New to CPAP Please help!!!!!

[Banshee]

I have read alot of great ideas on this message board but it seems the more I read the more I get confused!! I have only been on CPAP for 1 month. My doc put me on a pressure of 17!!! I am 5ft 5in and weigh 135!!
Doc will not call me so I have to leave messages to the receptionist and wait, wait , wait for a reply. Finally after I told them I will not use this machine on that pressure do to severe stomach pain, he dropped it to 12. I am still having a little pain but nothing near what I was having. But surely there is a way to get even better. Maybe a different machine? I have tried to decipher all the different kinds of machines but am entirely confused. I know the doc will want to up the pressure once I go back!! The doc does not even know what machine the VA gave me to use! It is a Remstar Pro w/ C-Flex. So does anyone have any ideas? PLEASE HELP!!!!

[Goofproof]

You are pretty much is the Dr.'s hands for better or worse, The Remstar pro machine doesn't have the necessary data to help you determine your real needs. If they had given your the Pro 2, you could get the software and reader to watch what the machine was doing for you. The machine you have will treat you fine, but the Dr. has to tell you what you need. Most of us here don't like that option. The best option would be get a better machine if fiances allow, I too have used the VA so I know where you are coming from. The main thing is it's your health, sometimes we have to make a different plan to get things done the way they need to be done.

The AVG patient responds to a setting of 10 cm, so maybe if you use 12 cm, and use it all the time, it will be high enough. Sometimes as we get used to this way of living our body adjusts to tolerate our treatment. Jim

[RedThunder94]

maybe you could try an autopap, it will adjust itself to give you optimal pressure instead of a flat take it or leave it setting, you do have c-flex on your machine, right? do you have it set on 3? mine is set on 3 and my pressure is set to 6-18 and i still can handle it rather well at the higher pressures, is it possible to have another sleep study done so they can titrate you properly since it seems that this pressure is not tolerable for you?
i am by no means an expert but maybe one of these suggestions will help.

[Banshee]

How do I check to see what C-Flex setting its on?

[RedThunder94]

i dunno about your specific machine but on mine you push and hold down the ramp button with the airflow off until it shows a menu on the display, and then you use the right button under the display to scroll through the menu, it will show the days of use first then scroll again and it will show the c-flex setting, if it is on 1 or 2 press the ramp button again and it will change the setting keep going until you get the 3 if it is not already set, again these are the instructions for my machine, so i dunno if they will be the same or not. if you have your manual i would look there first.

[NightHawkeye]

So does anyone have any ideas? PLEASE HELP!!!!

Based on my experience, you need the Respironics BiPAP-auto. What you describe sounds almost exactly like what I experienced. Here's what I've gotten from prior posts:

1) BiPAP's are routinely prescribed for folks at the pressure level you are talking about.
2) BiPAP's are routinely prescribed for folks who can't handle the pressures of CPAP.
3) BiPAP's are routinely prescribed for folks who have bad aerophagia (which is what you have described).

The BiPAP-auto may also provide you further relief by reducing pressure for you if you don't need the higher pressure all the time, which many folks apparently do not. I know that I sure don't.

I'd recommend you tell your physician that you want to get the Respironics BiPAP-auto and ask him what the best way to accomplish that is. Be sure to tell him the three items listed above as well. That should cut down his wiggle room considerably.

Regards,
Bill

[Banshee]

Boy, you all are great!! I appreciate every reply!!! My C-Flex setting is 2, i have notice there is 1, 2, & 3. Can you tell me what each is......for instance, will 1 give you more or less air on exhale?
Also, I have read somewhere on this board that Auto will not get rid of all apneas/hypopneas??
What is the difference between AutoPap & BiPap?
Are there any suggestions on a AutoPap or Bipap machine that is the best and that I will be able to get all the info from it that I need? My machine is a Remstar Pro w/ C-flex. I did not realize that I should have asked for at least a Pro 2, but then again, it's from the VA so I guess I should be happy that received one. LOL!! It seems to me that alot of people are not having very much luck with their doctor's. And that ya wonder if the doctor even knows what he/she is doing. I know the VA has BiPap machines, however, I am not sure if they AutoBipap? Boy, I can here the lady at the VA having a COW!!! LOLA. They all seem to be extremely uptight at this VA. And if ya have a question, the Va lady either says, I can't help you, or sometimes she will give ya info such as "what to clean the machine with." But she talks to me like "you should know this & it's my fault that I don't know!! Forget about talking directly with my doc. I've called a zillion times to talk to my doc but NO, you can't talk to him ya have to leave a message!! I even went there to see him for 5 minutes and he would not see me!! This is absolutely impossible. And i went to a doc outside the VA thinking it would be better to go to a specialist thats not affiliated wy/ VA. Boy was I wrong. Sorry, I guess I am taking my frustrations out.......
Can anyone tell me what #'sa I need to look at on the DICTATED REPORT or the TITRATION REPORT?
Thanks again for all the help!!

[RedThunder94]

okay for the c-flex, 1 means less pressure relief on exhale and and setting 3 gives the most pressure relief on exhale, dunno about the other stuff, i'm noob as well. hth, later'z....

[Wulfman]

Banshee,

Do lots of reading on this site. Use the "Search" function, too.
The blue book button (CPAPopedia) and the red button (CPAP FAQ) will help you out tremendously.

The C-Flex settings are 1 = a little relief, 2 = a little more relier, 3 = most relief on exhaling. I set mine to "2" on day one and have never changed it.....as it's quite comfortable.

I'm gathering that the VA got a HUGE deal from Respironics on the purchase of the Pro models......Respironics made them "obsolete" over a year ago. It seems that a number of you VA patients are showing up here with the same equipment lately.

At least you found this forum. Hang in there and make it work. You can still do it with a non-data-collecting machine, but it'll be a little trickier. The Pro 2 and the Auto make it so much easier.

Seems to me like I knew somebody in Lake City......years ago.

Best wishes,

Den

[Banshee]

Okay, i am definately going to hang in there. It is pretty hard to get used to though. between pain, mouth breating, and not knowing much. I am very glad I found this forum cause you guys are fantastic, fabulous, etc etc. LOL!! Thanx to all!!