S9 goes from 5-15 in auto with in 10 min

I just got an resmed s9. The setting for bottom and max is 5-15. When i turn the machine on in auto mode it starts at 5 but will not stay there it starts climbing gradually all the way to 15. It does this in about 10 min and i did it today and even when i was awake just sitting there watching the machine. Is the normal or what is wrong.

Welcome to the board, Justin.

You're not the first person to report this with an apparently properly functioning machine. It's possible something is wrong with the machine, but it's also possible that something about your breathing, such as "flow limitations" make the machine "want" to increase your pressure.

Some people have to set their pressure manually, even with an auto CPAP.

You might want to install the free SleepyHead program on your PC. It will analyze your data, and it may help figure out why your PC is doing this.

Are you sure the machine is set to auto? If it is set to CPAP mode at a pressure of 15.....A ramp setting of 5 will cause the machine to start at 5 and gradually increase the pressure to 15.

Justin 23 wrote:Is the normal or what is wrong.

That usually depends on what titration level your sleep study indicated you required.... which was

Cheers,

Bill

Can you post a screenshot of the pressure increase?

It sounds an awfully lot like a Ramp with CPAP, based on your description. Though it could be the machine 'wants' to keep going up.

LSAT wrote:Are you sure the machine is set to auto? If it is set to CPAP mode at a pressure of 15.....A ramp setting of 5 will cause the machine to start at 5 and gradually increase the pressure to 15.

I wish that was the case but I went in and checked it like 5 times and it is auto with no ramp time. what is ramp time.

archangle wrote:Welcome to the board, Justin.

You're not the first person to report this with an apparently properly functioning machine. It's possible something is wrong with the machine, but it's also possible that something about your breathing, such as "flow limitations" make the machine "want" to increase your pressure.

Some people have to set their pressure manually, even with an auto CPAP.

You might want to install the free SleepyHead program on your PC. It will analyze your data, and it may help figure out why your PC is doing this.

just download it thanks. I am taking the machine in monday it is only 3 days old

Xney wrote:Can you post a screenshot of the pressure increase?

It sounds an awfully lot like a Ramp with CPAP, based on your description. Though it could be the machine 'wants' to keep going up.

I wish that was the case but I went in and checked it like 5 times and it is auto with no ramp time. what is ramp time.

This excact thing happens to me also. Take a look at my thread here and see if it is the same as in your case:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=82998&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

I have now gotten to try 4 different machines and they have all done the same thing. Two of these machines have been tested extensivly by Resmed and found to be in perfect working order.

One thing I have found out is that the behaviour depends on the mask. My Resmed Mirage FX sends the machine to 15 in about 6 minutes. Using a Resmed Swift LT, the pressure stabilised at 8.3. With a Swift FX, the pressure stabilised at 9.5.
What mask do you use?

The behaviour is also dependant on how much water is in your humidifier chamber. The problem is worst with a full tank of water. Try to only fill your humidifier chamber half full of water and try again. Please let us know the result of such a test.

My conclusion is simply that the Autoset algorithm is SO hyper that the machine does not function properly as an APAP for some people, not for me and it seems not for you either. I also suspect that the humidifier is poorly designed, it's certainly very noicy and this may contribute to the problem.The solution is to get a Philips Respironics or Devilbiss machine in stead, they work very well as APAP's.

If it's just going right to max for some reason due to your breathing or snoring or whatever, you may just want to try straight CPAP mode.

I also read about how so many people use very narrow pressure ranges with their S9's. I wonder if this is because of this same problem?

Having a pressure range of say 9-11, which is not uncommon with people in this forum, really means that the person does not use the APAP as an APAP at all. Constant pressure CPAP at 10 would give them the same treatment and if the range is well adjusted, it's where they'll spend most of the night.
The whole reason for APAP therapy is to not treat us with more pressure than is actually needed and at the same time give us the pressure we need when we need it. Most of the night, such a person as in the example above, does not NEED a pressure of 9. Then again, if the person has a bad night, the pressure needs may be considerably more than 11, so everything above 11, is not treated.

