NEW S10 USER

[Unsoundsleeper]

HI,

New here but have been a CPAP user for 20 years plus. My current machine is an old Remstar Plus. It has over 28,000 hours on it and still going strong. It has been years since I had a sleep study. A few years ago my pressure was 12. I wasn't feeling right so I bumped it up to 15 and have been at 15 for 5 years.

I was worried about the machine possibly breaking and being without insurance and I don't want to be stuck. I did some research and ordered an S10 Auto. I got a great deal on a machine with 9 hours on it from SecondWind. I have been using the P10 nasal pillows for 1.5 years and really love them.

I have the Sleepyhead software loaded. My question is should I set the new machine up (should be here next week) to 15 and look at the results to see where I am at or just use the auto and view the results? I am thinking auto is the way to go but I am also curious to see if 15 was really the right pressure.

Would I need to order a Wifi card to auto download or is the stock card Wifi? If the Wifi on the machine is on but there is no provider does the machine not call out? Not sure how that all works.

[Sleeprider]

General strategy in going to a new auto-CPAP is to bracket your historic, effective therapeutic pressure. Since 15 cm is comfortable for you, setting up the Airsense 10 Autoset in Auto mode you would set minimum pressure at 13-14 and maximum at 17 and see where the pressure goes. Your new machine uses exhale pressure relief (EPR), which is a bit different from the C-Flex you may be used to. EPR provides 1-cm pressure relief on exhale for each setting 1-3. The maximum pressure relief from your Remstar Plus would have been 2-cm. Give EPR a try, but remember it definitely lowers your exhale pressure. So if you choose a CPAP minimum pressure of 13, the actual pressure during exhale will be as low as 10 cm (assuming EPR=3). If you observe obstructive apnea with that setting, you will need to either reduce EPR, or increase minimum CPAP pressure.

Try out the new settings for several days before making any changes, then make small changes in response to what you see in the Sleepyhead data. Obstructive events require higher exhale pressure, while central events may require lower inhale (max) pressure or less EPR. Good luck. I think you will like the upgrade to a modern machine.

[sonicboom]

You will need to order and install your own wifi SD card. The stock one is not wifi. Data from the machine is sent out over an internal modem to your providers. The machine itself has no wifi. I and many others use a Toshiba Flash Air wifi card in place of the stock card. Setting all this is up is covered in great detail on the software support forum.

[Unsoundsleeper]

I have never used EPR. I don't even use the ramp. I just put it on full blast and goto sleep. Would setting the auto from min. to max figure out what my pressure should be? As I said I self set it at 15 without having a sleep study in years.

Should I just put it in airplane mode since I am my own provider? Who would it call If I leave it on? Possibly who the original enduser's provider?

I have been watching videos and the Cpap Advice guy on youtube said the EPR can cause issues. He recommended shutting it off after you get used to the machine. Anyone else have that same opinion? I also have the humidifier hooked up in the Remstar but haven't used it in years. Looking forward to trying it again with the heated hose. I do want to try the autostart. I read the thread where people said their machine started fine but didn't shut off with pillows.

I just cleaned my mask and washed the filter on the Remstar. It looks like the plastic on the back of the machine is starting to peel away at the seams. I think my timing was pretty good to move into the next century of tech.

[sonicboom]

I too am my own provider but I do not put the machine in airplane mode because Resmed sends out software updates from time to time over the modem. Secondarily if my doc or DME per chance wants to review the data I don't have to go in. Lastly, it's sleep data. I seriously don't care who sees it.

[FrankNichols]

If you have an autos machine, and you have not had a sleep study in years, why would you not try the auto mode? The point of it is to find the proper settings to get the minimum AHI or best therapy. You can get better advice than I can give on how to set it up to start with and then let it figure out what works best for you.

As for the bells and whistles (autostart, EPR, etc.) I would suggest starting with minimum, get your AHI under control then add things to see if and how they affect you.

[Unsoundsleeper]

If you have an autos machine, and you have not had a sleep study in years, why would you not try the auto mode? The point of it is to find the proper settings to get the minimum AHI or best therapy. You can get better advice than I can give on how to set it up to start with and then let it figure out what works best for you.

As for the bells and whistles (autostart, EPR, etc.) I would suggest starting with minimum, get your AHI under control then add things to see if and how they affect you.

I may not have explained correctly. The other poster was giving me a range of 13-17. I am asking as you stated since it has been so long maybe I would be better off setting it to min. max.? I think it's 4-20 as opposed to 13-17. Once the machine figures out where I am at I can then tighten it up. I was asking if this is the best way to do it.

I am looking also going to order a wifi card.

[FrankNichols]

If you have an autos machine, and you have not had a sleep study in years, why would you not try the auto mode? The point of it is to find the proper settings to get the minimum AHI or best therapy. You can get better advice than I can give on how to set it up to start with and then let it figure out what works best for you.

As for the bells and whistles (autostart, EPR, etc.) I would suggest starting with minimum, get your AHI under control then add things to see if and how they affect you.

I may not have explained correctly. The other poster was giving me a range of 13-17. I am asking as you stated since it has been so long maybe I would be better off setting it to min. max.? I think it's 4-20 as opposed to 13-17. Once the machine figures out where I am at I can then tighten it up. I was asking if this is the best way to do it.

I am looking also going to order a wifi card.

Apologize, I misunderstood.

[OpalRose]

Unsoundsleeper,
I would not recommend leaving machine at its default setting of 4-20.

A start pressure of 4 is way too low for someone who is used to starting at 15. A pressure of 4cm would leave you feeling suffocated or starved for air.

Sleepriders advice is sound...... Set a pressure range "around" your current pressure of 15.
13-17 sounds right. Then watch your data on Sleepyhead for a week or so. If pressure range needs to be narrowed or put back to straight Cpap mode, you can always do so.

As far as EPR, I would set it at 1 or 2. It is a comfort feature...you may or may not like it.

[FrankNichols]

The issue seems to be no sleep study for years. So, why not try 4-20. It's not like you are stuck with that if it doesn't work out or feels like it is suffocating you. You can even trait, and before you even go to sleep raise the lower number until you are comfortable. Just saying, why assume the worst? Won't the machine pick the best range in either case? And if it doesn't automatically raise the lower end, you can do that step by step until you feel comfortable and the therapy is working how you want it to.