No data or software on my REMstar Plus!

I just made an appointment with my sleep specialist, but will have to wait until JULY! I am frustrated because I understand from reading your forum that I should have some data available to me, and perhaps some control over the machine? Initially, I was connected through a modem, but all of the information went to the doctor. When I stopped having a land line, the modem didn't work. Lately the beep and light have woken me up, so I followed the instructions for turning off the light and beep, but have no control over my machine. Also, after my last sleep study, the number I was diagnosed (my sleep number ) just about blew me out of the bed. It was decided to put me down to 6, Ramp start 4.5. I haven't been sleeping well for the last few months, but don't know if it's related to the C-Pap machine and the settings, or just stress or medications. So now I guess I have to see the specialist. I really don't want another sleep study done- I have done 3! Should I have a machine in mind to ask for? He told me which company they are connected with- do I have to stick with them, or can I order on-line? Why can't I control my own machine and try out different numbers to see what works for me? Every time I see the specialist, I wait several months and then have to pay the co-pay. I'm assuming I would have to have a prescription to get a new machine. Correct? Please advise- I feel so helpless in taking care of my own health care needs!

bookworm22 wrote:I just made an appointment with my sleep specialist, but will have to wait until JULY! I am frustrated because I understand from reading your forum that I should have some data available to me, and perhaps some control over the machine? Initially, I was connected through a modem, but all of the information went to the doctor. When I stopped having a land line, the modem didn't work. Lately the beep and light have woken me up, so I followed the instructions for turning off the light and beep, but have no control over my machine. Also, after my last sleep study, the number I was diagnosed (my sleep number ) just about blew me out of the bed. It was decided to put me down to 6, Ramp start 4.5. I haven't been sleeping well for the last few months, but don't know if it's related to the C-Pap machine and the settings, or just stress or medications. So now I guess I have to see the specialist. I really don't want another sleep study done- I have done 3! Should I have a machine in mind to ask for? He told me which company they are connected with- do I have to stick with them, or can I order on-line? Why can't I control my own machine and try out different numbers to see what works for me? Every time I see the specialist, I wait several months and then have to pay the co-pay. I'm assuming I would have to have a prescription to get a new machine. Correct? Please advise- I feel so helpless in taking care of my own health care needs!

It would help us if you would specifically identify which make and model of machine you have.
And, if you've been reading the forum, you should know that there are many posts about which machines are preferred for their data reporting capabilities.
We don't know what your particular situation is, so we can't (at this point) advise you how to take "control" of your machine. By that, I mean we don't know how closely they're monitoring your therapy and by what means and to suggest something may be counteracting something they're prescribing.

As long as you have a copy of your prescription (the physical document), you can chose to order equipment from an Internet provider like CPAP(dot)COM and take charge of your own therapy. But, like I said, we have no idea at this point what your situation is.


Den

.

OK......my mistake.......you put the model in the Subject line of your post.
That leads to the question of how they may be monitoring your therapy and what your contractual arrangements are with the doctor and DME.
There are still items of information that would help us in that regard if you can provide them.

Den

.

Thanks for responding so quickly. So far as I know, the doctor is not monitoring me at all- not since my land line was disconnected. I haven't seen him in two years. I don't ever remember having a prescription - I thought that it was phoned in to High Tech Health Care. They only had certain makes and models and I was given no choice about machines- just the mask when I had problems. It sounds like I'll just have to discuss all of this with the specialist and meanwhile research machines with good data. It sounds like I'm the one who has dropped the ball somewhere.

What is the model number on the bottom of the blower unit?
If you have the Remstar Plus ...all it even gathers to report to anyone is the hours of use.
Is this a new machine for you? The humidifier you have selected is for an old discontinued model Respironics machine. It is unlikely that it would have been dispensed since the machine it was designed for was discontinued in 2007 I think it was.
See this thread for pictures of various models.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=72302&p=665165#p665165

Thank you! I hope I have the right equipment up now. It's not new- about 5 years old. It only tells you how many hours you slept? Is that all one needs to know? Of course, it's not even telling me that at the moment. Maybe I'm confused about what I really need to know to feel that it's working well.

