Trouble in Paradise?

[Shiny]

I'm a little concerned about my CPAP machine. It's a Remstar Auto with C-Flex. A couple of times over the past couple of weeks, it has made sort of a popping or maybe gurgling sound. The first time it did it, it did it a lot and the next morning, I saw that my hose was drooping down between the night table and the bed. I emptied it out (it had a fair bit of water in the hose) and hung the hose up to prevent that from happening again. I assumed that the water was partially blocking air flow, hence the gurgling sound.
Fast forward to last night. I couldn't sleep and at one point (hose hangin' high) I heard a couple of those gurgles or pops but there appeared to be no reason for them. This morning my wife tells me that twice she had to nudge me to get me breathing again. I was snoring but I had my mask on and she heard no air leaks.
I am concerned about the machine because I bought the demo model. Now I am wondering if the machine is going to calve on me.
What do you guys think?

[Guest]

Your machine is probably fine. Sounds like rainout (water vapor condensing inside the hose). Get a hose cover. If that doesn't work you may want to buy a heated hose.

[Shiny]

Your machine is probably fine. Sounds like rainout (water vapor condensing inside the hose). Get a hose cover. If that doesn't work you may want to buy a heated hose.

Well that's what I'm hoping it is but like I said, I took steps to insure that it wasn't backing up with water and it still doesn't explain why I'm snoring and not breathing while wearing the mask.

[Wulfman]

Your machine is probably fine. Sounds like rainout (water vapor condensing inside the hose). Get a hose cover. If that doesn't work you may want to buy a heated hose.

Well that's what I'm hoping it is but like I said, I took steps to insure that it wasn't backing up with water and it still doesn't explain why I'm snoring and not breathing while wearing the mask.

That might depend on your APAP settings. If you got your machine locally, you could take it in to the DME and have it tested with a manometer......or buy or make one and test the pressure settings. (in case it HAS gotten out of whack)
CPAP.COM has them for sale. There are posts on the forum detailing how to make one.


Den

[rested gal]

What pressure range do you have your machine set for, Shiny?

Perhaps you don't have the minimum pressure set high enough to prevent apneas well in the first place.

[RipVW]

Hi RG,

I see that you use a heated hose. I had the rainout problem, so I acquired a hose cover. It worked well, had not rainout, until recently now that the house is cooler at night (we usually don't use our heat at night). So, now I've got the water in my hose again. My humidifier is set on 3, and I'd really prefer to set it higher, but that would just mean more water.

So, my question--thinking about the heated hose, but what about cleaning it? I know my regular hose is replaced every 3 months by my DEM/insurance, because (according to my RT), we can't really clean the inside of the hose thoroughly. Of course, I know that one could not replace the heated hose regularly, since it is a bit pricey.

Thanks!

Ted

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies. RG, my settings range is only 4-10. I will check out the manometer idea though, thanks.
I bought my machine 'locally' but have since moved so 'locally' doesn't really apply to my locale anymore. Or is it that they are still local and I am not? Or maybe I'm just loco?
Thanks

[Shiny]

oops! Forgot to log in.

[Wulfman]

Thanks for the replies. RG, my settings range is only 4-10. I will check out the manometer idea though, thanks.
I bought my machine 'locally' but have since moved so 'locally' doesn't really apply to my locale anymore. Or is it that they are still local and I am not? Or maybe I'm just loco?
Thanks

There's your problem. Your bottom pressure isn't high enough to stop your snoring......and whatever else. You're probably having a lot of events before your pressure gets high ehough.

Den

[Slinky]

And since you've moved and it isn't feasible to frequent the DME supplier you got your CPAP from a local DME suppler "should" be willing to work with you. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Take a copy of your equipment order (script) and the machine in to a local DME supplier and have them check the settings and the calibrations or whatever you call it.

[Wulfman]

Or......just change it yourself.

