A-Flex is Fabulous!

[quote="Snoredog"][quote="gasp"]I usually have to get up 3-5 times a night. Last night I only got up once to go to the bathroom and then woke earlier than usual in the morning. When I woke up for the bathroom visit, the mask startled me. Sheesh, you'd think my sub-conscious would keep me better informed than that, letting me know what to expect when I woke up : ) I should have practiced how to unhook myself. The materials said to keep the mask on, just disconnect the hose. So here I was trying to figure out how to do that. The one on the mask is too tight to get off. Then I decided to take it out of the back of the machine. Now I'm wide awake, taking 6 feet of tubing with me to the bathroom. There has to be a better way.

I thought about leaving the mask off and going back to sleep without it, but then thought how silly that would be since I had surprisingly slept half-way through the night with it. So, I gave it another go and woke up a couple of hours later when I rolled over on my tube. I took it off this time and slept another 2 hours without it. I have to come up with a tube solution. Guess I'll be doing my first mod on my Comfort Gel mask so the tube stays going over the top of my head.

The A-Flex performed flawlessly. I didn't have to fight the pressure coming in or out all night. Of course, I haven't had any other machine to compare it to except the one in titration. Getting used to the mask was my only issue. Oh, and the bright blue lights on top of the machine that lit up the whole room. I haven't found a way to turn them off yet. I will call Respironics so at the very least they know a customer wants them dimmed.

So far, so good.

dsm wrote:Sounds like a great start - congrats

Do keep us posted on progress, and any detailed description of A-flex most appreciated

Good luck

DSM

Any detailed description you'd like me to include? Just let me know and I'd be happy to type in any info found in the book or of my experience. I have so little CPAP machine experience that I don't know what I know - if that makes sense : )

rested gal wrote: . . . But, ya done good most of the night, gasp. Try not to give in to temptation. Except when it comes to chocolate!

Hopefully I won't be tempted anymore : ) Last night was mahvelous darling, just mahvelous! I woke up just a tiny bit to find my machine most likely near my prescribed pressure (10). The machine is set from 4 to 15, so who knows - it may have been on 15! Anyway, the pressure was impressive. I was surprised and fought the pressure a bit and the A-Flex lowered the pressure immediately and ramped up again with me going to sleep again during the ramp. I slept the rest of the night and felt great when I got up this morning.

I wonder how the A-Flex knows the difference between me fighting the pressure while awake and an apnea event?

Babette wrote:YAY GASP! GOOD WORK! KEEP IT UP!!!!

I have perfected unhooking the mask hose from the 6 foot hose. Practice that.

In case I needed to, I did practice and found that if I use my thumbnail on the soft tube end part that goes on the mask, I can get it off rather easily.

Babette wrote:I have varied in the bathroom breaks. I went for nearly a week not waking up at all when I first got the NAII. Now this week I'm back to the 1 am or 3 am pee. I think it's stress-related, though.

Last night was the first time I haven't got up for a bathroom break. Soooo nice. I hope you get back to your earlier schedule.

Babette wrote: How's your tube management? I love the over the head tube idea, but it does come with rainout. I bought a special tube hanger, but have yet to use it. I should just sell it to someone here.

So, that's what caused the rain forest to invade my tubing? I wasn't going to post the rhyme below, but now I want to. First, the night before last I woke up with an amazing amount of water in my tube. I unhooked from the machine so I could take the entire tube in the bathroom. Good thing I did because quite a lot of water ran out. Last night I did the under the mattress trick because my husband remembered that from the workshop. I had much less water in the tube. I also put the machine on a low stand beside the bed which may have helped. OK, so this rhyme kept going through my head when getting back to sleep after emptying the tube.

It's raining, it's pouring
The women was chortling
Tore the mask from her head
And couldn't get up in the morning.

I didn't remember the last sentence of the rhyme: Rain rain go away, come again another day. If I had, I would have turned it into:

Rain rain go away, don't come back another day.

Babette wrote: I have found that really the best tube management for me is to run the tube over my head, behind the pillow, along the mattress edge, and out to the machine. Hanging it over the headboard can sometimes get wonky. If it falls behind the headboard too much, it will pull on the mask. The other way, I rarely if ever encounter the tube at all.

