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For those on xpap therapy --

Do you monitor your own therapy? (My answer is yes -- it is important to me to know how my therapy is going. I want the best treatment possible.)

Do you have the software and reader? (My answer is yes -- I have the software and card reader.)

Do you check the data via the screen on the machine? (No since I have the software and card reader.)

Do you know what the numbers mean? (Yes, otherwise the software is of little value)

Do you have a copy of your sleep study? (No, all I have is the summary. I fought with the hospital for a few months to get it. Yes, I know according to HIPPA I am entitled to it but they outsource their record keeping and I never could get the outsourcing place to understand what exactly I wanted)

Do you have a copy of your script? (Yes, put up in a safe place)

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Carol,
My Bi-PAP has a reader card in it, but the Respiratory Therapist calls me and has me mail it to her every so often and they take the readings. How did you get the software and ability to take your own readings?

I would love to be able to monitor my own! I DO check the data on the screen on the machine, as I don't have the software or card reader. Also I would like to know how to understand what the numbers mean. Is that in your software package?

I also do NOT have any copies of my 3 sleep studies, my pulmonologist has them, but I guess I could request a copy, as I will be seeing him tomorrow, 12/31/08. The hospital refused to give me copies as they said I would have to get them through my physician and he would explain them to me.

I do have a copy of my prescription, that was provided to me by the Respiratory Therapist and the oxygen supplier. All of my equipment comes to me through my oxygen supplier and they always bring me paperwork anytime they come and give me copies to keep and fully explain them to me.

I have a medical file on myself that I keep, and also a separate one just for the sleep apnea and equipment. I think it is just smart for any patient to keep their own medical record copies on hand.

Thanks for the info, and please do let me know how I can obtain the software and card reader if you don't mind.

Melodie
Can you provide me with the complete name of your bi-pap? I will need brand and model. Usually it is written on top of the machine.

Please ask your doctor for the complete report and not just the dictated results. The complete report should be 4 or 5 pages in length (for each study done) and have charts and graphs in it.

If you can write down some of what is showing on the screen and post it I can try to help you with some of the numbers.
Melodie I went to your page and found your machine name.

You will need the EncoreViewer and cardreader. You will be able to monitor your own therapy with the help of these items.

It will show you how many events you have during the night, flow limitations, your AHI, etc.

Your DME will probably discourage you from purchasing the software since they are probably charging your insurance com. for reading your card. EncoreViewer was made for the consumer so they could monitor their own therapy.

Insurance, in my experience and from what others have said, will not cover the expense of the card reader and software. You would have to pay out of pocket for it. If you have a flex plan you should be able to use that for the software and reader. It will run approximately $200.00 for both. If you want to save money eBay has a copy of the software on auction right now for $69.00.

I check my data every so often do a print out and since my doctor is proactive share the information with them in deciding what is best for my treatment. Saves the headache of a middleman (the DME).
Was wondering since we have so many new users how many monitor their own therapy with the software?
I got the software and reader. I'm thankful I did. I saved the file and sent it to my doctor and this helped me to be proactive in getting a new mask. Being new, I didn't realize my prior mask was leaking so much until I posted the report on this board and heard from others to check into a new mask.

I think it is important for me to do this........
I am glad Mary that it has helped you with your therapy. I know for sure that around here there is little follow up with patients and one must be active are they will wallow in ineffective treatment and wonder why they don't feel better.
Oh, goshes. Yep, I check my data virtually every morning. I also have the software and cable reader and do a download of the data virtually every morning.

And, yep, I have a copy of all my in-lab sleep evaluation and titration studies' full scored data summary reports w/condensed graphs and doctor's dicated results and scripts, including those for just a pressure change. I even have a CD of one of my titration studies.

I don't trust any doctor to care about my health care as much as I do. When we can't find any answers sometimes the clues or even answers are in some minor points of a test the doctors tend to ignore. I don't trust any doctor to make the final decisions w/o my input.

It is MY life, MY health, MY health care, I INSIST on having the FINAL say on what WE agree to for treatment, etc.

(In case you haven't guess I feel very strongly about this!) VBG
I monitor my results daily.

I don't have software/reader, and from what I understand, I can't get software for the ResMed AutoSet II.

I read the leak rate, AI, HI, and AHI along with the time used, on the machine's display.

I believe that the AI, HI, and AHI are the average number of apnea (AI), hypopnea (HI) and combine (AHI) events per hour.

I have a 3-page copy of my sleep study, which contains a narrative of the study results, a chart of the data, and a graph of the measurements taken. I'm not sure if these if the summary, though, and I don't know if there's more info available.

I have a copy of the script.

I expect to have the results of last night's titration study soon.
Hi-- I've been at it less than a month but I do monitor my own therapy. I have a Respironics auto bi pap. I do check the LCD in the morning but it isn't that helpful since it only shows averages. I have the encore software and the reader and I generally download and review the reports every few days. If I've had an especially good or bad nights sleep I will download and review more frequently because I am curious about the relationship between the data and my qualitative view of how I slept.

I only have the very abbreviated studies (2 pagers) for my initial sleep study and then titration study. I'm seeing my doctor this week and will be asking for the fuller studies. I do have a copy of my prescription and will be asking him to rewrite the mask portion of it to make it more open ended.

I know what most of the numbers mean....but not all of them.

-- Is someone able to tell me what the Flow Limitation Index is?

-- Also-- on my reports, they always highlight and label the pressures at 90%. I have assumed that meant that at the highlighted level of pressure, 90% of events are caught? I would appreciate it if someone could better explain what the 90% pressure designation means.

-- And one last question, I am assuming that when I upload the data from the card/card reader to my computer software that it leaves the data on the card intact and doesn't wipe it out. I am asking because my doctor would like me to bring in my card for him to read it and I want to make sure that the data is still on it :-)

Thanks
Jan
Ooops! Jan. In answer to your last question, it depends on whether you have EncorePro or EncoreViewer, and if you have EncorePro how it is set up. In EncorePro there is the option to erase data which if I remember correctly is the default, or the option to NOT erase the data after a download. I'm pretty sure that EncoreViewe either (and most likely) does NOT provide for erasing the data, OR the Default is to NOT erase data and you would have to instruct EV to do so.

I have EncorePro 1.7 but have never had EncoreViewer. I haven't used EncorePro in ..... forever because I almost never use my Respironics pre-M Series BiPAP Auto w/Bi-Flex. I prefer gettting my data from my Resmed VPAP Auto.

Darned if I know what happened to my previous reply to you. That 90% pressure reported in the pressure AT OR BELOW which you spent 90% of the night. Or in other words you spent 10% of the night at a higher pressure (most likely due to high Leaks).

And, Andy. NEVER underestimate the power of a determined apnean. If you are diligent and innovative you can find and buy ResScan 3.7 and the cable reader for your AutoSet II.
Hi Judy,

Now you've got me going, and I want to find a way to get ResScan 3.7!
Do you monitor your own therapy? Yes I do.Infact when I started and told my Rt some of my numbers she wondered how I got them..

Do you have the software and reader? Yes I do

Do you check the data via the screen on the machine? No…I download it to my computer which tells me more.

Do you know what the numbers mean? As for most of them I do.Alsao comparing month to month I see an inprovement.

Do you have a copy of your sleep study? No I do not but I am sure I could get it from the sleep unit.

Do you have a copy of your script? Also no but I know my RT would give me a copy.


Wes

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