Welcome, Melodie!

Hi Melodie,

You will need the EncoreViewer software and card reader. Here is the link for the software and reader http://www.cpap.com/productpage/respironics-encore-viewer-software-1.0.html. If you do a google search you can usually find the card reader a little cheaper. I have heard that EncoreViewer can be tricky on Vista -- but hopefully they have those bugs worked out.

Your machine is one of the better machines. It treats more complex sleep apnea.

If you visit cpaptalk.com -- another forum I belong to -- you will find a very knowledgeable gentleman by the name of DSM that keeps up to speed with those types of machines. Go to www.cpaptalk.com and in the search box type in the machine you have and it should bring up posts that deal with your machine and apnea.

Here is Karen's website for the padacheeks:

http://www.padacheek.com/

She makes strap protectors for your face -- they are worth it.

I am glad you are being so proactive with your treatment!!

You are going to be so glad and will find a time when you will not want to sleep without being masked up.

How are you doing Mel?

Hope things are going good for you.

Carol

I had a friend that had Lupus and so am familiar with it. I know it is not a fun thing to have and can be very hard on one's body.

I appreciate your input on the forum as well. If we can encourage people to stick with treatment and not give up -- we will make a difference. I kind of apply the AA philosophy (hubby has been sober for 18 years with the help of AA)-- take what you like, leave the rest, keep coming back, and one day at a time I can do this (therapy). Now I wouldn't think of sleeping without my machine!!

I teach school -- elementary special education. I taught high school special education for 12 years until I got so burned out and for various work related issues I got ulcers that wouldn't heal. After suffering for 2 years with them, along with anxiety and panic attacks, decided that enough was enough and made the shift to elementary. I am in the same school district -- a k12 rural school located 12 miles east of where I live. It is a good place to work -- we just had a crummy high school principal for 3 years that left the district at the end of school last year.

I like getting home in the late afternoon while it is still light out. Once I am home I pretty much stay. Hubby works out of town so it is just Fred (my mini daschund) and me for the most part. Our kids are nearby so if I need something I do have them and my brothers I can depend on.

Take care.
Carol

How are things going with you?

Just wanted to touch base and see if you were doing okay.