How do I get the info from that little blue "card" in back

Okay, I tried to fill out my profile to the best of my ability. My machine is technically called REMstar Plus C-Flex, which wasn't one of the options on the dropdown menu.

There is this little blue thing, that looks like a memory card, that pops out of the back. Will that tell me if the treatment is working?

How do I get the info off it? Do I need to buy one of those reader machines? Is the info relatively easy to read?

If this is all in the archives, I can just search for it I suppose. Just a little (who am I kidding...a LOT) tired, so I figured I'd ask here first. Thank you.

Just want to add, those pictures below are WRONG....it seems like what I'm using wasn't an option in the drop-down menus...for basically all 4 categories. The last category, I just picked one because I'm so confused. The other ones, the names looked right, but those pictures don't look like what I'm using.

It is unlikely that is your machine since it is no longer made.

If you can tell us exactly what it says on the top of your machine (everything that is says) then we can tell you what, if anything, that card can tell you and how to get the information from it.

If you are using the "Plus" machine, there really isn't much useful data on that card. Just compliance data (avg hours used in the past 7 and 30 days) etc. Stuff the insurance company wants to see, to make sure you are using it. Not necessarily effectively though

The "Pro" and "Auto" machine record useful information. But you'll need to spend another $100 for the software and card reader for your home computer.

andyw715 wrote:The "Pro" and "Auto" machine record useful information.

Actually the Pro in the Legacy (Tank) series does not collect any data. It must be the Pro2 or Auto in order to get any data except for hours of usage. The Pro in the "M" Series did collect data.

Jerry

Welcome, CAsleep! You're not the only one confused about all the similar-sounding machine models!

Since you just recently purchased your machine and it says Phillips on it, it's probably one of these three:

• PR System One REMstar PRO with "C-Flex Plus"
• PR System One REMstar AUTO
• PR System One REMstar PLUS with "C-Flex"

Please change your machine listing by going to the User Control Panel (top left of screen), click on Profile, and then Edit Equipment. Your choices will be there in the drop-down box in the "PR System One" section. Choose the correct machine and humidifier as TEXT, as all the System One machine pictures look alike.

Once you have the correct equipment listed, we can help you further regarding data and software. The PRO and AUTO models are fully data capable (can report AHI, system leak, etc.) and there is software available for those machines. The PLUS model only reports the hours used, so it cannot give you any useful data that would help you or your doctor to determine if your therapy is effective. It sounds like that may be the machine you have, but double-check that. If that is the case and you haven't had the machine very long, perhaps you could return it and get a fully data capable machine -- either the PRO (CPAP machine, which uses a set pressure) or the AUTO (APAP machine, which varies the pressure).

By the way, the software you chose in your equipment listing is for a ResMed machine, so you can delete that.

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I thought I'd address a concern you expressed in one of your other posts. You asked if the sleep study would show if you had central apneas. Yes, it would show that. When you're hooked up to all the monitoring equipment they can tell if there is any respiratory effort when you're having an apnea event, and that's one way they determine if you're having an obstructive apnea (airway closing) or central apnea (caused by the brain not sending the signal to breathe). The apnea type will be shown in your diagnostic and titration sleep study reports. I strongly suggest that you get copies of those reports, so you can understand your own situation better. A few central apneas are of no concern, as they are present even in "normal" people and can be due to changes in sleep state (carbon dioxide regulation).

The only at-home machines that specifically report whether an apnea is obstructive or central are the ResMed S9 Elite (CPAP) and S9 Autoset (APAP) models. Those machines determine the type of apnea by testing to see if your airway is clear or obstructed during the event. If you are concerned that central apneas may be a significant problem for you, you may want to see if you can get one of those ResMed machines. The S9 Autoset is the most flexible machine of the two, as it can be run in either APAP or CPAP mode. Central apneas cannot be treated with pressure, though. If your sleep study suggests that centrals are a significant problem, you may be switched to a special BiPAP machine, but most insurance companies require that you "fail" CPAP first.

