Bells and Whistles - How well do you know your cpap machine?

[Tracy]

Frequently asked questions and their answers about the differences between cpap brands!

http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-disorders/2011/04/Do-you-know-enough-about-your-CPAP-Machine.htm

Hope you find this useful!

tracy

[TheDreamer]

Users should know that they'll need to work with their DME/RT to adjust ramp.

with Respironics, at least

Starting at 4 can be too low for people...and taking the maximum 45 minutes to ramp can be an eternity of waiting before you get to sufficient pressure to not have apnea during sleep onset.

Fortunately, on most machines you have to press the ramp button to get ramp so you don't have to use it.

Flex on the other hand, you either get it or you don't. Usually based on your prescription. If the feature is turned on, you can adjust the level between 1,2,3...but can't turn it off. There are 3 models of CPAP from Respironics (Basic, Plus, Pro)....the basic one doesn't do CFLEX(+), so if you weren't prescribed pressure relief, the DME might fill your prescription with the one that doesn't offer it.

The insurance wants you to only get the minimum that fulfills the prescription, even though its the billing amount/code for any CPAP. And, the DME wants to maximize profit....so they'll go with the cheapest too.

I wish kept a copy of my original prescription....it was several sentences...with keywords of cpap, cflex, efficacy data....so I got the pro model.

New prescription just says "cpap 7cm", though I'm thinking of asking new sleep doc if I can get an auto.

Nothing on DeVilbiss? They recently came out with SmartFlex for some models. Though they ran a survey that sounds like they're working on a new line. Wonder about the Transcend...

Been thinking of getting a travelsized machine that I can stash at work...in case a tornado comes along.

Maybe next year I won't blow through my FSA before the end of the year....(or maybe make it more than a few months)...

The Dreamer.

[Kimchee]

My sleep doctor told me not to alter my machine from CPAP mode. I can use ramp but not EPR. I have the Resmed elite machine. Why do they have those features on machines available if your doctor tells you not to use them ? He said all the people he interviews who need CPAP are prescribed CPAP mode. He did say no one should use a CPAP machine without a humidifier . He said my machine was the most correct for temperature control. He said bad fitting masks and dryness cause people to give up using CPAP. He said when clients use only CPAP mode he knows for sure his clients are receiving the gold treatment CPAP provides. He also said when people play with their machines without consultation they get into trouble.

[Kimchee]

HA HA on me. I can't change my machine from CPAP mode because it is only a CPAP mode machine. I just tried the EPR and it felt terrible like someone put a hole in my hose. One really good feature on my machine is the one that tells you how well you sleep at night. The doctor said if you see more then 2 AHI's a night for say 4 days to turn the pressure up until they go away or go below 1. Only by small changes. If I go more then 2 and still have a problem to call him. By 2 I mean say from 14 to 16 . My machine can tell if the AHI level is high because of a bad mask fit and this helps me to make a more informed decision whether to change the pressure. I was told Hormone changes affect pressure needs and I suppose other medical problems. I only changed the pressure once and turned it back when I got well. My doctor is really good that way because I can only afford one sleep study every 2 years. Yes Tracy these new machines are clever. I don't know what the old ones were like.