How do you know to do that?

I've been reading about all the different equipment you all have. I know that I will be able to get a new mask every three months and that's the time when I'll try different ones.

But, on the machines, I see where some of you started on CPAP, for example, and switched to Autopap. How did you know to do that? Did your doctor recommend or are you all to the point where you are doctoring yourselves? I don't mean that rudely because I know that's what most of us have to do a lot of the time!

I am on C-Flex and am doing pretty good. Sometimes I think I could be doing better. I am looking forward to trying a new mask next month, the Activa Mirage is what I want to try. But I would have no idea whether my machine is appropriate for me.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Hi Suserbec,

I also started on a RemStar Pro with C-Flex. Originally my C-Flex setting was set on the highest setting and I was having difficulty exhaling. Because I was just renting this unit, the rental folks gave me a quickie lesson on the basic operation but failed to instruct me on fruther options - like C-Flex settings. After reading posts here and going to the mfgr's website, I learned about adjusting the C-Flex down for better exhalation. It worked great.

Another problem I experienced was early morning back pain. I asked my doctor what would cause this and she was baffled. She recommended trying the RemStar Auto thinking maybe because the Pro does not adjust inhalation pressure this could be causing the back pain (The Auto does adjust). So I'm using that now and I like it much better. I hated giving up the C-Flex option but the Auto compensates for that (exhalation) problem.
For what it's worth, I still experience the back pain (spasms) after about 6 hours of sleep.

Another reason we decided to go to the Auto machine is the SmartCard readout. On the Pro the printout only gave data on hours of usage. pretty useless as far as I'm concerned. With the Auto machine the SmartCard will provide a vast amount of information which will help you to see if you're having any issues with your sleep.

I see my doc tomorrow and will get my first detailed printout on the Auto machine so I'm looking forward to see how it's been working. I'm also considering switching to the Activa mask and giving that a try.

Oh the fun and games we play!!!

Good luck on your sleep ventures.

Hi Suserbec,

I also started on a RemStar Pro with C-Flex. Originally my C-Flex setting was set on the highest setting and I was having difficulty exhaling. Because I was just renting this unit, the rental folks gave me a quickie lesson on the basic operation but failed to instruct me on fruther options - like C-Flex settings. After reading posts here and going to the mfgr's website, I learned about adjusting the C-Flex down for better exhalation. It worked great.

Another problem I experienced was early morning back pain. I asked my doctor what would cause this and she was baffled. She recommended trying the RemStar Auto thinking maybe because the Pro does not adjust inhalation pressure this could be causing the back pain (The Auto does adjust). So I'm using that now and I like it much better. I hated giving up the C-Flex option but the Auto compensates for that (exhalation) problem.
For what it's worth, I still experience the back pain (spasms) after about 6 hours of sleep.

Another reason we decided to go to the Auto machine is the SmartCard readout. On the Pro the printout only gave data on hours of usage. pretty useless as far as I'm concerned. With the Auto machine the SmartCard will provide a vast amount of information which will help you to see if you're having any issues with your sleep.

I see my doc tomorrow and will get my first detailed printout on the Auto machine so I'm looking forward to see how it's been working. I'm also considering switching to the Activa mask and giving that a try.

Oh the fun and games we play!!!

Good luck on your sleep ventures. SC5592

Hi Suserbec,

I would also love to hear stories about how members have talked their doctor/insurance into new equipment.

My concern that it would not be easy to get my insurance to pay for a second machine if a I did not like the "basic" model lead me to push for an auto-pap right from the start.

An RN at my insurance handling my cpap preapproval "accidentally" let it slip that I can get a new mask every 6 months. I don't know how often I can get a new machine.

The Puritan Bennett web site has a summary of the medicare allowances for replacing gear http://www.puritanbennett.com/_Catalog/ ... tGuide.pdf
Some insurance companies use medicare as their guideline.

Good luck to all in getting the equipment that works for you!

Hi Suserbec,

I don't know about other people, but because insurance companies want to pay for the least expensive option that will work, most (not all) new patients are probably prescribed a straight cpap almost "no matter what", right from the get-go. They usually have to try cpap for at least 30 days, until it can be proven they need some other kind of machine. The majority probably do all right on a basic straight cpap machine anyway.

My situation was unique in that I didn't have insurance. I decided to treat myself. No sleep study, no doctor (except an old G.P. that was willing to write me a prescription for a machine.) I decided to use my money to buy good equipment instead of spending it out of pocket on a formal sleep study. I had been using a borrowed straight cpap for three months and knew how much it was helping me. During that time, I'd been reading everything I could find about sleep apnea, machines, etc.

I could have stayed on straight cpap and been fine. It was working great for me. But, without a study and without a recommended pressure, I decided that if I was going to continue this kind of therapy (and I was!) I wanted an autopap that would be able to find the best pressures throughout the night...varying the pressure depending on what was needed at the time. I also wanted a machine that had software to give me information about "what happened" during my sleep. If I was going to be in charge of my own treatment, I sure wanted to know what was going on (beyond just knowing that I felt "rested" in the morning) so I could decide what needed tweaking.

Even if a person has a sleep study and is under a doctor's care... if he/she wants to take a more active role in their own therapy, autopap is a good way to do that. Especially if you also get the software to see your overnight data for yourself.

rested gal your are also "smart" gal

I am in awe of your ability to get this accomplished. I have been very impressed with your posts and now I know why.

I could not get my doc to just give me a script for an auto machine instead of a second sleep study after my sleep clinic neglected to titrate me at my first study.

I do have insurance but I try to be frugal with my medical dollar even if it's paid by my insurance. IMO they wasted $4500 on two sleep studies when I could have just rented an auto-pap and tracked the results.

I probably could have purchased a half dozen machines and every mask on the market for the cost of the sleep studies.

Again - WAY TO GO!

Subersec,

Under medicare:

I was told that one could only get a complete mask every 6 months.

One can get just the mask itself (not the headgear) every 3 months.

However, the Fischer & Paykel Flexfit 405 mask is only sold with the mask & headgear together so Medicare picked up the entire cost on my 3 month choice. Please note that other insurance companies may differ.

In the Nasalaire I the big cost is the mask. The headgear costs very little. I don't know if this is true with other masks.

Good luck with your next mask choice.

SC5592,

Perhaps your back pain is caused by not moving around in bed as much as you did before cpap.

Maybe abdominal strengthening exercises might help. These exercises help back problems.

Also be careful how you roll out of bed so as not to put any strain on your back.

I am not a doc but have had back problems.