Sorry about these questions, but I'm totatlly confused about both.

My CPAP mask is the "ResMed Mirage Swift II".  It seems to be very dependant on how the nasal piece is rotated in relation to my nasal openings in my nose.  It seems like if I have it a little "off" from the best position, it makes it harder to exhale.  It seems like it doesn't take much rotation of the nasal piece to get this.  What's to keep it from rotating during the night on me?

Unfortunately, what I've read in the messages in these forums, it seem like I don't have one of the best CPAP machines.  I have the REMstar Plus with the M Series Heated Humidifiier.

The first night that I used the system, I seemed to only hear myself breathing.  The past couple of nights, I can't seem to sleep very long at a time because it appears that I'm hearing the CPAP machine making a sucking sound every time that I inhale.  I didn't notice the CPAP machine making the sucking sound the first night.  I actually sleep for about 4 1/2 hours straight through the first night.  I'm using the "ramp" mode when I start it and use the C-Flex enabled at the "3" setting.  My pressure is 7.0 (that's what they set it to).

My insurance company paid for the whole system.  I just had to pay an additional $95 to have a machine with the C-Flex option.

How yea, I had a sleep study and was told that I had moderate sleep apnea and that my sleep was interupted about 24 times per hour and some of those times I would stop breathing for 10 - 15 seconds.

Any suggestions and info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Allen

The Plus is a good device and it provides as good therapy as the Pro. The difference is the Plus isn't capable of providing any data regarding what is going on w/your therapy during the night. The Plus can only tell how many hours you used your device each night and since you started using it. The Pro can tell that and more, it can tell your AHI, AI and HI for the night, the pressure at or below which you spent 90% of the night, how much leak you experienced durig the night ... so don't feel you are getting inferior therapy. You aren't. You are just NOT getting what could be very valuable data.

You might want to try the Swift LT rather than the Swift II. The hose runs off the center of the nasal pillows barrel and has a swivel so there is less tugging and interference from the hose.

YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY ANYTHING EXTRA FOR THE C-FLEX OPTION to the best of my knowledge! Most all insurances contract w/these local DME suppliers at one set contract price FOR HCPCS CODE E0601 AND NOT BY BRAND OR MODEL. All CPAPs are coded as HCPCS E0601 whether a bare bone, compliance data only CPAP as the Plus, a fully data capable CPAP as the Pro or a full data capable auto PAP such as the AutoPAP w/C-Flex or A-Flex. It is not until or unless one is scripted a bi-level, ST or SV that another HCPCS code and contracted price structure takes place.

I would call my insurance company and ask what local DME CPAP suppliers they are contracted with. Hopefully you will have the option of more than just this current one. Ask what your DME CPAP benefits are: copays, deductable, annual or lifetime limit, outright purchase, rent to own, if rental how long is the rental period. Ask if you would be considered "in network" if you bought your equipment elsewhere out of pocket and submitted the PAID invoice complete w/proper codes what per centage would they reimburse you.

You are in great shape if you have the option of more local DME suppliers than your current supplier because that would give you bargaining/negotiating room for a CPAP more to your liking. Generally speaking your insurance most likely paid for an outright sale of the mask, hose, humidifier, etc. and has some sort of timed rental agreement for the CPAP itself (1-13 months is not unusual). But you only have 30 days to return the Plus and go elsewhere, by 45 days you've pretty much lost your negotiating/bargaining room, once they submit that first billing to your insurance you are pretty much boxed in and stuck w/this supplier.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

thanks for the info CrohnieToo.

As usual, any suggestions are totally welcome and appreciate.

Allen

That C-Flex setting of 3 might be too high a setting. At a pressure setting of 7 and a C-Flex of 3 you are getting about 3 cms of pressure relief on exhalation meaning it drops down to 4 cms of pressure when you exhale. That might not be enough pressure when you begin to inhale. You might try adjusting your C-Flex to 2 and see if that helps at all. In fact, w/a pressure setting of 7 cms you might well do better w/C-Flex at 1 or even turned off. Ramp starts you off w/a low pressure, usually 4 cms, and gradually builds up to your set pressure over the set time period which is usually set for about the length of time it usually takes you to fall asleep. You might not even need the Ramp option w/a pressure setting of 7 cms.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo wrote:

That C-Flex setting of 3 might be too high a setting. At a pressure setting of 7 and a C-Flex of 3 you are getting about 3 cms of pressure relief on exhalation meaning it drops down to 4 cms of pressure when you exhale. That might not be enough pressure when you begin to inhale. You might try adjusting your C-Flex to 2 and see if that helps at all. In fact, w/a pressure setting of 7 cms you might well do better w/C-Flex at 1 or even turned off. Ramp starts you off w/a low pressure, usually 4 cms, and gradually builds up to your set pressure over the set time period which is usually set for about the length of time it usually takes you to fall asleep. You might not even need the Ramp option w/a pressure setting of 7 cms.

thanks again CrohnieToo for the suggestions.

