Well, duh . . .

[Janknitz]

When I first started CPAP one of the hardest things to get used to was the Darth Vader breathing sounds. It bothered me long after I'd gotten used to everything else about CPAP and I used my iPod to mask the noise.

Lately I've been marveling at how much quieter the machine seems to be. I thought perhaps I'd finally acclimated or my hearing was going. But I was reading another thread and finally realized why it's so much quieter!

About 1 1/2 months ago I had another bout of bronchitis. I cranked the humidifier up and for some reason (I don't exactly remember why) I turned Aflex down to 1. I think that's why it's so much quieter. I'm actually finding breathing a little "calmer" with the lower setting--I think I felt more"rushed" with a setting of 3.

Flex/EPR was really needed at first(my pressures go to 15, but now I have no problem breathing against pressure.

[Pugsy]

I too feel "rushed" with AFlex at 3. Setting at 1 mimics my normal rhythm perfectly.
If I really, really strain hard I can barely hear my machine and it is one of the older models before they were supposedly made quieter. My old M series machine was also this quiet.

[Vader]

and just what's wrong with Darth Vader sounds?

But Seriously, I have never liked aflex or cflex, and don't use them. My dme person can't believe I wouldn't want to use them, and at first, seemed hesitant to disable the feature,(like I couldn't do it myself?) because I find it to be very irritating at any setting.
I guess I'm in the minority in this regard.

[Dojers]

and just what's wrong with Darth Vader sounds?

But Seriously, I have never liked aflex or cflex, and don't use them. My dme person can't believe I wouldn't want to use them, and at first, seemed hesitant to disable the feature,(like I couldn't do it myself?) because I find it to be very irritating at any setting.
I guess I'm in the minority in this regard.

Agreed!! I'm ending up having to get a machine with c-flex in it and I'm hoping like heck I can turn it off! I don't WANT c-flex. I have no problem whatsoever in exhaling with my pressure set at 14. In fact I have to admit to being a bit nervous about the c-flex if I can't turn it off. I don't like the idea of the moment of hesitation while it realizes you're inhaling or exhaling. Unless someone can tell me there's no noticeable difference!! I've been this way since birth and have a severe fear of suffocation.

But I like the Darth Vader sound. I don't sleep in the same bed (or room!) with my husband due to other sleep issues so the noise isn't a problem. AND I prefer no c-flex. Maybe we're in a club of our own, Darth

[Vader]

and just what's wrong with Darth Vader sounds?

But Seriously, I have never liked aflex or cflex, and don't use them. My dme person can't believe I wouldn't want to use them, and at first, seemed hesitant to disable the feature,(like I couldn't do it myself?) because I find it to be very irritating at any setting.
I guess I'm in the minority in this regard.

Agreed!! I'm ending up having to get a machine with c-flex in it and I'm hoping like heck I can turn it off! I don't WANT c-flex. I have no problem whatsoever in exhaling with my pressure set at 14. In fact I have to admit to being a bit nervous about the c-flex if I can't turn it off. I don't like the idea of the moment of hesitation while it realizes you're inhaling or exhaling. Unless someone can tell me there's no noticeable difference!! I've been this way since birth and have a severe fear of suffocation.

But I like the Darth Vader sound. I don't sleep in the same bed (or room!) with my husband due to other sleep issues so the noise isn't a problem. AND I prefer no c-flex. Maybe we're in a club of our own, Darth

You can definitely turn it off. I could give you instructions how to do it, or for that matter, a great number of people here could show you how.

[TalonNYC]

Same here, after the second week (at 14), I turned EPR off completely. It's great when getting used to a higher pressure, but over time it gets annoying. For me, it was also ineffective, my AHI was higher with EPR on then with it off.

[snardo]

When I got my current machine, the RT at the DME told me that the EPR was not something I could change on my own and set it at 3 for me because "that's the most comfortable setting". How does she know what's most comfortable to me? I was coming off of 6 years using a machine with no anything-flex/relief/etc... It was set at 6cm and it ALWAYS blew at 6cm and I had no problem with that. The first night with the new machine, after about 10 minutes in the dark trying to get used to EPR set at 3, I got up and figured out how to change the setting - dropped it down to 1 and I like it much better. It felt much more natural for whatever reason. I also noticed that when the EPR was at 3 there was a much more pronounced change between the sound/volume of the machine between inhale and exhale. At EPR 1 it's far less noticeable.

[Janknitz]

I have asthma and the titration machine I had for a month was set to three. I definitely needed it THEN--I was just coming off a bad bout of bronchitis and my lungs were in terrible shape. Even at three, I was uncomfortable breathing against pressure those first few days. But I soon got used to it, and just thought I needed the full aFlex setting. I experimented one time while awake with different settings and didn't see much difference so I just left it set on 3.

But now that I have been sleeping with a setting of just one I'm quite amazed. It seems very comfortable to me and very silent! I am so reluctant to get out of bed in the mornings, because I feel so darn GOOD when I wake up and the machine is softly sending cool, soothing air in. I can't wait until Saturday when I can loll in bed and enjoy the feeling a little bit longer. Too bad I have to sleep through most of that "feel good" time!

[Dojers]

You can definitely turn it off. I could give you instructions how to do it, or for that matter, a great number of people here could show you how.

Haven't gotten the machine yet - but by golly if the gal doesn't give me the clinician's manual with this one (is the key stroke the same - power on, hold power on and ramp key count of 5 or until beep?) then I'm gonna pitch a fit they get unhappy when *I* pitch a fit

[bayourest]

my minimum pressure is 11.6.
to be honest, sometimes I a m not sure whether or not I have turned on the machine. I have become so accustomed to breathing against that pressure that I dont even notice it. I stopped the ramp and the epr after giving them a try and now the minimum pressure seems like nothing. It rarely goes higher than 14 and I a m asleep when that happens.

[gpap]

I had to change it from 3 to 2 to be comfortable. The 3 setting just rushed my exhale too much.