Is this Normal? - DME Related

MurphysLaw wrote:

gasp wrote:

Don't forget that if you buy the A-Flex you can put it on settings that make it a C-Flex. If you buy a C-Flex, it can not be an A-Flex.

The DME supposedly shipped it to me today, saving a human from showing up at my door to set it up. Humans take longer, they said. I'm going to ship the old one back or drop it off at to them a few miles away.

Although I'm not familiar with A-Flex at all, I'm very happy with C-Flex, If that's what I get, it will be fine with me. I'll be shocked if they give me something better than C-Flex.

A copy of the prescription was faxed to me, but it says "Illegal" all over the thing, showing that it's not the original. Will I need that to buy a card reader and software? If I buy the software online, will they accept the copy that shows "Illegal"? Has anyone had any experience with that?

Forgive me if I'm confused, but you mentioned APAP several times as the unit the doctor was going to give you before putting you back on CPAP and again in another post that you were getting APAP. A Respironics APAP is A-Flex and a Respironices CPAP is C-Flex. A-Flex has additional capability to provide exhalation relief, meaning you can exhale more naturally/easier. Just wanted to make certain we were on the same page.

Bookbear, I understand that I should have a copy. Without getting nasty, I've been trying. But, even if they do give me an original, wouldn't my faxing it to somewhere like CPAP.com cause that "Illegal" watermark to show up anyway? Is that needed for purchasing the reader and software?

Murph

Shouldn't need it for software and card reader!!!
If being nice doesn't work to get an original copy of the script, get nasty......It's much easier to do it your way, but sometimes it takes fangs to get their attention!!
I generally do things "nice", but they found that I am very persistent and firm when I needed to be.......showed the fangs but didn't end up having to use them!!!!

A-Flex is definitely much more comfortable than C-Flex due to the exhalation component, but I did find that I had to set it at 3 or it made it more difficult to exhale because it seemed to re-set and it was difficult to get my breathing totally done before it was expecting an inhale.....One day I may purchase a bi-PAP strictly for comfort reasons, but still being unemployed, it'll have to wait!!!

Good luck!!!!
cheers
goose

gasp wrote:
Forgive me if I'm confused, but you mentioned APAP several times as the unit the doctor was going to give you before putting you back on CPAP and again in another post that you were getting APAP. A Respironics APAP is A-Flex and a Respironices CPAP is C-Flex. A-Flex has additional capability to provide exhalation relief, meaning you can exhale more naturally/easier. Just wanted to make certain we were on the same page.

I'm sorry if you're confused. It's my fault. I thought APAP machines could come with either AFLEX or CFLEX, being that I never had an APAP. My mistake.

My new APAP was just delivered five minutes ago, by a human from the DME. That's not how I was told it would delivered, but it's fine with me. It does have APAP and a smart card. I'm so excited! Now I just have to settle in and read about how to work it. This forum will guide me in the right direction.

All I have to do is update my profile here and be on my way. Thanks go out to everyone who gave me the encouragement to go from CPAP to APAP.

Hey Murph,
The DME delivered it but didn't show you how to use it or give you any "in person" instructions????
Wow. That's bizarre!!!!
Did they include the "Clinicians manual"??? Or is it just the operations manual?? If no "real" manual was included, there are links in the collective wisdom that will have the manual (I think that's where I got my copy -- I just looked for it and don't see it here, so I must have moved it to another hard drive -- it's a .pdf file).

If you had the same make CPAP as the new APAP (like a Respironics M-Series), they pretty much operate the same way from the "users standpoint"....What you really want to check out is the range that the DME set it to.....If they just handed you a machine they didn't set up it'll be set for a range of 4-20 which is the default -- not really optimum!!!!! The clinicians manual will have the process listed for you to change the range to what it should be -- did the doc prescribe a range?? (I'd be surprised if the DME didn't program it in, but after just dropping it in your hands and waving bye-bye, it makes me wonder).....

As you have questions -- you know where to ask!! We'll do the best we can to help!!!!
Take care
cheers
goose

Hi Goose,

Yes, he dropped it off, with NO manual at all. And I forgot to give him my manuals from the CPAP. The paperwork said something about a repair. There should be no repair involved. Maybe they just wrote that for the insurance, but I'm going to call them about that today.

They programmed it for 6-13, not the prescribed 6-12, but that should be OK. The front reads Remstar Auto M Series/A-Flex. At this point this morning the AHI numbers aren't showing. Hopefully they will in a few hours.