I'm really supprised that this community of SO many S9 Autoset users does not take action to try to figure this out. If there is a problem with the S9, it REALLY should be investigated and brought to the attention of Resmed. If I was "stuck" with a S9, I would definatly try to figure it out myself, but I "jumped ship" and got a PRS1 in stead.

Justin 23 wrote:

LSAT wrote:Are you sure the machine is set to auto? If it is set to CPAP mode at a pressure of 15.....A ramp setting of 5 will cause the machine to start at 5 and gradually increase the pressure to 15.

I wish that was the case but I went in and checked it like 5 times and it is auto with no ramp time. what is ramp time.

With ramp...regardless of your machine setting, when you start up the machine it automatically starts at a pre determined pressure...(i.e. 5) and gradually increases the pressure over a period of time...(i.e. 15 min) until it gets to your prescribed pressure. Ramp is usually used to help you get used to CPAP. Most people turn ramp off when they are comfortable with their CPAP pressure.

If you are wearing it when awake then it might have problems with your breathing or lack of it. Normal sleep breathing is very smooth and even. Just watch a healthy kid sleeping sometime. When awake you are constantly changing the way you breathe. Every time you move you may hold your breathe for a moment. Watch something "exciting" and the rhythm and depth changes. The machine will see this as a problem and increase pressure. It doesn't know you are awake, it thinks you are asleep and having problems.

Burkebang wrote:I also read about how so many people use very narrow pressure ranges with their S9's. I wonder if this is because of this same problem?

Having a pressure range of say 9-11, which is not uncommon with people in this forum, really means that the person does not use the APAP as an APAP at all. Constant pressure CPAP at 10 would give them the same treatment and if the range is well adjusted, it's where they'll spend most of the night.
The whole reason for APAP therapy is to not treat us with more pressure than is actually needed and at the same time give us the pressure we need when we need it. Most of the night, such a person as in the example above, does not NEED a pressure of 9. Then again, if the person has a bad night, the pressure needs may be considerably more than 11, so everything above 11, is not treated.

I'm really supprised that this community of SO many S9 Autoset users does not take action to try to figure this out. If there is a problem with the S9, it REALLY should be investigated and brought to the attention of Resmed. If I was "stuck" with a S9, I would definatly try to figure it out myself, but I "jumped ship" and got a PRS1 in stead.

Quite a few people get some relief from aerophagia or leaks with just a slight decrease in pressure, so setting the machine at 9-11 is not necessarily a bad idea. You have 11 available if you need it, but can be at 9 most of the time.

Also, if you're monitoring the data, having even the small additional pressure available gives you some idea whether your pressure needs have changed. If the machine maxes out at 11, maybe you need to evaluate changing your pressure.

I think some people are overly afraid of "runaway" pressure causing central apneas and limit their pressure too much. We also tend to recommend a small pressure range as a way to get a clueless doctor who's afraid of APAP to prescribe one. I set mine with a maximum pressure of 20, and it's never "run away" on me.

I also find it's important to me to set the minimum pressure somewhat higher than the machine will select on its own. My machine will settle out around 14 cm left to its own devices and I'll have low AHI, but I feel better if I set the minimum to 16.

I haven't heard of many people who have their S9 that just keeps ramping up despite low AHI.

Burkebang, did you save post a SleepyHead report on your runaway S9 with flow limitations? I wonder if they might be triggering your pressure increases.

Once again, this is yet another reason everyone needs data capable machines with airflow waveforms and a doctor or someone who reads the reports and adjusts the therapy.

Archangle, I had problems viewing my data, but I have identified the problem. I had Sleepyhead set to ignore CPAP sessions shorter than 10 minutes. What I remember from the last data I looked at, there was no events flagged at all, so no reason to increase the pressure. I'm out of town on business, but I'll post the data when I get home tomorrow.