Exactly what I did. I also turned the machine's humidifier setting from 2 to 1. I still had a little too much moisture so I intend to put a cover on the tube.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, hose, tubing, rainout

Snoredog wrote: ...In case you do want to let them know, you can tell them so here, just put your comments in the Other box:

http://global.respironics.com/contactus.aspx

Excellent! Now I've phoned them and left a comment via this site you provided. Thanks!

As it turns out, my nifty yellow tape comes off after being on the warm machine all night. Guess I'll tape a business card over the top now : )

[quote="rhowald"]Hi Gasp,

I use the same comfort gel mask as you do. When I need to take it off for a washroom break I twist the right ball/socket joint and push forward slightly and it releases the bottom strap on the one side.

If your mask is adjusted properly, this should be enough for you to slip it off your head. When you return, just do the reverse and put the ball back in the socket (the straps need to be at 90 degrees from the norm to fit in properly) and let it twist back to normal setting. The mask should reseal itself quickly (even with my mustache).

After a few nights of practice you will come to love the ease of this mask. I can even put it on while laying in bed already and then breath a couple times to get the CPAP to auto-on. Makes it nicer to read a book for a bit, then put the mask on and go to sleep.

Also glad to hear you are having such a great time with your therapy!



Rob

Been out of the loop for a while... but A-Flex sounds promosing...

I have an Remstar Auto CPAP with c-flex... is A-flex enough of an improvement to warrant getting a new CPAP???

I certinly would(will) buy if it is worth it!!!(Btw, I don't define "worth" it in $. By worth it, I mean a better nights sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Comments????

(If I hear more of what I have read... I will be ordering!!!!!)

I LIKE the blue lights.

All the cool kids have them.

JPZeller wrote:I LIKE the blue lights.

All the cool kids have them.

LOVE IT!

My blue lights don't bother me. I have to sleep with a street light shining through my windows all night. I've gotten used to that - some little blue lights don't add much to the mix.

Cheers,
B.

I just received M Series A-Flex with Opti-life mask from cpap.com few days ago. No experience with C-Flex, this is my first CPAP. The first night have some trouble adjusting the mask. The pressure is set from 4 to 20 cm H2o, it shoot up to 17, AHI 6.2.During previous CPAP trial, using Resmed S7 Autoset (vantage in the US), the max is 15, AHI 5. I suspect mask problem, make some adjustment, the next few nights manage to get 14. Since I do not have the smart card reader yet (got the software, special thanks to a good soul) , I can only see the readings on the LCD panel. The readings now (average 7 days) is 16.9 cm h20, 38.9 leakage and AHI 5.2. My chin is short, the chin strap on the Optilife does not fit, don't like the mask.

I find A-Flex is good (better than S7), set the A-Flex relief setting to 2, humidifier to 1 (3 cause rain out). Noticed mild pulsating pressure on my nose, no discomfort. It seems to follow breathing patterns. Noisy at first night maybe because mask was loose, the subsequent nights, is getting quieter. Although pressure shoot up to 17, with A-flex I can take it. Previous test on a plain CPAP (other brand) I can't even stand the pressure at 15. Blue lights is not annoying to me but I would prefer to see pressure on the LCD panel if possible, backlited something like S7. I guess this is personal preference. Thumbs up for M Series A-Flex .

In the future I will try C-Flex (yes, C-Flex is available in A-Flex machine) and see what is the difference. May want to get nasal mask such as Profile Lite Gel Mask or some other mask, Optilife does not work for me.

> I just received M Series A-Flex with Opti-life mask from cpap.com few days ago.

Did not login, before posting, therefore last posting by "guest" was me, Green Ice .

Greenice wrote: ...I find A-Flex is good (better than S7), set the A-Flex relief setting to 2, humidifier to 1 (3 cause rain out).....