WIth the old CPAP, I never seemed to get enough air when I first put it on and had to wait until I was totally at rest before I could wear the mask. With this one, it adjusted immedately to my breathing needs. So far it's good.

If anyone has any tips from experience, they are certainly appreciated. It's been nearly 3 months for me dealing on xpap.

Murph

I don't have a Respironics, so I can't be of specific help, but if your unit's internal clock/calendar are not set to your day and time, the stats will be incorrect, perhaps that is why they aren't showing. I doubt that the DME set it for you. It may also be that Respironics' default setting is to suppress the display of stats. If that is true, I also doubt that the DME will have enabled them for you. Sounds like they just set the pressure.

There are many on this forum who have that unit and should be able to guide you through the settings so you can check those things.

Good luck!

MurphysLaw wrote:Hi Goose,

Yes, he dropped it off, with NO manual at all. And I forgot to give him my manuals from the CPAP. The paperwork said something about a repair. There should be no repair involved. Maybe they just wrote that for the insurance, but I'm going to call them about that today.

They programmed it for 6-13, not the prescribed 6-12, but that should be OK. The front reads Remstar Auto M Series/A-Flex. At this point this morning the AHI numbers aren't showing. Hopefully they will in a few hours.

WIth the old CPAP, I never seemed to get enough air when I first put it on and had to wait until I was totally at rest before I could wear the mask. With this one, it adjusted immedately to my breathing needs. So far it's good.

If anyone has any tips from experience, they are certainly appreciated. It's been nearly 3 months for me dealing on xpap.

Murph

Yeah! I'm so glad you felt the same immediate adjustment to your breathing as I do.

Well, I FINALLY had my appointment with the DME. I did get the machine on my prescription. Respironics REMstar M Series Auto w/A-Flex. They gave me the one with the integrated humidifier and I asked for a seperate humidifier but I figured it wasn't worth fussing about. I wanted a humidifier one way or another.

I had my list of masks to try. They didn't have all of them (like the Soyala) but they did have most. I came home with the Swift LT. I am not sure if the prongs are going to irritate my nose though. If it does, they had a triangular one that was a new Respironics mask that was VERY quiet. That was probably my second favorite. There was also one like the LT but it had a chin strap. That one seemed pretty comfortable, too, if I am having problems keeping my mouth closed. I think the reason I open my mouth now is just because of snoring and they eliminated my snoring at 7cm so hopefully everything will work out. I will need to order the card reader now. I didn't want to do that ahead of time just in case there was a problem getting the machine.

The smell of the air through the thing was like a newly built house. That heady mixture of wood, paint, and new carpet. How do you get the smell out? Just cleaning it with the water and vinegar?

The smell will go away by itself (or at least dissipate a lot). Try putting anything scented that you like the smell of, right behind it by the air intake. You'll have a smell, but a different one than plastic junk.

ractar28 wrote:The smell will go away by itself (or at least dissipate a lot). Try putting anything scented that you like the smell of, right behind it by the air intake. You'll have a smell, but a different one than plastic junk.

I'm funny about smells. I only like a few scents. I won't wear perfume because of this. I am afraid that trying to change it will actually make it worse.

MurphysLaw wrote:I thought APAP machines could come with either AFLEX or CFLEX, being that I never had an APAP.

You're correct, MurphysLaw. The M series Respironics APAP (autopap) can come with just C-flex (and no A-flex), or can come with A-flex. The one with A-flex also has C-Flex in it.

rested gal wrote:

MurphysLaw wrote:I thought APAP machines could come with either AFLEX or CFLEX, being that I never had an APAP.

You're correct, MurphysLaw. The M series Respironics APAP (autopap) can come with just C-flex (and no A-flex), or can come with A-flex. The one with A-flex also has C-Flex in it.

I realize that now. Twice I experimented using A-Flex. It's not for me, but I love the C-Flex!

BeanMeScot wrote:

ractar28 wrote:The smell will go away by itself (or at least dissipate a lot). Try putting anything scented that you like the smell of, right behind it by the air intake. You'll have a smell, but a different one than plastic junk.

I'm funny about smells. I only like a few scents. I won't wear perfume because of this. I am afraid that trying to change it will actually make it worse.

Me too... not a fan of perfumes, etc. However, the scent of Vanilla is very nice... it's soft and warm. Some of the other scents are certainly stronger, such as lavender and such. I like the muted scents, enough to smell it but not overwhelming.

Now that I have A Flex and C Flex, what is the difference between them?