Day 1

Well, I picked up my equipment this morning. I was tensed up and expecting a fight (based on posts here and based on disappointing service from my HMO). Boy was I pleasantly surprised.

The gentleman spent quite a bit of time with me. He let me try on a couple different masks and pointed out that they each come with small/medium/large fittings. He quickly found one for me that I liked, but he didn't want me to stop there. I finally told him that I'd seen enough and picked the second one he gave me. He also made sure I got all the spare parts with the mask.

The machine he had ready for me was the exact one on the prescription (Remstar Plus with C-Flex and humidifier).

When he was all done I told him how pleased I was with his service and gave him a glowing review on his feedback card. I told him if everyone did their jobs as well as he did our country would be out of the dumper in no time at all.

So now I'm all set to start tonight. To bad it's a night when we have big plans (comedy club down on Sunset Strip until closing time). I'm very anxious to get started.

I asked the technician if this CPAP has a data card. He said "yeah, but you'd need a reader to read it and who knows what kind of info it holds." I'll need to research that to find out what kind of data is available and whether it's worth it to buy the reader & software.

My next job this weekend is to install two more batteries in our trailer so I can run the inverter all night to power the CPAP.

desert rider wrote: I asked the technician if this CPAP has a data card. He said "yeah, but you'd need a reader to read it and who knows what kind of info it holds." I'll need to research that to find out what kind of data is available and whether it's worth it to buy the reader & software.

desert rider wrote:The machine he had ready for me was the exact one on the prescription (Remstar Plus with C-Flex and humidifier).

This particular machine is older model. M Series machines are newer. The Plus is basic compliance only machine. The only data you will be able to get off of it is the number of hours it has been used. There is no sense in getting any software if you keep this machine. If you want to know anything above hours of use you need to see about getting something else. Respironics M Series Pro would be the minimum to have full data capability.

Pugsy wrote:This particular machine is older model. M Series machines are newer.

I'd better re-check my facts. I'll take a look.

remember to soak the mask, headgear and airhose in warm water with mild detergent, then rinse, suck the water into hose

dont worry about data for now, its possible for a new user to become self obsessed with the data

be patient with your CPAP and have a positive attitude

desert rider wrote: Boy was I pleasantly surprised.

The machine he had ready for me was the exact one on the prescription (Remstar Plus with C-Flex and humidifier).

I asked the technician if this CPAP has a data card. He said "yeah, but you'd need a reader to read it and who knows what kind of info it holds." I'll need to research that to find out what kind of data is available and whether it's worth it to buy the reader & software.

He's doing his job....OK.

Plus machine....don't bother.

It's got a card.....I know what's on it......and he doesn't.



People doing their job like that is the exact reason this country is in the present condition.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41514&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&


Get a copy of your sleep study.
Get copy of your NEW Rx for an Apap.
Get an Apap.
Get educated here.
Become your own best therapist.

DesertRider, If you continue to read here you will see that a data-capable machine is essential to good therapy especially now at the beginning as well as down the road. It will certainly help you make adjustments and zero in on the correct pressure for the lowest AHI as well as correcting leaks and making mask adjustments. Also the experts here will be able to analyze your situation better if you can provide them with some data. Rather than being obsessive I think it's a necessity to good treatment. The DME also delivered a Plus to us but I already had begun my homework here and insisted they exchange it for an auto with data capability. I think you have 30days to do this. Good luck and keep us updated. Dori

carbonman wrote:

desert rider wrote: Boy was I pleasantly surprised.

The machine he had ready for me was the exact one on the prescription (Remstar Plus with C-Flex and humidifier).

I asked the technician if this CPAP has a data card. He said "yeah, but you'd need a reader to read it and who knows what kind of info it holds." I'll need to research that to find out what kind of data is available and whether it's worth it to buy the reader & software.

He's doing his job....OK.

Plus machine....don't bother.

It's got a card.....I know what's on it......and he doesn't.



People doing their job like that is the exact reason this country is in the present condition.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41514&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&


Get a copy of your sleep study.
Get copy of your NEW Rx for an Apap.
Get an Apap.
Get educated here.
Become your own best therapist.