Den



REMstar Auto w/C-Flex Setup

When in the Setup Menu, the humidifier ^ and ramp v buttons operate as up and down keys to change the settings, the left/right user buttons < > allow you to go to the previous/next question or setting, and the pressure start/stop button is used to exit the Setup Menu. Holding the humidifier or ramp buttons down will cause the values to change more quickly.

To enter the Therapy Setup Menu, hold the two top user buttons < > down while plugging in the power cord.
Continue holding the buttons down until the REMstar Auto w/C-Flex beeps twice. (about 5 seconds)

Note: The word "setup" will appear on all of the screens indicating that you are in the Therapy Setup Menu.
(If you press the Pressure start/stop button, you will exit the Setup Menu.)

A. Compliance hours/nights: (recommend leaving alone, but CAN be cleared at this point)
Select next setting with >

B. Therapy mode: (CPAP/CFLE/APAP/AFLE) select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >

B1. If CPAP or CFLE select pressure setting: Select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >

B1a. C-Flex mode (if you chose CFLE mode): Select setting 1, 2 or 3 with ^
Select next setting with >

B2. If APAP or AFLE, select minimum pressure setting: Select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >

B2a. If APAP or AFLE, select maximum pressure setting: Select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >

B2b. C-Flex mode (if you chose AFLE mode): Select setting 1, 2 or 3 with ^
Select next setting with >

C: Ramp time setting: Select with ^ or v
(ramp time will be turned off with a setting of 0)
(if using APAP or AFLE mode, Ramp Length Setting MUST be set to 0:00)
Select next setting with >

D. Ramp pressure setting: Select with ^ or v (use only in CPAP or CFLE mode)
Select next setting with >

E. Patient disconnect setting: 1 = on 0 = off Select with ^ or v
Select next setting with >

F. Buttons lights setting: 1 = on 0 = off Select with ^ or v

(Last setting. Use On/Off button to exit Setup)

[betty303]

Good luck with changing the bottom pressure on your machine. 4 is too low and hopefully that should help your apneas.

I am back on the water in your hose.

I may not be understanding what you wrote, but when you raised your hose up - does that mean that if any water DID condense in the hose that it could have a pathway back into your machine?

Water in the machine can play havoc with your pressure (it will blow erratically) and could require sending it back to Respironics to get fixed. (I just paid $500+ to them to fix things when only a tiny bit of water got into my machine.)

So take care that things are set up so if you do get condensation - the water cannot get back into your machine.

[ozij]

Shiny,
Those of us who have lower pressure have more of a rainout problem.

I need both the heated hose and an additional cover to keep it in order to get warm humid air without rainout.

O.

[TerryB]

Water condenses at whatever location in the hose allowed the temperature to drop to the dewpoint. So, it could happen in the later portion of the hose and come down to you instead of going back to the HH.


There is also the possibility the machine is set up to do nothing for the first part of the night called split study setting.

Check that if you are going into the menus.

TerryB

[Shiny]

I think you are right about the lower setting being too low but that doesn't explain the gurgling or popping noise. Maybe the two problems are just coinciding and are not related.
I do plan to seek out a professional in my new area. (I don't know what the Canadian equivalent of a DME is actually called, I had my own "name" for the people that set me up in the beginning. ).
The idea of rainout causing that strange noise (and feeling of an obstruction) seems right but I don't always use the humidifier. I find that just having water in the reservoir provides enough humidity, (usually) but some nights I wake up really dry and have to turn the humidifier on. That is usually in the wee hours of the morning.
When I have the hose up water isn't able to enter the machine, only the reservoir. When the hose has been drooping between the bed and night table, water has collected and I've had to drain it out before going to sleep the next night, so clearly, condensation is taking place.
Thanks for all your suggestions. We are moving into our new house, starting tomorrow but as soon as I can, I will try boosting those settings, and convincing my wife to make me a hose cover. That shouldn't be a problem because I know I frequently wake her with my hose rattling across the headboard in the middle of the night when I'm rolling over.