Losing my sh*t....

[abu117]

I started using the Resmed AirSense10 Autoset several months ago. This was my second machine in about 6 years. The old one worked just fine, but I liked the features this new one offered, so I made the switch. At first, all was fine - I especially loved the nasal pillows mask. It fit well and didn't leave strap marks on my face for several hours after waking.

Then, about one month ago, I had a bad experience - it felt like I was drowning. (see viewtopic.php?t=176310). That seemed to be a one-time thing, thank god.

Shortly after that, I had what I guess is called a rain-out. Water was in my mask and it sounded like there was popcorn being popped every time inhaled. The machine also stopped, saying the air hose was blocked. I took everything apart and cleaned everything as well as replaced the filter.

I should note that I live in the west (wet) coast of Canada and I like to sleep with my windows partially opened, so I guess that explains the humidity in my mask. After the cleaning, things again went well for a few weeks.

Then two nights ago I again had the machine suddenly stop and again had the blocked hose message. Again, moisture in the hose and mask. I did some more reading and it was suggested that the CPAP be placed lower than the bed so if moisture does in fact collect, it could run back into the water reservoir. This made total sense to me, so I placed it on a side table, that is about 8 inches lower than my bed.

Then last night...oh the horror. I went t bed at about midnight and woke up again to a plugged hose and a stalled CPAP about 2 hours later. This time I was partially awake when it happened. I noticed that it felt like I was gasping for breath and that I was not able to exhale as well as I liked. I reset the machine several times over the next few hours and I changed the ramp from auto to 15 minutes and then to 45 minutes. I figured, that (despite the CPAP), I was still having events. I should note that I have gained some extra weight, so I'm thinking I needed a bit more pressure. So, I changed the pressure from 12 to 13. Then the rain began again, even though the CPAP was lower than the bed. Again with the popcorn popping sounds in my mask. By the way, my hose temp is set to the max (30). Another night of only 3 hours or so of sleep.

Help......what do I do?

[rcobourn]

What do you have the humidity set to? Sounds like you could probably just skip putting water in the chamber altogether. You could also move over here to Arizona and have the opposite problem.

[babydinosnoreless]

I'm in Arizona and I was getting rain out. I hate the humidity anyway so I turned it all the way down to 1. The auto humidity thing just didn't work for me. I also took off the heated hose and put on a slimline. Much lighter and easier to sleep with.

[D.H.]

Do you still have the old machine and is it in working condition? If it is, try using it and see of the problem is really specific to the new machine.

Another thing to consider is if you changed masks or hose types at the same time, it might be the mask or the hose, rather than the machine.

[jnk...]

It is my opinion (not a popular one here or a verified one anywhere) that the P10 nasal pillows mask (or at least some manufacturing runs of it) can have trouble functioning with high moisture that drenches the vents, since large water droplets can unduly reduce the effectiveness of the tiny holes of those vents, which are designed to be especially quiet as they dissipate the vented air from that mask.

Keeping the vents very clean, such as with a toothbrush being used on on the vents regularly, and very dry during use, such as by keeping humidity under better control to make sure that the vents never actually get completely drenched with water from rainout, should help that, if that is what is happening.

I had one P10 pillows mask that appeared to have that particular problem and another one that did not appear to have that particular problem. My assumption (I am not an engineer, scientist, or nerd) is that the manufacturing tolerances for the weave of the vents are sometimes not spot on, which makes the vent holes too small to keep from being overwhelmed by the large water droplets that tend to plug them up, thereby causing some CO2 buildup in the user. NOT a pleasant sensation--or a particularly safe circumstance for some PAP users, in my opinion.

Sorry about your 'losing your shot.' I hope your aim improves.

[Dog Slobber]

Do you use a hose management system? Hose management systems can contribute to rain-out NOT flowing back into the device tank. If the vapour condenses back into liquid after the peak, then the water will run into your mask.

Having said that, consider one or more of the following:

• Decrease the humidity setting
• Use a heated hose (and turn up the hose temperature)
• Use a hose caddy
• Increase ambient temperature of bedroom
• Ensure device is not to close to a heat source

[Julie]

And locate the machine lower than your head so water will run back to it instead of into the mask.

[palerider]

I3. Then the rain began again, even though the CPAP was lower than the bed. ?

Well, it wasn't lower enough, or it would be physically impossible for water to collect in the hose. If the hose dips down after the machine, water can collect. If the hose slopes down to the machine, and into it, water can't collect.