Wow - Thanks for the kind welcome.

I may not be running on all cylinders, but I'm lucid enough to know when I'm dealing with a complete jackhole. The guy may not have been a rocket surgeon, but his job seemed like a decent fit for his skill set and temperament. And he honestly admitted when he didn't know the answer to my question. His non-answer was answer enough: his office hasn't worked with the data before. Fine. I really don't want someone with that skill level explaining the data end of it to me anyway--I'd rather research it someplace where there's more experience (which is why I came here--right or wrong).

Thanks for your 2¢ though. Maybe we'll hit it off better in the future.

Hi Desertrider, and welcome! Please do 2 things for me...go back and read your first post on this thread, and remember how excited you were when you wrote it. Then, please go read Dori's post to you. She gave you some great advice, in a most encouraging way, I think. Dori is really good at that!!

There really are a lot of very nice and very knowledgeable people here, who will help you in any way that they can. I'm still relatively new at this, but if I had not found them quickly, my machine would have been stuck in a closet within about 2 days.

Good luck and please come back and keep us posted.

desert rider wrote: Wow - Thanks for the kind welcome.
Thanks for your 2¢ though.

Point taken. My apologies.

The frustration in my post is not about you.
It's about your situation.....which you know nothing about...now.
It is the situation that is referred to in the linked post.
If you continue to hang around and I hope you do..... you will know.
In a few months, lets revisit this thread and compare notes.

Somedays I just can't read another one....
and today was just not the day to hear another one.

desert rider wrote: Maybe we'll hit it off better in the future.

We will....thank you for a gracious offer.
Welcome! I am at your service.

Greetings, desert rider ~

First, I want to welcome you to this forum. I've only been here a very short time myself (a few weeks), but I have learned SO much already!

desert rider wrote:Wow - Thanks for the kind welcome.

I hope you aren't scared off by carbonman's rather "straightforward" reply. That was very kind of him to apologize and extend an olive branch. I've read many of his posts, and he's actually a good guy! He's helped a lot of people, and I know that he didn't intend to attack you personally.

Pugsy wrote:This particular machine is older model. M Series machines are newer. The Plus is basic compliance only machine. The only data you will be able to get off of it is the number of hours it has been used. There is no sense in getting any software if you keep this machine. If you want to know anything above hours of use you need to see about getting something else. Respironics M Series Pro would be the minimum to have full data capability.

I agree with Pugsy. You have received a lot of very good advice regarding data capable machines, so you may want to learn more about that. This was all new to us in the beginning. Once you get used to this strange new world of CPAP, search the CPAP Wiki (light bulb at the top of the screen) and user posts and you will discover all kinds of helpful tips for dealing with the day-to-day challenges of masks, machines, water in the hose, gas, dry mouth, monitoring and adjusting your therapy, etc.

I hope that you will stick around. There are many helpful people here.

I wish for you a long and refreshing night's sleep tonight, with many pleasant dreams....

~ DreamOn

ScrappinMom wrote: Then, please go read Dori's post to you. She gave you some great advice, in a most encouraging way, I think. Dori is really good at that!!
.

Thanks for the kind words Scrappin, now do you mind telling that to my kids! They'll roll their eyes at you too! But from your name I guess you may have had that pleasure already.

Desert Rider, I don't have to defend Carbonman, but you'll find he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, he's personally helped me and others and is kind of a rock star on this forum as well as our Resident Poet and Photographer. But I'll grant you, he does have a wicked sense of humor.

desert rider wrote:My next job this weekend is to install two more batteries in our trailer so I can run the inverter all night to power the CPAP.

Hi,

Please be aware that some CPAP machines need a "pure sine wave" type of inverter. The modified square wave inverters can toast your machine. I believe that it is the humidifier that is sensitive. My M-Series has an option for a DC power pack. That will make better use of your battery power since you don't have the overhead of running an inverter, then running the brick. Newer M-Series have an option for a DC power humidifier. That would be the cat's meow for running off of batteries. If you don't have a pure sine wave inverter, you can probably get a smaller one that is adequate from one of the on-line CPAP supply houses such as our forum sponsor (cpap.com), and connect that to your batteries. That would avoid the expense of replacing what is probably a large and expensive inverter in your trailer.