Glad you like the A-Flex too! It's been "fabulous" for me : )

Relief setting: The machine as 1, 2, 3 as settings to relieve exhalation with 3 being the highest. I'm wondering (probably out of ignorance) why a 1 or 2 setting would be desirable? What informed your decision to choose 2 versus 3? (Learning here and wondering what I may be missing out on by not choosing a lower setting : )

Rainout: I also have humidifier set to 1 because of rain out. I'm wondering if this machine has a more aggressive humidifier or if most others with the M Series C-Flex also set their machine to a 1 due to rain out?

Gasp, I live just a few hours south of you, and suffered from rainout. I find it more in the mask (condensation) than in the hose - true rainout. I did make myself a fleece hose cover. I DID NOT lower the machine below my head. Just lazy. I like where it is. Maybe I might move it if I get rainout again next winter.

I've been going between 1 and 0 on the humidifier lately, depending on how I feel. I am most recently more on 0 than anything. I found 2 excessive and 3 insane.

I keep a cold bedroom, and as outside temps have warmed, find less rainout issues. Plus the NAII seems to not be a big contributor to mask condensation, unlike the Breeze, which loves to collect condensation in the bottom of the pillows shell.

Make or buy a fleece tube cover. You've already lowered the machine. Experiment with 0 setting on the HH. Look CLOSELY to see if the rain is in the tube or the mask. If the mask, experiment with making mask covers for various parts.

Cheers,
B.

Babette wrote:Gasp, I live just a few hours south of you, and suffered from rainout. I find it more in the mask (condensation) than in the hose - true rainout. I did make myself a fleece hose cover. I DID NOT lower the machine below my head. Just lazy. I like where it is. Maybe I might move it if I get rainout again next winter.

Next winter? So you don't have it now - using a cover and lower setting?

I have both condensation in the mask and in the hose. Once I drained what felt (ran through my finders into sink) like 1/4 cup of water from the hose - at least. I called my DME yesterday and they put a ResMed cover in UPS right away and the driver just delivered it! Wow - that's service. I'm looking forward to a dry night.

Babette wrote: I've been going between 1 and 0 on the humidifier lately, depending on how I feel. I am most recently more on 0 than anything. I found 2 excessive and 3 insane.

So the low setting you have had to set is on your C-Flex? If so, that would suggest that the A-Flex having an aggressive humidifier may not be the case.

Babette wrote: I keep a cold bedroom, and as outside temps have warmed, find less rainout issues. Plus the NAII seems to not be a big contributor to mask condensation, unlike the Breeze, which loves to collect condensation in the bottom of the pillows shell.

We also keep a cold bedroom, and in all but the hottest summer months it stays that way. I'm also wondering if living in such a humid environment contributes to our needing a lower setting and having rain out.

I hesitate to go without the humidifier as when I reduced it to a lower setting of 1, I noticed my inner nose is tender.

I don't have experience with other machines, and wonder if mine is adequately heating the air (aside from the fact that it heats it enough for rain out to occur ; ) Does your air coming into the mask feel warm? Mine may be warmer than room air, but it's hard to tell. The air coming into my mask feels cool.

My humidification dial feels smooth as it goes from 0 to 1, to 2, etc. It clicks when it gets to the next number. I wonder if I turn the dial halfway from 1 to 0, if it will reduce humidification by half or effectively be off. The blue light stays lit, so perhaps it is cut in half. I will give that a try if the ResMed cover doesn't do the trick on a setting of 1 tonight.

My dial clicks at each setting, so try the 1/2 setting and see what you get. I can't do halfs with the current machine.

Hose cover will probably work well for you.

I haven't had rainout issues since switching to the NAII, about 2 weeks ago. BUT, warmer outdoor temps, lowering HH to 0, that could be contributing, as well.

I don't notice any temp difference using the NAII between 0 and 1. I THOUGHT I noticed it feeling "warmer" playing with 2 & 3 with OTHER MASKS. The NAII may just be designed so I don't notice warmth.

Are you using Ayr Gel? I get it at Walgreens. Do use that religiously every night, and every morning until you get "used" to therapy and don't feel you need it anymore. It will help prevent nose tenderness and dryout, and help heal any that might develop.

Cheers,
B.