malfunctioning CPAP?

[kdiverson]

last nite i was using the test/mask fit feature, and no matter what i did, even removing the hose from the mask, it reported and excelent fit. i gave up, put on the mask, and when to bed.

as the CPAP ramped up to 11(?) there were no leaks, but the air vents in the swivil of the mask was discarging a lot of air. when it finaly hit 11(?) it sounded like there were gale force winds going thru the room. the ESR did'nt seam to be working either.

when i got up to go to work this morning, my head was stuffy, throat dry, but every think indicated that the humidifer was working ( plate below resivor was hot ). i did not have any moisture issues thru the night ( usualy have to drain hose at least twice ). i am thinking that there was more air than supposed to flowing, and it didn't pick up the moisture it should have.

when attempted to check the data results from that evening on the Cpap display, it said that there was no data, and they hours of usage had not changed.

I'm going to call the DME today and see about getting the macine checked. its only about 10 days old. and the only thing i have done to it is to insert a data card to download the data to the pc. even though i have found the info here to access the clinical menus, i have resisted, and relied on the DME to make adjustments ( i work at hospital with sleep lab, and also its own DME ) and they are more than willing to make adjustments for me within the DRs prescription.

[Wulfman]

Make sure you take EVERYTHING you use......mask, hose, machine, humidifier, cord.....whatever you were using when things went haywire. Just taking the machine in may not be enough.


Den

[Julie]

I wonder if you need to look at the place where the mask joins the hard plastic right angle elbow, the place where (on my UltraMirage FF) there's a 1/2" high open-work attachment between the two pieces - mine has gone wrong more than once in that when you hold either side of it with both hands as if you were 'breaking it open' one side does come loose - i.e. the join is no longer good. If you go to Cpap.com, click on Nasal Masks and then when you see the Activa click on "replacement parts" directly below the name (don't go first to the masks's pages) you'll find an "elbow assembly" for $25.00). You won't be able to tell from the picture what's what because it's all too 'white', but if I'm right, that's what you need to order (it incorporates more than the original piece I mentioned, but you can only order the larger one rather than just the little piece itself).

[timbalionguy]

I would bet any money there is a problem with the pressure and/or flow sensor in the machine. This is based on the failure of the 'test mask' feature working as expected, combined with what sounds like excessive pressure and the failure to record any data. I am surprised though that it did not set an error code. Taking it in for service is the best bet.

[KengEsq]

last nite i was using the test/mask fit feature, and no matter what i did, even removing the hose from the mask, it reported and excelent fit. i gave up, put on the mask, and when to bed.

as the CPAP ramped up to 11(?) there were no leaks, but the air vents in the swivil of the mask was discarging a lot of air. when it finaly hit 11(?) it sounded like there were gale force winds going thru the room. the ESR did'nt seam to be working either.

when i got up to go to work this morning, my head was stuffy, throat dry, but every think indicated that the humidifer was working ( plate below resivor was hot ). i did not have any moisture issues thru the night ( usualy have to drain hose at least twice ). i am thinking that there was more air than supposed to flowing, and it didn't pick up the moisture it should have.

when attempted to check the data results from that evening on the Cpap display, it said that there was no data, and they hours of usage had not changed.

I'm going to call the DME today and see about getting the macine checked. its only about 10 days old. and the only thing i have done to it is to insert a data card to download the data to the pc. even though i have found the info here to access the clinical menus, i have resisted, and relied on the DME to make adjustments ( i work at hospital with sleep lab, and also its own DME ) and they are more than willing to make adjustments for me within the DRs prescription.

I would unplug the machine and wait a minute or so and then plug it back in. I would also check the lid on the humidifier to make certain it snapped closed. If those issues do not solve your problem, I would disconnect the humidifier and try the mask test again. If it still does not work, please let me know because I have the same machine and I'd like to know what the problem is if you ever get it diagnosed and resolved.

[mdintx]

Could it have possibly ran through the mask fit setting all night? I would think that it would automatically shut down if that was the case but I do recall someone posting about never having actually starting their machine. BTW: I find the mask fit feature to be useless. I have created intentional leaks only to have it report back that the fit was excellent.

With respect to your mask, I wonder if it was assembled properly. When I was trying out the Micro, I noticed it was louder the second night and when woke up, I noticed that it cushion was not seated properly. Not surprisingly, my leak rate was high and I had the same symptoms you're reporting.

Good luck figuring it out!

[kdiverson]

Thanks for all the replies. I talked to the RT at the DME and they are going to check it tomorrow.

I made sure the mask was correctly assembled. and even with no mask or hose connected it reported excelent fitting mask. i have used this feature a few times, to help me get the mask fitted before bed.

The humidifier was connected correctly, and the plate was warm. the lid to the humidifer was secured correctly.