You also mentioned in your other post, "I have a lot of brain problems, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, etc. Like difficulty swallowing, on a neuro level." There could be a lot of reasons for that, but I just thought that I'd mention that I also had difficulty with swallowing, where I felt like I needed to swallow but just couldn't (like the brain signal wasn't getting through). It was a problem that would come and go for me. I never had the problem looked into, but it seems to have resolved since I started CPAP 10 months ago. I don't know if you'll have the same good results, but I hope so!

One more thing.... I experienced positive results from CPAP therapy right away, but for many, many people it can take some (sometimes many) months to feel better. In many cases, we've had sleep apnea for years. It takes time for our body (and mind) to learn to sleep well again and begin healing from the nightly oxygen deprivation caused by the untreated sleep apnea. It can also take some time to get used to the equipment, find the right mask, and minimize mouth and mask leaks. Pressure sometimes needs to be adjusted to get optimal results too. CPAP is a journey.

OK, I will admit I did not read all the post close enough. I looked at the posted profile. It really does not matter what series machine it is, if it has "Plus" in the name it will not collect any data except for the number of hours you were hooked up to the machine. The only thing a card in "Plus" machine does is let DME's check compliance for the insurance companies and lets them change the settings without having to bring the machine in to get it changed. Definately not worth buying the program to read the card for information you can get off the LCD screen.

Jerry

I think that CAsleep may be confused by all the similar names for these machines. That's why I asked that they put in the thread exactly what it says on the top of the machine and everything that it says.

We want to know, for sure, whether he has a Plus or a Pro. The PR System One talks about C-Flex plus and this may be getting confused with a Plus machine.

I just want to be sure what the top of the machine says so that we know what data can be expected.

Yes, it's the "Plus."

Thank you for all the great replies! Wow! And thanks to whoever (can't see the names right now) gave me the explanation about central apnea. I think the reason I was wondering if it could be central, is that I am in my 20's, thin, female......and people keep telling me "you don't look like an apnea patient." That started to affect me, and make me wonder if they know something by looking at me that I don't, or if this could be a mistake, like the test was a fluke. (edit to add: I just started a topic about this, hopefully it'll help)

Back to the original question.....My machine is considered "rent to own" with my insurance and the DME supplier. I am getting my equipment through this local sleep place, where they have a doctor, perform sleep studies, and rent out the equipment too. I chose them over Apria because they were smaller (only do sleep stuff), so I figured I'd get better service. Wonder if that was a mistake?

Anyways, I guess I could call and ask if they have other CPAP machines available to me? They never gave me a choice. Since it's such a small place, I'm wondering how many machines they have in stock anyways. Thoughts? Because it seems like I would really want to know this info, to see how my treatment is going. Wow, I am upset my machine can't give me much info. Sigh. I'd like to get a better one if I could.

One more question:

I can't figure out how to get rid of the pictures (or the list format, if I remove the images). The drop down menus don't have a "none of the above" feature....so I have to choose one, and my stuff isn't on there as an option. Can anyone help? I put my equipment in my signature for now.

Here's my machine and humidifier (what is in the picture):

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... ifier.html

those are under PR S1 in the drop down list for machines.

CAsleep wrote:One more question:

I can't figure out how to get rid of the pictures (or the list format, if I remove the images). The drop down menus don't have a "none of the above" feature....so I have to choose one, and my stuff isn't on there as an option. Can anyone help? I put my equipment in my signature for now.

Your macine will start with "PR System One" in the drop down, similar to my signature.

My DME gave me the PR System One Remstar Plus C-Flex, like yours. After spending a few hours on here, i learned the value of a data capable machine and asked them about "upgrading". My insurance works similar to yours, a 3 month rental, then purchase. The 3 month rental is required by my insurance to make sure I'm using it (compliance), before they pay for the machine.

This is why many DMEs will give you the Plus machines first. Its the cheapest route to go, and the insurance companies only require compliance data (avg useage for 7 and 30 days, how many days > 4 hours) that the "Plus" provides.

The real data, therapy data, is only provided by the more expensive machines.

I "upgraded" to the Pro model for an additional $100. And you'll have to drop an additional $100 for the software. Or find a Dr or DME that can run the reports for you.