Is CFlex a potential "Villain" for some?

JL · Post by JL » Mon May 30, 2005 10:22 am

Hi All

Wondered if any of you had done any testing by using Remstar as an APAP with CFlex off. I originally suspected something in the auto function alogrithem on the Remstar was contributing in my case to fluctuating/increasing pressures, one runaway episode, and less than ideal AHI, etc.

As suggested by many I limited the lower and upper pressure ranges using my Encore Pro data. Helped but still didn't do as well as I had hoped. I then tried turning CFlex off while in auto with the same limited pressure range. Now I'm getting consistently lower AHI (< 2). Curious if maybe irregular breathing patterns temporarily "confuses" CFlex which in turn temporarily "confuses" the Remstar auto pressure functions. There has to be some correlation (at least for me) associated with the CFlex to allow me to reduce my AHI from 4-7 to consistently < 2 and even cut my snoring by at least half??? Love CFlex and hate to give it up but numbers in my case sure seem to indicate it...luckily my pressures aren't so high that I can't live without it.

Jim

NeurosurgeryNP · Post by **NeurosurgeryNP** » Mon May 30, 2005 2:13 pm

The thought for me - forget the numbers - they are good - but they are just that - numbers. If you are feeling good - they may be absolutely true. That's all that matters.

Just my thought!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 30, 2005 2:52 pm

Only goal is to figure out how to get the numbers as low as possible with hopes of feeling better sooner...unfortunately I'm also one of those that is going to take some time before I can feel the results

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Mon May 30, 2005 3:14 pm

JL,

You may be one of those out of the ordinary individuals whose apneas occur during the first three quarters of the expiratory phase. For most apneas occur during either the inspiratory phase and the end of the expiratory phase. C-flex does not function during these phases and therefore is able to provide expiratory pressure relief without negatively affecting AHI. In your case , it may be that your apneas are occurring during the phase where C-flex is in operation. You may try doing and experiment using the three various levels of C-flex and see if there is direct correlation between a decreasing C-flex setting and a decreasing residual AHI.
If it happens to be the case that you and C-flex are not compatable, it is fortunate that Respironics have included the ability to turn off the C-flex feature

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 30, 2005 5:19 pm

Thanks for info...that would make sense. Have tried the different CFlex settings, but didn't really pay close attention to how much each setting affected AHI compared to no CFlex. That would probably give me a better idea of whats happening. Will give that a try now that I have good consistent baseline data.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Mon May 30, 2005 9:11 pm

Once you've completed your experiment, will you please post your results? I have moved from the most relief provided upon exhale (cflex at 3) to the least amount of relief on exhale (cflex at 1). My numbers improved so I'm just curious if you find the same.

I read through about a gazillion old threads and came across one that suggested with too much relief provided upon exhale (i.e. CFlex at 3), certain individuals may find the reduced pressure allows their airway to close. The following inhale thus requires greater effort than it would if the exhale/inhale pressure had remained relatively equal, and all this could result in runaway pressure. I have no idea if this has any basis in fact, but its what got me started experimenting with my Cflex setting in the first place.

What do you think, Wader?

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Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 31, 2005 7:44 am

Neversleeps and Wader

Will be a few days before I start...have a new Activa mask coming and want to make sure my baseline stays the same. There definitely seems to be something to this that could help explain the pressure runups/runaways for some people with the Remstar Auto w/CFlex.

Jim

JL · Post by JL » Tue May 31, 2005 7:45 am

Whoops...thats me above that got guested.

Jim

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue May 31, 2005 8:04 am

JL,

I can't wait to see your results. That should tell us if there is a correlation (at least for you).

IWannaSleep · Post by **IWannaSleep** » Tue May 31, 2005 11:43 pm

This is an interesting thread.

I have noticed that most of my events now occur during the first 30 minutes as i fall asleep and the last 30 minutes prior to waking.

I'm going to experiment with my cflex setting and see if I see any variation as I seem to have hit a limit on being able to reduce my ahi further.

Ron

jondough · Post by **jondough** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:02 pm

I have a BiPap Pro 2 and have experimented with Cflex and find that the absolute change without it seems to give me better sleep. The more 'flexible' the change, the less I slept. Back on no flex, was better.