On My Own - REMStar Pro CFlex

22+ years ago, post nasal/turbinate surgery, I began snoring. Weight was not an issue.
I can snore while awake and very relaxed, while either laying on my side and reading a book or sitting upright in a chair, with my mouth CLOSED (awake or asleep). The surgeon may have thinned out too much of the area above the palate, as I have felt vibration in the soft palate and also in an area that I think may be above the hard palate.

Seven to nine years ago, I had had multiple nocturnal pulse-ox tests, and my doctor was not concerned about apnea. I had wanted to try CPAP then, to see if it would help with the snoring, but was told I did not have apnea and that I did not need CPAP. The snoring makes my mouth hurt some mornings, and my poor husband needs to sleep, also. A sleep study is out of the question at this time, due to insurance restrictions on anything pre-existing.

Fast Forward: Last week, at an estate sale, I obtained REMStar Pro C-Flex, with new hoses and unopened supplies for $25. I thought it was worth the gamble. I am studying microbiology, so I am concerned about microbes, whether it is on a medical device or a hand rail, grocery cart, etc - too much knowledge is just a hazard/benefit of education. I cleaned the unit/parts multiple times first with soapy solution, followed by bleach, then alcohol, finally an iodine based cleaner (I AM a bit paranoid about microbes/endospores). I am considering disassembly of the unit to possibly access internal areas for further disinfection. In the box of supplies, there were unopened mask supplies for both Mirage Activa and TrueBlue, but only a TrueBlue mask was included; it appeared to have not been used, but it also had a bleach bath before I would consider using it.

I wake up with more energy in the morning, so I think I may be on to something with the CPAP. I do not know what a reasonable pressure is for me, but I have the CPAP set to Flex level of 3, and a pressure of 9. According to my husband, I do not have apnea, just snoring - which is fatiguing enough! I have been able to decrease the ramp time to 10 minutes, and am starting at about 5.6 now.

I have awoken on my own around 4-5 a.m. since beginning CPAP. I think this was initially related to improper mask placement/tightening, but now I do not know what is causing me to wake. In the past, I have awoke due to my own snoring, and wonder if I need to go with a higher pressure, in the event that the palate is still vibrating even with the low pressure. The box of supplies included an unopened chin strap, and I have been using this with the CPAP.

I am open to questions, suggestions, comments, instructions, etc.

Thanks.

Please don't disassemble the unit, bad idea. As long as the hose, water chamber, filter, and mask are clean, your good.

This machine without the 2 on the machine?
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/respi ... cflex.html

If so about all you can do is go on how you feel and in your case that would be less snoring and how the throat feels along with how you feel your sleep is in general.
The Remstar Pro CFlex without the 2...that I linked to above offers nothing useful on the machine data to evaluate.
Now if you had the machine with the 2 as part of the name then there is some useful data available (like snores) but you need a special Smart Card and Smart card reader to use the software.
If you don't have the "2" on the machine and it looks like the one I linked to above...there's no sense in discussing software.

Would you be concerned about microbes on a used fan? Inside the unit has never been subjected to anything other than air. Our CPAP machines don't get "blowback" from us because the pressure keeps the air going out of the vent.

Humidifiers, like any source of water, CAN be an issue, so cleaning the water tank and downstream from there makes some sense.

But yes, I think you went a little overboard. I'm surprised the left over smells didn't bug you.