Gradual decline w/therapy effectiveness with A-Flex?

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:10 pm

Interesting, I have been feeling way more fatigued lately when I get up, during the day like prior to CPAP therapy and/or no therapy at all.

So last night I thought I would switch out my A-Flex and back to my 420e, time wasn't quite accurate on the 420e display so I fired up my Sony laptop and plugged in Silverlining to check machine settings (can do it from LCD but just way faster from Silverlining), I confirmed settings on machine still set when last used, upgraded the date/time from PC, the compliance report in Silverlining shows I lasted used the 420e on December 29, 2007, so for the past 3 months I've used the A-Flex.

man I tell ya, I feel a million bucks better today after using the 420e last night, its settings are set similar to A-Flex, actually A-Flex is set .5 cm higher at 7.0 to 20 where the 420e is set 6.5 to 14 and command on FL is off.

I've been on cpap therapy for 8 years so I'm no newbie at this, just wondering if anyone else has felt a degrade to therapy after switching to A-Flex? yeah it is more comfortable to breathe against but that ain't everything in this therapy as we know.

MrRandom · Post by **MrRandom** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:17 pm

The AFLEX woke me up a lot, was very irritating and didn't synch with my breathing. Maybe that's happening to you too but you just aren't conscious of it?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:28 pm

sounds like a machine problem to me

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Den

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:29 pm

Wulfman wrote:sounds like a machine problem to me

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Den

I agree, was going to ask Slinky if I could borrow her S8, but then again my fire hazard insurance doesn't cover all that much

Daffney_Gillfin · Post by **Daffney_Gillfin** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:48 pm

I've only used my AFLEX machine for three weeks now, and yes, I feel more fatigured. I'm about ready to switch back the 420E myself.

After a few nights on the AFLEX, I had to raise my low pressure setting due to a much higher AHI. Since then, my AHI has been only slightly higher than on the 420E, but I don't know that it's statistically significant. I've thought that it could just be a difference in scoring between the brands. I've noticed the AFLEX raising the pressure much higher than my 420E ever did. However, I found that I had to raise the pressure on my Elite with EPR turned on, too. That just might be the nature of exhale relief for me.

I don't really need FLEX of any kind, I just thought it would be nice, and I wanted a backup APAP. I'll probably swap with my son-in-law to get my Elite back (not afraid of fires), and let him try out the AFLEX. He's not using any xPAP right now, with aerophagia being his main complaint. He has to feel better with the AFLEX than with nothing at all.

Captain_Midnight · Post by **Captain_Midnight** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:43 pm

S-Dog writes about a Gradual decline w/therapy effectiveness with A-Flex

Hmm, interesting observations. Do you have data records that might show differences in AHI?

My experience is actually quite different. My therapeutic effectiveness increased as I moved from CfLEX to AFLEX. Unfortunately, I have no data from the CFLEX, just a general sense as to how I'm responding to treatment.

I did twiddle with the AFLEX range, some keeping it fairly tight. (It's now at 8-10 cm).

I do recall reading somewhere that AFLEX might be more effective for higher pressure Rxs, but I have no idea why, or even if that's true.

Good luck figuring out which is the better machine for you (and why.)

roster · Post by **roster** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 2:31 pm

Snoredog wrote:.......... just wondering if anyone else has felt a degrade to therapy after switching to A-Flex? yeah it is more comfortable to breathe against but that ain't everything in this therapy as we know.

8 days ago I put the A-Flex in the drawer and got out my straight cpap/no data F&P HC234. I am sleeping better and feeling better but maybe not as dramatically different as you.

That F&P is a much quieter machine and has a very good humidifier.

I found with the A-Flex I need a higher pressure than straight cpap.

I appreciate what Respironics is trying to do and really like the software. I will sleep with the machine occasionally using straight cpap and will check my level of events. But for now, I am using my quieter, simpler F&P.

glfredrick · Post by **glfredrick** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:19 pm

I'm running a Responics A-flex machine, and have noticed that I'm falling asleep when sitting in a chair at night -- so I'm evidently more sleepy also.

I think that I'll go back to straight C-pap for a while (the machine will do M-flex, A-flex, or straight C) to see how I feel in the morning.

I'll check back in a week...

Lee Lee · Post by **Lee Lee** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:32 pm

Snoredog,
The same thing happened to me, although I own one of those fire hazard Resmed machines!
I used APAP for a long time, did great, and then gradually starting feeling like before therapy. My numbers proved it, too.
So I went to CPAP with EPR and I instantly felt better. Numbers went WAY down.
I was kinda disappointed in a way. I thought it was so cool, how I had all the bells and whistles and cool technology with the APAP.
Turns out, plain ole CPAP was the ticket.
I know for sure I was waking up often when the pressure changed. Maybe that's what was happening to you, too.
Glad you're feeling better.
Lee Lee

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:01 pm

[quote="Lee Lee"]Snoredog,
The same thing happened to me, although I own one of those fire hazard Resmed machines!
I used APAP for a long time, did great, and then gradually starting feeling like before therapy. My numbers proved it, too.
So I went to CPAP with EPR and I instantly felt better. Numbers went WAY down.
I was kinda disappointed in a way. I thought it was so cool, how I had all the bells and whistles and cool technology with the APAP.
Turns out, plain ole CPAP was the ticket.
I know for sure I was waking up often when the pressure changed. Maybe that's what was happening to you, too.
Glad you're feeling better.
Lee Lee

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:15 pm

Snoredog wrote: ... using the 420e last night, its settings are set similar to A-Flex, actually A-Flex is set .5 cm higher at 7.0 to 20 where the 420e is set 6.5 to 14 and command on FL is off.

Fer crying out loud, you old coot! Reset the Respironics to 7 to 14.5, THEN they will be more equal in settings.

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:14 pm

Good timing on this post as I have been thinking the same thing. I am going to set my A/flex to CPAP and see if there is a difference. I have just ordered the card reader so only have the data on the screen to go by. My pressure are all over the place as it is now in Auto.

shippy · Post by **shippy** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:42 pm

Gee !!

This sounds a lot like my experience with a Bi-Pap, i switched from my old straight cpap about three months ago and i feel like crap most of the time. Seems like i was feeling better on the old machine.

Dale

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:08 pm

Well, I've been getting the same good treatment using the Auto with A-flex that I got with any other machine I've used. Using a range of 10-20 with A-flex at 3. My usual low AHI's, usual pressures being used when it varies upward some occasionally, and my usual "completely rested" feeling in the mornings.

Guess I'm just one of those "pressure of 10 works for the majority of people." I've always known I was a straight cpap'er at heart.

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:54 am

I actually did set my A/Flex to CPAP last night and did use the C/Flex of 2. My AHI this morning was at an all time low of 1.9 !!! Very happy and very satsified. Makes me wonder at the overall effectivness of the Auto in the long run. At least for some of us. Thinking that the marketing of some of these extra features is overblown and some of us are falling for it when we basically just need a reg ole CPAP. Of course any and all machines should be data capable.

Just my opinion though. I don't want to get anyone feather ruffled up.

Gradual decline w/therapy effectiveness with A-Flex?

Gradual decline w/therapy effectiveness with A-Flex?

A-Flex effectiveness?

Re: Gradual decline w/therapy effectiveness with A-Flex?

Re: Gradual decline w/therapy effectiveness with A-Flex?

Mask

Additional Comments: Pressure = 16!!!

Machine	Mask	Humidifier