then I'm happy.

Again, just my opinion of course.

mattman

[DreamStalker]

My DME provider mails me a new card, I swap it out for the one in my machine and then mail the full card back to them. That way I don't have to worry about any sort of gap. I've heard of lots of companies that do it that way.

My own opinion is that I have better things to do with the 100 bucks or so for software and reader and don't feel like dealing with the hassle of trying to get it setup and running smoothly. The DME provider is happy to do so - it doesn't cost anyone anything - so I'll let them.

Add in that I don't care about random bad nights or anything - all I care about is the long term big picture - over the course of a week/month/year is my treatment working? If it is then I'm happy.

Again, just my opinion of course.

mattman

My opinion is that I don't have anything that has a higher priority than managing my own health. Handing that over to a DME is like asking for a ... fill in the blank.

[diboja]

My DME provider mails me a new card, I swap it out for the one in my machine and then mail the full card back to them. That way I don't have to worry about any sort of gap. I've heard of lots of companies that do it that way.
My own opinion is that I have better things to do with the 100 bucks or so for software and reader and don't feel like dealing with the hassle of trying to get it setup and running smoothly. The DME provider is happy to do so - it doesn't cost anyone anything - so I'll let them.

Add in that I don't care about random bad nights or anything - all I care about is the long term big picture - over the course of a week/month/year is my treatment working? If it is then I'm happy.

mattman

I am of the same opinion as you.
I recently acquired a new system one machine with the SD card and I have arranged with my DME to do the same procedure.
Every 3 months I will take out the SD card, slip in another one - take the card to the DME who will provide me with a printout and go over the results.
That is good enough for me.......

[Goofproof]

ALSO, a DME doesn't do anything without making a profit on it. You may not see a direct billing on what they do, but it's not free. Jim

[mattman]

ALSO, a DME doesn't do anything without making a profit on it. You may not see a direct billing on what they do, but it's not free. Jim

Just for the record - I have never once seen a bill go out to anybody for reading a smart card. I'm sure there is someone, somewhere out there who may have but not in my experience covering about 10 years, maybe a dozen insurance companies and 3 DME providers.

I know the world is far from black and white so yeah, I'll bet someone has somewhere but not that I've ever seen.