I'll try them over the next several nights.

As usual, any info or suggestions will be appreciated.

Allen

Well, the DME that I had gotten my REMstar Plus with the M Series Heated Humidifiier, finally gave me a different machine.  They said that they don't carry the REMstar PRO, but they had a REMstar Auto with A-flex, heated humidifier and smartcard.

Has anyone had any experience with this machine?  Does it supply all the info to the user like the REMstar pro?

Also, I was wondering if anyone knows how to get into the settings of the machine to change the starting pressure value.  It appears to be starting at 6 and before they had my REMstar Plus set at 7 so I was thinking of setting it to 7.

One more thing, when I used it for the first time, after I put the nasal pillow on I could smell cigarette smoke.  I took out the foam filter, smelled it and definitely it smelled like cigarette smoke.  So I washed it in water with a little amount of baby shampoo and let it soak for a while as well.

After it had dried, I smelled the foam filter again and the cigarette smell was gone.  I placed it back into the machine and turned it on.  Unfortunately, the cigarette smell still came through the nasal pillow.  Could the machine have the cigarette smell 'trapped' inside of it?

Sorry about the lengthy post.

As usual, any and all suggestions or info will be appreciated.

Allen

Well, the DME that I had gotten my REMstar Plus with the M Series Heated Humidifiier, finally gave me a different machine.  They said that they don't carry the REMstar PRO, but they had a REMstar Auto with A-flex, heated humidifier and smartcard.

Has anyone had any experience with this machine?  Does it supply all the info to the user like the REMstar pro?

Also, I was wondering if anyone knows how to get into the settings of the machine to change the starting pressure value.  It appears to be starting at 6 and before they had my REMstar Plus set at 7 so I was thinking of setting it to 7.

One more thing, when I used it for the first time, after I put the nasal pillow on I could smell cigarette smoke.  I took out the foam filter, smelled it and definitely it smelled like cigarette smoke.  So I washed it in water with a little amount of baby shampoo and let it soak for a while as well.

After it had dried, I smelled the foam filter again and the cigarette smell was gone.  I placed it back into the machine and turned it on.  Unfortunately, the cigarette smell still came through the nasal pillow.  Could the machine have the cigarette smell 'trapped' inside of it?

Sorry about the lengthy post.

As usual, any and all suggestions or info will be appreciated.

Allen

Well, they gave you a great model, but obviously a used one. Take it back and insist they deoderize that Auto w/A-Flex, let them know you KNOW it is a USED device. I'd be inclined to let your insurance know you've been provided w/a used device. AND that you had to pay EXTRA for the needed Flex option on the first device they provided you with.

Unplug your Auto w/A-Flex. Plug it back in and watch the screen carefully. The ACTUAL NUMBER OF HOURS USE on this Auto will appear briefly. That is your PROOF that it is a used device. Your own usage data appears separately elsewhere. Do NOT let this DME supplier download your data from this Auto w/A-Flex. They automatically erase your data after the download. You want PROOF of your usage vs the ACTUAL hours on this device. Find someone who will do your download for you W/O erasing your accumulative data. Maybe your sleep lab?

Hopefully they will be able to deoderize this Auto w/A-Flex or can be convinced to provide you a NEW one of the same model as this Auto w/A-Flex is the TOP of the Respironics CPAP line!!!!!


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Thanks CrohnieToo for the help.

I called the DME (they are the same 'people' that did the sleep study) and the lady that I talked to said that the unit was reconditioned but it shouldn't have the cigarette smoke smell.  She said that she was going to order a new one for me and that it should be in by this coming Monday or Tuesday.

I found the screen that appears to tell the total hrs on the unit and it stated 103 hours; definitely not from me!!!!

I've talked to the insurance company (HealthNet) and they don't seem to be too upset by it and seem to have the 'attitude' that it's up to me to take care of everything.  Typical insurance company !@#!.

As usual, any suggestions or info will be appreciated.

Allen