You have the PR System One Remstar Plus CPAP with CFlex chosen...that should be model number 250 in the bottom of the blower unit.
It does use a SD card to collect data but unfortunately the only data it will collect is how many hours you use the machine each night. Nothing else.
When the DME has that modem on the machine the only thing they got was hours of use which are needed to satisfy any insurance requirements so that the insurance will pay for it.

You could get the software but the only data that the machine will ever show is hours of use.
No leak, no AHI, no nothing.
So sorry to tell you this. There is nothing to help evaluate your therapy to give you any idea what might be going on.
That gave you a basic machine with exhale relief. It does a good job but it doesn't have anyway to help you evaluate things.

The PR S1 machines came out in very late 2009 and early 2010.
Models 450 and above in the PR S1 model line offer full efficacy data.

You can go into the clinical setup though and see what your settings are.
This link has instructions with pictures.
http://www.apneaboard.com/pr-system-one ... structions

Your problems you described...they may be related to OSA and treatment or they may be related to stress or medications or something else.
If you want to be able to rule out cpap therapy as the potential culprit...would you be able to maybe purchase a full data machine? We can get you the software..that's easy part.
You could maybe find a PR S1 450 or 550 model machine (maybe used a little) and it would work with your existing humidifier.
To buy online you will need a copy of your RX for cpap machine...do you have a copy?
There are a couple of forum members right now that have cpap/apap machines available for sale. One is a S9 Elite that is used and another has a brand new PR S1 APAP 560 machine.

Do you wish to maybe go that route or try to isolate other possible causes of your issues?

Thanks so much! I'm discouraged about only getting the hours of machine use. You asked:
If you want to be able to rule out cpap therapy as the potential culprit...would you be able to maybe purchase a full data machine? We can get you the software..that's easy part.

I have no idea...how many $$$ are we talking about? I'm assuming that I can't get a new machine from my specialist until 9 years is up?

bookworm22 wrote:I have no idea...how many $$$ are we talking about? I'm assuming that I can't get a new machine from my specialist until 9 years is up?

I have no idea what your insurance requirements might be for getting a new machine.

Mark just posted his PR S1 560 machine as being sold...it was $400 for machine, humidifier, and the accessories. No heated hose for that price..that's another $75 option. We never know when he will be able to get one but you might send him a note and ask. He has a good reputation as a stand up guy here. I have bought from him myself.
viewtopic/t89471/Sold--System-One-REMSt ... AP400.html

Shawn has a new PR S1 560 with the heated hose equipment for $485...If interested I will dig up his link. He's a good guy and if I was in the market for his machine I would buy from him.

The 560 is the PR S1 Auto CPAP machine with auto adjusting pressure mode as well as cpap mode (your machine is cpap mode only machine) so it is like 2 machines in one.

Unfortunately the 60 series machines are not compatible with the 50 series machines (that's what you have).

The S9 Elite I was thinking of....has twice the hours I was thinking so I don't know about it.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=89762&p=824740&hili ... le#p824740
This is a full data straight cpap mode machine.

Secondwindcpap.com has a couple of slightly used PR S1 50 series machines that would offer full data. These would work with your existing humidifier. They will want a copy of your cpap RX.
A PR S1 model 450 Pro Cpap machine. $275
A PR S1 model 450 Auto IQ machine . $325
A PR S1 model 550 Auto cpap machine.$369
Now you see why Mark's $400 for the 560 machine with humidifier didn't last long.

Sometimes we can find some killer deals on craigslist but it seems like you never find them when you are looking for something specific like right now.

cpap.com who sponsors this forum also sells brand new machines. They will want a copy of your RX also.
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machines/phil ... #/:1::::20:

Here is what I am talking about when I mention the 560 with heated hose. You have to call for pricing but if I remember right the machine and humidifier and goodies are 675 with the heat hose.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... -tube.html

So that's the dollars we are talking about if you want to go it on your own.
We have the software covered and that is free.
Will having data help you out with your issues? That's a toss up. It might point to something and it might not.
We can go through the usual stuff to see if we can spot any likely culprits but it is easier when we can rule out sub optimal therapy. Not impossible to do without the data but it sure is a lot harder when we can't rule out something that might be as simple as sub optimal therapy pressure. I had that happen to me so I know how important that is.

Thank you for all of this information! I will have to read and process for a while before I can comment! It's just what I needed. You went to a lot of time and trouble, and I'll do the same analyzing it all. Thanks!