Another newbie

BarbarainCT · Post by **BarbarainCT** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:37 am

I've had my cpap (REMStar M Series (including humidifier) with ResMed Mirage Swift nasal pillows) for almost three weeks. I've found the adjustment to be fairly easy. I've managed to wear it at least 6 hours per night. My biggest complaint is that I've acquired another chore in the daily cleaning.

I've read through some of the "Collective Wisdom" and found it to be helpful. I plan on lurking until I am more familiar with the cpap and the vocabulary.

I wish I had known of this group when I was negotiating between my doctor, insurance and cpap provider. My doctor prescribed one thing, my insurance only allowed one provider and the provider was only interested in providing the cheapest machine possible. It took over one month for a machine to be provided. Fortunately, it seems to work for me.

muld00n · Post by **muld00n** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:42 am

Welcome Barbara.

Glad the therapy is working for you. You have come to the right place for information. There are a lot knowledgeable folks here that are willing to help.

You might want to fill out your profile with the equipment that you have... it makes answering specific questions easier.

BadThad · Post by **BadThad** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:47 am

I'm new to this myself. I'm currently "negotiating" my machine. Like you, it seems the first thing they try to do is stick you with the cheapest machine they can. Well, IMO, that's for the ignorant, not the well informed people on this forum. I'm working on getting the machine that I want, not what they think I should get. One thing I've learned reading these forums, you have to standup for yourself because nobody else will.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:51 am

Welcome aboard Barbara.

Feel free to lurk and post.

Swolcott · Post by **Swolcott** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:48 pm

Barbara,

Welcome. As the others have said. You will get a wealth of knowledge from this forum. I know what you mean by the daily cleaning. About 2 weeks ago I started just wiping off mask with a baby wipe(no alchohol) every morning then wash it 1x wk with soap and water. I had read that was what a lot of people do and an RT also told me to do that.

As long as I was my face before going to bed I haven't had any problem with sealing.

Sam

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:01 pm

Barb,

How much did you pay for that machine out of pocket? Is it still a rental? That is the most basic machine out there for that company.

If it works for you fine, but if you want to get a data collecting machine and it is a rental DO IT NOW.

BarbarainCT · Post by **BarbarainCT** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:32 pm

Insurance (Cigna) paid for everything. Since I'm a newbie, I don't know that I need data collection, so far I'm not having problems. I think I was originally prescribed a ResMed S8. I will stay on top of the matter.

Thanks for the heads up.

Barbara

Jaggles · Post by **Jaggles** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:37 pm

I am also a newbie, less than a week. I thought the Respironic M series was a well thought of unit. Wrong? or is the one here the base model and the more advanced models are desirable?

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:54 pm

Jaggles,

It depends on a lot of things. Yes it is the most basic model.

If you are happy going by how you feel and tweeking blindly in the future or putting out $$ for additional sleep studies and your pressure is such that you wouldn't benefit from varried pressures during the night (auto) and your nightly needs seem consistant and your needs don't change soon then it is fine.

It is just that for the price most local DMEs pay it is usually hardly worth the insurance benefit as you can do almost as well online cash out of pocket than copay with insurance and DME.

If you think you may need to tweek (most of us do sooner or later) then it is nice to have data collection cabability. Or even Auto for more efficient tweeking.

Copays for additional sleep studies can many times be more than the additional cost of a machine that gives data or an auto.

Jaggles · Post by **Jaggles** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:13 pm

Thanks Snoregirl. I have just been reading the collective wisdom and can certainly see the benefit of the apap. I was given a rental remstar pro2 as my first unit, they were out of the M series. Having read and learned more in the last week, it seems the apap is worth the few extra bucks. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we have met our deductible this year so I can get whatever I can persuade my DME to provide and my ins. co to pay.

Having said that, based on the information this forum provides, I guess I will try to get a REMstar auto or Resmed S8. Seem to be highly rated and have the software which I would like. I want feedback.

BTW, this has been much easier to adapt to for me than I anticipated. I sleep with the mask all night although I still awake with the hose and stuff as I turnover during the night.

Thanks again.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:28 pm

Jaggles wrote:Thanks Snoregirl. I have just been reading the collective wisdom and can certainly see the benefit of the apap. I was given a rental remstar pro2 as my first unit, they were out of the M series. Having read and learned more in the last week, it seems the apap is worth the few extra bucks. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we have met our deductible this year so I can get whatever I can persuade my DME to provide and my ins. co to pay.

Having said that, based on the information this forum provides, I guess I will try to get a REMstar auto or Resmed S8. Seem to be highly rated and have the software which I would like. I want feedback.

BTW, this has been much easier to adapt to for me than I anticipated. I sleep with the mask all night although I still awake with the hose and stuff as I turnover during the night.

Thanks again.

Jaggles,

If you indeed have the REMstar Pro 2, it's a GOOD machine and it provides you with the detailed data......all you need is the software and card reader to see it. It was my first machine and I still use it on a fairly regular basis.

I would say.....if you have one, hang onto it.

Best wishes,

Den

Jaggles · Post by **Jaggles** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:32 pm

Thanks Den. It has been fine for my 5 days of use. Really no complaints. I have wondered about the apap machines though, especially now that I read information on here. I think I have now adjusted my mask pretty close to right and that is helping. I was ready to go to nasal pillow style 2 days ago.

Just and old dog learning new tricks.

Thanks again.

Jaggles · Post by **Jaggles** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:35 pm

Den, what software does that machine use? I see the reader is proprietary? Correct?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:50 pm

Jaggles wrote:Den, what software does that machine use? I see the reader is proprietary? Correct?

It uses the Encore Pro software and the MAKO/Infineer DT3500 card reader. Yes, it's proprietary, but not that expensive from the right source. There's a place in Hong Kong that sells them for about $30, another in the states that sells them for just under $50 (and quicker delivery than Hong Kong).

The software runs about $100 from our host CPAP.COM and the combo package (software and card reader) is at this link.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-bundle ... undle.html

If you take into consideration how much money you'll save by not making return trips to the doctor, ANY price is worth it.
There are other add-in software (free) packages to further enhance your reports.....MyEncore and Encore Pro Analyzer......both written by forum members.

Den

Jaggles · Post by **Jaggles** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:05 am

Excellent. Thanks.