[Pugsy]

It's hard to have the hose go straight down from the face without any dips where water can accumulate.
Unless someone puts the machine on the floor and the bed is 5 or 6 ft higher and we put our face right on the edge of the bed so the hose goes straight down....there's going to be some dips or level areas where water can pool.
Not to mention in the mask itself there's always some spot where the water pools.

I would rather prevent the condensation in the first place.....heated hose, hose cozy, increase ambient room temp.
Then I don't have to worry about where the hose goes.

Since you are already using the heated hose at max temp....but you like the windows open so you are getting much cooler air in the bedroom....you might add a hose cozy and see if that help prevent the condensation. Remember it's just physics in action.
Warmer air in the hose will hold more water than cooler air. Keep the air warmer and it won't condense in the hose or mask.

For condensation at the mask level...if using nasal pillows Padacheek has some barrel cozies to help keep the air warmer in the mask.
https://www.padacheek.com/barrel-cozies-1

[Pixelsmack]

Just to toss out my own experiences...

I find that nasal pillows don't work well with AUTO mode on most machines. They tend to run wild. Either no moisture and you dry out or they go crazy with too much. As others have said, if you stick with NPs, go manual mode and lower humidity, get a heated hose (increase heat) and/or hose blanket. Also, sleeping with the hose under the covers can help. (body heater)

I love my ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset, but it does have some challenges to adjust too. As I said, nasal pillows, don't work so well with it. Normally I'd never use EPR, but I find even with therapy set to AUTO, I need to turn it on. (lvl1) I also had to set the min air pressure closer to my actual prescribed setting. As it doesn't seem to adjust "automatically" enough. Still, a quiet small machine, and app support is most welcome.

[zonker]

Just to toss out my own experiences...

I find that nasal pillows don't work well with AUTO mode on most machines. They tend to run wild. Either no moisture and you dry out or they go crazy with too much. As others have said, if you stick with NPs, go manual mode and lower humidity, get a heated hose (increase heat) and/or hose blanket. Also, sleeping with the hose under the covers can help. (body heater)

I love my ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset, but it does have some challenges to adjust too. As I said, nasal pillows, don't work so well with it. Normally I'd never use EPR, but I find even with therapy set to AUTO, I need to turn it on. (lvl1) I also had to set the min air pressure closer to my actual prescribed setting. As it doesn't seem to adjust "automatically" enough. Still, a quiet small machine, and app support is most welcome.

i'm sorry that this has been your experience. i've been using this machine in combo with a p10 nasal pillows for almost a year with spectacular results. ahi always under 1 and usually under 0.50. not sure what you are doing to get such poor results.

each of us is different, i suppose.

[palerider]

Just to toss out my own experiences...

I find that nasal pillows don't work well with AUTO mode on most machines.

It may be YOUR experience, but as a general rule of thumb, it's completely and totally wrong.

many people, including myself, have used nasal pillows on auto machines for years.

They tend to run wild. Either no moisture and you dry out or they go crazy with too much. As others have said, if you stick with NPs, go manual mode and lower humidity,

The pillow has nothing whatsoever to do with how the machine delivers humidity.

I love my ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset, but it does have some challenges to adjust too. As I said, nasal pillows, don't work so well with it. Normally I'd never use EPR, but I find even with therapy set to AUTO, I need to turn it on. (lvl1) I also had to set the min air pressure closer to my actual prescribed setting. As it doesn't seem to adjust "automatically" enough. Still, a quiet small machine, and app support is most welcome.

Sorry that you're having problems, but your experience is *atypical*.

[chunkyfrog]

I have been using nasal pillows with the auto mode for about EIGHT YEARS.
NO PROBLEMS
You must be doing something dreadfully wrong . . .

[zoocrewphoto]

Just to toss out my own experiences...

I find that nasal pillows don't work well with AUTO mode on most machines. They tend to run wild. Either no moisture and you dry out or they go crazy with too much. As others have said, if you stick with NPs, go manual mode and lower humidity, get a heated hose (increase heat) and/or hose blanket. Also, sleeping with the hose under the covers can help. (body heater)

I love my ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset, but it does have some challenges to adjust too. As I said, nasal pillows, don't work so well with it. Normally I'd never use EPR, but I find even with therapy set to AUTO, I need to turn it on. (lvl1) I also had to set the min air pressure closer to my actual prescribed setting. As it doesn't seem to adjust "automatically" enough. Still, a quiet small machine, and app support is most welcome.

You might want to start a thread and post some of your data. We can help you get better settings that will be more comfortable and more therapeutic. I don't know what percentage of people use nasal pillows, but it is a pretty good amount of people here, and they have had great success with auto. Sounds likeyour machine needs some adjustments to get it working better for you.