Machine Problems...

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:31 am

Last night I changed my pressures as prescribed by my Pulmonology Dr. I did it myself because the DME/Sleep lab said they couldn't have me in for the 5 min change until September 12th, anyway...

I woke up at just after 3am this morning after being on the machine just over 5 hours. The pressure was near non existent barely blowing at all. I was totally shallowly rebreathing in my air, because the pressure was so low it wasn't evacuating it. It totally freaked me out. Out of habit in the dark I turned off the machine before I looked to see what was up on the screen... damn me. Anyway I got up and went to the bathroom and came back to test to see what was up with the pressures and the machine was back at pressure. I know it was working when I fell asleep, and I darn well know I didn't change anything that would cause that pressure drop like that. I tried to lay back down with the machine for the last hour before I had to get up, but my sinuses had totally clogged up like they do every time I lay down without the machine, and I couldn't get them clear enough to breath through the mask....

So I'm totally scared to try and sleep with the darn thing now...

Has this happened to anyone else/have you heard about it happening to someone else???

I'm gonna try calling the unhelpful DME/Sleep Lab and see what they have to say about the darn machine. I don't expect much from them though. .

Christy

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:39 am

According to your sig you have the software. Download your data and see if that can tell you anything about what happened or why.

I'm not all that familiar w/the Respironics xPAPs since I have a Resmed but its worth a try to see if you can learn anything from the download. ASSUMING you have your software set to NOT erase the data from the card. There is that option and I believe I've read the the default is to erase so you probably had to make the choice at the time you installed your software but double check before downloading.

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:36 pm

I'm waiting for my card reader.... should be here today or tomorrow, but I did get straight through to the sleep lab for the first time ever and the receptionist gave me over to a tech... Wow finally a competent person to talk to... He was very helpful said he'd read the card without deleting the info so I can still download it at home when I get the reader. He said he'd let me look at all the data there too. I've tot to wait about an hour and a half before I can go in though cause he said to come in after their lunch from noon - one. Now hopefully I can get a copy of my sleep study graphs and data.

Christy

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:56 pm

It happened to me once on my previous PB. I could see the pressure drop clearly in the software - way down where it never goes.

I called the DME, and had a new machine delivered on the next day.

O.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:21 pm

Wow! IMPRESSIVE! A friendly, competent, helpful tech at your previous to this almost unresponsive sleep lab!! CONGRATULATIONS! Get his name, rank, serial number, phone number, cell phone number and e-mail address!!!! (If he's the right age and good looking it might be worth going for more!!! )

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:36 pm

Slinky wrote:Wow! IMPRESSIVE! A friendly, competent, helpful tech at your previous to this almost unresponsive sleep lab!! CONGRATULATIONS! Get his name, rank, serial number, phone number, cell phone number and e-mail address!!!! (If he's the right age and good looking it might be worth going for more!!! )

He's a bit old for me and my husband wouldn't appreciate that much... but he was definitely the first friendly, competent, and helpful Day Tech... I liked my night Tech she was cool and a fellow hosehead (I totally found out I can so request her specifically for my next night study

). And I definitely appreciate them both.

He didn't change out the machine because the thing had stopped recording and didn't show the pressure drop, but he did say if it happened again he would change it out. He also wants me to take and keep a log of when I go to bed and when I get up so it will match times on the read out. I told him all about the software and he said oh your one I'll have to look out for eh... he totally thinks I'm a nerd

I totally promised I'd be a

and not change anything that they don't tell me too...He wants me to send him copies of the data periodically. He didn't like my numbers anymore than I did. No wonder I've still felt so bad...

He gave me printouts of my machine data and another copy of the report the Dr. had put together who read my Sleep Study. I also found out that my Pulmonary Dr. Just rubber stamps what the Sleep Study tells them. So he told my Dr. that I should be put on Auto to collect that data. So my settings are totally different. He also got me an appointment that the front desk would of said I couldn't get till after the 12th, for the 6th which is just over 2 weeks for the Oximeter he asked If I wanted that date cause I mentioned I had a pre-op appointment then so he was totally trying to be convenient for me or he totally would of made it for earlier...

Oh OH OOH I got to mention the big news he gave me another mask no charge cause the other leaks like a sieve... Plus he let me keep the other mask just in case it turns out I don't like this one either. It was one of the ones I ruled out cause it was way to much pressure on the bridge of my nose, even though I had used it during the sleep study just fine the stupid tech kept adjusting it so it hurt me and insisted it was the only way it belong so I ended up with the mask I hadn't tried on a machine at the pressures I was going to be at, that leaked badly. He totally knew how to actually fit it. Plus he had me try it at the pressure settings again to test it out. It's the ComfortGel Petite Nasal Mask. Only problem is he didn't give me the booklet (I'm assuming it had one since my F&P 406 did) and didn't tell me how to clean it... I could still so

for all the help he was. It just makes me want to

the other Tech who gave me my equipment to begin with.
Plus I'm suppose to make my machine appointments with him specifically now.
So:
My settings had been set by the first tech at BILEVEL IPAP=20 EPAP=16 Max Pressure Support=Not Active Bi-Flex=3 Ramp Time=30 min Ramp=5 Mask Alert=Off Auto Off=On Show AHI/Leak=ON

I had changed the IPAP=22 EPAP=17 last night because my Dr. had told me I needed a pressure change and the Sleep Lab Equipment Clerk said I couldn't get a time to do that till the 12th...

So now Auto BILEVEL Max IPAP=25 Min EPAP=13 Max Pressure Support=8 Bi-Flex=3 Ramp Time=20 min Ramp=10 Mask Alert=On Auto Off=Off Show AHI/Leak=ON

Hopefully the machine doesn't give me anymore problems and the Auto will be the trick.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): news, AHI, Ramp, auto, clean

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:05 pm

On the ComfortGel, just adjust it at the top of the nose to relieve the pressure off the bridge of the nose. You can just pull the silicone and gel off for cleaning, or don't take it apart at all, just rub soap on it and rinse well. Jim

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:26 pm

Goofproof wrote:On the ComfortGel, just adjust it at the top of the nose to relieve the pressure off the bridge of the nose. You can just pull the silicone and gel off for cleaning, or don't take it apart at all, just rub soap on it and rinse well. Jim

Thanks, though after trying to take it off I think I may have to leave it on till I'm shown, I'm afraid I'm gonna tear the silicone. I'll take it with me on the 6th and ask him to show me, until I'll just was it whole. And that adjuster segment is what that stupid tech kept putting into a position that hurt. I tried asking at the fitting didn't it have other positions and she insisted it didn't that it had to be at that setting... The other Tech knew how to properly position it and that's what fixed my problems with the mask. I don't think I'll have anywhere near the issues I had before with the F&P 406. The Gel was a good fit during the sleep lab and I used it at 20/16 for about 7 1/2 hours... (they wouldn't let me leave when the study was done at 7am because they didn't think I was awake enough to drive and I ended up sleeping there until almost 1pm on the machine)

Thanks again,

Christy

echo · Post by **echo** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:09 pm

Heh heh I love your post, not because of all the positive wonderful news about the techs and how well things are going, but for all the cool little smilies! I love the one beating the other smiley (there's even blood!).. where do get these?? I want to die from rolling on the floor laughing!!!! Sure brightened MY day!

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:20 pm

I've been collecting them over the years... you can find them in my photobucket account... http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v254/Admiral_Cougar/

echo · Post by **echo** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:49 pm

Brilliant, that's so much fun!!

Cool user interface on the web site too . Thanks