A-Flex

Hi again all,

thank you kindly for the informative replies regarding central apnea.

I have a question for those of you that use A-flex techology.

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel less comftorable using A-flex than using C-flex. The reason is that sometimes It feels like I am having the air sucked out of me, and I realised that this is because a-flex is cutting my inhalations short by preemptively cutting back on the pressure (obviously this is what it is designed to do). So unless I hold a perfectly steady breathing rhythm, I constantly have this little "winded" feeling right at the end of my breaths. If I try to keep a steady breathing cycle for a while then it is more comftorable, but as soon as I get one of these little "winded" feelings (again A-flex preemptively cutting the pressure while I am still trying to inhale) then it starts a viscious cycle and my body trys to make up for the missing oxygen on the next inhale then it happens again, and so on and so on...

Anyone else finding a-flex somewhat uncomftorable compared to c-flex??

any thoughts or advice is appreciated!

tyler.

Guest112 wrote:Hi again all,

thank you kindly for the informative replies regarding central apnea.

I have a question for those of you that use A-flex techology.

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel less comftorable using A-flex than using C-flex. The reason is that sometimes It feels like I am having the air sucked out of me, and I realised that this is because a-flex is cutting my inhalations short by preemptively cutting back on the pressure (obviously this is what it is designed to do). So unless I hold a perfectly steady breathing rhythm, I constantly have this little "winded" feeling right at the end of my breaths. If I try to keep a steady breathing cycle for a while then it is more comftorable, but as soon as I get one of these little "winded" feelings (again A-flex preemptively cutting the pressure while I am still trying to inhale) then it starts a viscious cycle and my body trys to make up for the missing oxygen on the next inhale then it happens again, and so on and so on...

Anyone else finding a-flex somewhat uncomftorable compared to c-flex??

any thoughts or advice is appreciated!

tyler.

Tyler,

I was mis-prescribed for in treatment for OSA for years with a CPAP, and then a CPAP w/C-Flex. Not long ago after joining this board and learning much I bought an Auto-M w/A-Flex and got the best therapy I had in six years. It was still far from great though. So, I changed from nasal interface masks that I preferred to a Hybrid Universal Interface FF mask. Despite my disliking the face-binding effect of the mask I finally got 90% or greater effective therapy.

The truth is… not everyone finds the Auto or Auto w/A-Flex suitable for their particular comfort and successful therapy. Some just need, or prefer CPAP or CPAP w/C-Flex. Pressure settings could play a large role, as could the A-Flex or C-Flex setting of either 1, 2 or 3 for exhale resistance. The type, style particular construction of mask you use could also be less than optimal for you. Many variables play into successful therapy, and much success is achieved through making changes and adapting to them. Many personal medical factors could have part in what you're experiencing too.

It took me a few weeks to get used to the lack, or feeling of lack, of constant pressure and that feeling of “air not being there” with the A-Flex. But I adapted – of course my success was realized with the Hybrid FF mask which covers the mouth and utilizes nasal pillows instead of a nasal cup. I am a mouth breather when I sleep.

A week ago my current doctor and the DME’s RT (FINALLY) switched me to a BIPAP-Auto w/BIFLEX and I love it. Though, I had to show them Encore Pro printouts of my newly found success with the Auto A-Flex in order to jolt them into beneficial reaction to my complaints. Of course, those “SDB knowledgeable” people told me to leave the machine set at its factory “wide open plain vanilla” settings to ensure that it would suffice for any need I could have.

Sheesh…. I changed the settings and may need to tailor them in increments as time passes, but I am getting even better therapy than with the Auto-M A-Flex. I base this in-part on my oxygen saturation numbers that I record nightly, and the Encore Pro daily reports that I download and look at.

Nodzy

I never used the C-Flex function before, only straight cpap. I do know what you mean by the feeling of having your inhalations cut short now that I am using A-Flex. Of course this is when I am awake.

What I really wonder is what is going on when I am asleep? Am I getting a full natural inhalation or is it truly being cut short. My guess is that the body's natural response to co2 levels and the need for oxygen takes over and all is ok.

While lying awake, if I feel short of air, I just make a very deep exhalation or two. This seems to reboot the cycle as I learned from this forum. You might want to try this. After the deep exhalations, I just let the body take over and do not try to force a deep inhalation.

And by the way, if you have read some of my other posts about problems with aerophagia, you might guess I would enjoy, as you say, "getting the air sucked out of me".

Rooster

I used several CFlex machines since it first came out in a Remstar Pro, then with a Classic Auto, a M series Cflex, and now a A-Flex version.

I find A-flex much more comfortable to breathe against than CFlex. My opinion is if your breathing feels cut off or you feel like you are hyperventilating you are using the wrong setting.

I tried all 3 AFlex settings, I found it can take almost 30 minutes use to get used to the new settings, if after that time it remains uncomfortable you are probably using the wrong setting for your breathing pattern.

I tried setting #1, machine was quieter but I felt I wasn't getting enough relief, on #3 it was too much and I felt as if I was hyperventilating. So I moved it back to #2, which is the same setting I used when on CFlex. I did have to increase my Minimum pressure setting over Cflex because otherwise I felt like I was starving for air.

AFlex machine can also function in Cflex mode, you can compare easily, just change the mode from AFLEX to CFLEX and it will be in that mode.

You'll notice in programming there is default Flex setting of: Off, 1, 2, or 3. Now it only says "Flex" as opposed to CFlex/AFlex, the button on top the same.

Make sure your Auto:Min setting is higher than 4 cm and is high enough to supply you with the air you need to breathe normally.

Note: Aflex does NOT work below 6.0 cm pressure, so if your Auto:Min is below that it is disabled at the lower pressure.