PB 420E settings help

mommaw · Post by **mommaw** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 4:29 pm

Fellow hoseheads I need some help. I am currently on a 5 week trip to Florida and brought my 420E instead of my tank. Well, that was a mistake. I have used my 420E very little as I have it for backup and travel. For some reason that I cannot figure out, I wake up at about 430 every morning, the machine is blowing so hard I can hardly exhale against it and my nose is soooo stopped up I cannot get any air at all. I suspect that the plugged nose is the reason for the runaway machine. I immediately take the mask off, draw some deep breaths and my nose comes unplugged. I cannot for the life of me figure it out I never have this problem at home with my tank. When we came down last year I brought my tank and did not have any problems so I can only assume it is the 420E. I just checked my settings and they are: apap, c-flex1 and pressure 8-18. I have turned the humidifier all the way up figuring I needed more humidity and that has not helped. I left my manual at home like a dufuss and cannot remember how to get into the settings. At home I run my tank at 9-12 and cflex at 3. I want to adjust the 420E to the same to see if that might help. Can someone pm me with the info?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I have racked my brain and cannot figure it out. I have 4 more weeks here so I really need help.

Thanks
Gilda

sgrol · Post by **sgrol** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:27 pm

not sure what the 'tank' is but if you are used to using a heated humidifier and now you are not using it, that is your problem.

sgrol · Post by **sgrol** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:32 pm

I see from reading the rest of your post that you are using a humidifier. cancel what I said. What is a 'tank'?

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:43 pm

Many of us refer to the original RemStar Auto w/C-Flex (classic) as the "tank" versus the RemStar M Series Auto w/C-Flex tho there really isn't that much difference in size between the newer M series and the older classic ("tank").

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:11 pm

Gilda, the "FL" letters you're seeing in the menu of the 420E don't stand for C-Flex. "FL" stands for the 420E's IFL1 setting. Has nothing to do with exhalation relief, which is what C-Flex does. The 420E does not have C-flex. Only Respironics machines have that. Since you say your 420E seems to be running up into the stratosphere pressures, I'd suggest you turn the "FL" (IFL1) setting OFF. "0" turns it off. "1" turns it on.

That particular trigger (IFL1) might...just might...be responsible for the machine running the pressure up higher than necessary for you. If I remember correctly, you can turn off "FL" from the user menu without having to go into clinical menu. Or you can do it within the clinical menu also.

To get into the clinical menu of the 420E, press down on the letter "G" of the name "GoodKnight" on top of the machine. There's a hidden button under the G that you will feel as a depression when you press down on it. While pressing that down, also press the "Information Access" button...the little button on top that has a diagonal line on it. I guess that symbol is supposed to depict a wrench or some kind of tool.

Hold both down for a few seconds, and the display window will change to the clinical menu.

After you are in the clinical menu, each time you press the Information Access button you go to the next setting. Use the on/off button and ramp button to change a setting.

In APAP mode, the maximum pressure (Pmax) and the minimum pressure (Pmin) can be set.

Use the ON/OFF and ramp keys to increase or decrease the pressure values.

If you don't press a button within 30 seconds, the machine exits from the clinical menu. Any changes are automatically saved.

Gilda, when going through the clinical menu, you'll also come across an item with the letter "A" and a number. If the number beside the "A" isn't 10.0 cmH2O", set it at "10".

Hope your treatment smooths out with FL turned off. Enjoy the vacation!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:33 pm

I would do what RG said above, only thing different I would add, since you are on the road and not using the machine you are used to, I would:

Set Pmax=12cm so it is the same as your Remstar at home.
Set Pmin=7cm so your range is 7-12 since you don't have the exhale relief of Cflex. The 2cm lower Min pressure should put you about the same as your Remstar at 9cm using Cflex.

I would also set that FL feature as RG suggested to zero or Off (think it comes with it =1, 1=On, 0=Off).

RG: I ordered another new 420E yesterday, got a pretty good deal on it and the HH for $549, figured I'd give it one last try besides it travels really well and when I travel I can do without the humidifier. Take that and my Soyala and bottle of melatonin I should be good to go. I hope to turn off FL and then play with the A=10 command, I may be able to limit its response by lowering that value down to about 9cm. Just hope it is more reliable this time around.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:58 pm

Snoredog, hope the little machine works for you. If it doesn't, please let me know. I'd be interested in being its second owner.

mommaw · Post by **mommaw** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:10 pm

Thanks Restedgal and Snoredog for the great advice. I will set up as you said before bed tonight. I did get into the menu and set the pressures to 9-12 last night,(thanks to a fellow hosers kind pm) and had the same problem again this morning. I will set the F1 to "O" and make sure the A number is 10. I hope this does the trick. I am really struggling with this.
Out of ideas,
Gilda

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snoozeandlose · Post by **snoozeandlose** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:56 pm

Don't give up, the PB is great machine. I took mine to New Zealand and use it all the time at home.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:09 pm

Last night set up as suggested and had a better night. Did not have the run away pressure feeling but still had the stuffy nose. I did not bring my "aussie" hose thinking I would not need it here. I am beginning to think that is my problem with the stuffy nose, does that make sense? I have turned the humidifier wide open and literally had to take the mask off and shake the water out of it and still nose stops up by 430 every morning. I think I am spoiled to the aussie hose.

Thanks all,
Gilda

mommaw · Post by **mommaw** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:12 pm

oops thought I was signed in.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:41 pm

[quote="Anonymous"]Last night set up as suggested and had a better night. Did not have the run away pressure feeling but still had the stuffy nose. I did not bring my "aussie" hose thinking I would not need it here. I am beginning to think that is my problem with the stuffy nose, does that make sense? I have turned the humidifier wide open and literally had to take the mask off and shake the water out of it and still nose stops up by 430 every morning. I think I am spoiled to the aussie hose.

Thanks all,
Gilda

Mask	Humidifier

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