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on getting started "on the hose".

I would like to see you get a data-capable machine. You may run into issues along this journey, and it is really hard to troubleshoot a sleep issue without data.

-john-

desert rider wrote:

Pugsy wrote:This particular machine is older model. M Series machines are newer.

I'd better re-check my facts. I'll take a look.

Hi PAPers - I'm back. And I think I have my story straight this time.

First note, Carbonman sent me a nice PM and all is good. I'm new to this forum, but this isn't my first rodeo. I know that stepping into a new forum is like walking into a room full of folks with a conversation that's already in progress. I usually lurk for awhile before contributing, because it seems like it's more polite than storming into the center of the room and saying, "LOOK AT ME. STOP TALKING EVERYONE, BECAUSE I HAVE A QUESTION."

Anyway, I appreciate everybody's kind words of support and wisdom.

I think I have my facts straight on my hardware now based on the product manuals I have in hand:

• "REMstar Plus M Series User Manual"
• "M Series Heated Humidifier User Manual"
• "ComfortGel Instructions for Use"

So I've updated my profile to show my setup (as I understand it).

That takes care of the hardware.

I used everything last night for the first time. It was a weird night to start, because my wife and I had a late night on the town with a big group of co-workers from both of our offices. We went to the Comedy Store on Sunset Blvd. We don't usually stay out that late (2 a.m.).

The good thing about being up so late was that my wife was out like a light, so I could fuss with the machine and the mask as much as I needed without disturbing her. The little commotion I made was much quieter than my freight train snoring anyway.

It was a short night (2 a.m. to 6:30ish when I normally wake up) and was pretty much what I expected: kind of weird, but way better than the alternative. It was a pretty light sleep, but I feel way better today than I did yesterday. Works for me!!

So I'll tackle some of the other questions as time permits. I'm still not sure what data capabilities I have. There's a card slot on the back with a card similar to the ones in my DirecTV receivers (SmartCard, I presume?). I don't know whether that's all I can hope for with this unit or not. Looking at the description for the add-on M Series Smartcard Module (which is what I think is standard on my unit) it looks like it will only provide very basic data ("This module may be added to the M Series REMstar Plus to enable the CPAP to record compliance data. It will not enable it to record information about breath disturbances, mask leaks, etc."). So I guess I have 30 days with to haggle with my supplier for the next level of machine? Should be fun.

Being able to track data is pretty important to me: tracking progress is motivating. I log my distance and routes when I run. I save my GPS route data when I ride in the desert. It would be very helpful if I could record similar data on the CPAP.

Anyway, thanks again for the support everyone. I'll take Dori's advice and work to upgrade my device. I guess I need to be certain of my needs before I go to all that trouble though. So the M Series Pro is the one I need? Then I'd need the EncoreViewer 1.0 Software, USB Smart Card Reader too?

It's a lot to digest. Thanks again!

jweeks wrote:Please be aware that some CPAP machines need a "pure sine wave" type of inverter.

I forgot to respond to you, John.

Yes, I know I'm gambling with our inverter. We've had good luck so far with TVs and Satellite receivers. I'll have to look into an AC adapter for my CPAP, because a new Inverter/Charger isn't in the budget. I've been very happy with the one we have and don't want to upgrade. I thought about putting in a smaller inverter in our bedroom for the CPAP and our Sleep Comfort bed, but I hate to spend the $$$ on redundant equipment. Our large inverter sucks a lot of juice if we leave it on all night though. But doubling our battery bank from two Trojan T105 6Vs to four should give us more than enough power. Thanks for the tip though, because I hadn't thought of the sine wave.

desert rider wrote:
First note, Carbonman sent me a nice PM and all is good.
It's a lot to digest. Thanks again!

No, thank you!

I'm just curious, what is it that you ride in the desert?