I did power the unit off, and then on by unplugging ( thought of this because of work with computers ).

I'm sure that i didn't have it on mask test all night, as i unpluged it after failed test, and also it ramped up from the 7 to 11 setting as its supposed to.

I will be sure an post what i find out tomorrow after my apointment. i don't want to be with out a machine, as even though it has only been 12 days since i got my cpap, i already feel better.

[kdiverson]

Finally got into the DME, the air noise wound up being a small fold in the silicon seal of my mask, the results of not getting it put together right after cleaning. the air noise is normal again.

I asked the DME RT why it was not logging data, that the mask fit feature was not working anymore. got a few evasive answers, and figured that he might have disabled it a day earlier when i asked them to adjust the ramp up start point.

I got the clincial manual, checked settings and i can not find anything that would prevent my seeing data.

at this point my machine reports the mask fit excelent, even if i disconnect it from the hose, it will not display the previous nights data, and when i download the data to the rescan software, there is no data collected, nothing at all. not even hours used data. i suspect that there is a problem with the machine, but at this point, until my apointment with the dme rt to download data for my drs apt, i don't think they are going to do anything. if they realize there is a problem then, and do not fix it, i think i will return the machine and purchase my own. this could get complicated, as my DME is owned and operated by my employer, and our insurance is sefl funded.

[KengEsq]

Finally got into the DME, the air noise wound up being a small fold in the silicon seal of my mask, the results of not getting it put together right after cleaning. the air noise is normal again.

I asked the DME RT why it was not logging data, that the mask fit feature was not working anymore. got a few evasive answers, and figured that he might have disabled it a day earlier when i asked them to adjust the ramp up start point.

I got the clincial manual, checked settings and i can not find anything that would prevent my seeing data.

at this point my machine reports the mask fit excelent, even if i disconnect it from the hose, it will not display the previous nights data, and when i download the data to the rescan software, there is no data collected, nothing at all. not even hours used data. i suspect that there is a problem with the machine, but at this point, until my apointment with the dme rt to download data for my drs apt, i don't think they are going to do anything. if they realize there is a problem then, and do not fix it, i think i will return the machine and purchase my own. this could get complicated, as my DME is owned and operated by my employer, and our insurance is sefl funded.

None of that sounds very good. Keep us informed. Thanks.

[kteague]

Often being employed by a related entity provides an advantage in trouble resolution. Unless your current machine is going to cost you more in co-payments over time than buying a replacement and you want to just move on, they need to FULLY answer your questions to your satisfaction and supply you with a FULLY functional machine. Most machines are warranted and can be returned by the vendor, so there's no reason for them to put you off. But don't delay if that's what you want. Do make sure your contract doesn't commit you to some payment if the contract is broken.

[kdiverson]

Finally got to see my assigned therapist today, appointment was to download data for my upcomming doctors visit. as i suspected there was no data to download. The RT attributed it to a software glitch, she had only seen it once before. they are returning my machine to the manufacture and issued me a new machine.

The more interesting thing is, that she had recived instructions from the Drs office to set my machine up for APAP, even though i had not visited thier office yet. I had gotten an email from the Drs office before they ordered my machine, and i had asked about APAP vs CPAP but they had not replied. It will be interesting to see how my first night on APAP goes.

With what ever had been wrong on my machine, the EPR had not been working, and would decrease pressure while in was inhaling, and increase pressure when exhaling. i think it had been interfering with my normal sleep, as i had been more tired recently, not as much be fore CPAP, but not as good as the first 10 days while my machine was working properly.

Looking forward to a good nights sleep.

[KengEsq]

Finally got to see my assigned therapist today, appointment was to download data for my upcomming doctors visit. as i suspected there was no data to download. The RT attributed it to a software glitch, she had only seen it once before. they are returning my machine to the manufacture and issued me a new machine.

The more interesting thing is, that she had recived instructions from the Drs office to set my machine up for APAP, even though i had not visited thier office yet. I had gotten an email from the Drs office before they ordered my machine, and i had asked about APAP vs CPAP but they had not replied. It will be interesting to see how my first night on APAP goes.

With what ever had been wrong on my machine, the EPR had not been working, and would decrease pressure while in was inhaling, and increase pressure when exhaling. i think it had been interfering with my normal sleep, as i had been more tired recently, not as much be fore CPAP, but not as good as the first 10 days while my machine was working properly.

Looking forward to a good nights sleep.

Thanks for the update. I guess a bad machine can happen and perhpas it happens more than any of us realize.

[Bigburd2008]

Had a similar but opposite issue with my IntelliPAP. Turned off the "Mask Fit Check" and the volume of air coming out of the machine dropped off more than 50% compared to the previous 2 months. System still shows everything OK. Have not been able to get back to the before condition. Packaging and sending back for diagnostics and repair.