Questions on my new S9 Autoset and an Amara full-face mask

[Sleepless in Ca]

1. On the climate control window at the bottom it has a box which has cooling down sliding scale when you first turn off the machine. But when you turn on the machine instead it shows a yellow triangle and a 4.0 and the sliding scale. I assume this is the pressure it is set on. It is slowly going up even as I sit here awake. Why would it go up? It is supposedly set from 4 to 20. Why would it need to change when I am awake?

2. What should I notice with the EPR on? I had it off then on 2 and really could not tell a difference.

3. I had been using a Philips Respironics Amara full-face mask when being tested with just a plain hose pushed it in. Now I find the end of the mask does not fit in the end of the climate control hose. Have I lost a piece? My other mask, which is not as comfortable, clicks right in. That mask is already itching me all around it. Driving me nuts. I had to make it too tight to stop the leaks.

4. Hate to sound so dumb, but does this machine ever turn off? Even when it looks off, I can turn the knob and it shows the climate control window. Or I can push the knob down and the window lights up.The start/stop button seems not to turn machine on, just the air on. I see a green light on the start/stop button. Do I have to unplug it?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

[DonaldST]

Why would it go up? It is supposedly set from 4 to 20. Why would it need to change when I am awake?

Oh my god. I don't want to scare you but how does it know when you are asleep?

[Lazer1234]

1. On the climate control window at the bottom it has a box which has cooling down sliding scale when you first turn off the machine. But when you turn on the machine instead it shows a yellow triangle and a 4.0 and the sliding scale. I assume this is the pressure it is set on. It is slowly going up even as I sit here awake. Why would it go up? It is supposedly set from 4 to 20. Why would it need to change when I am awake?

It is well mask-fit? In three minutes, you can customize the mask so it does not leak.

2. What should I notice with the EPR on? I had it off then on 2 and really could not tell a difference.

With EPR reduced expiratory pressure of 1, 2, 3 cmh20 Becomes easier to exhale.

3. I had been using a Philips Respironics Amara full-face mask when being tested with just a plain hose pushed it in. Now I find the end of the mask does not fit in the end of the climate control hose. Have I lost a piece? My other mask, which is not as comfortable, clicks right in. That mask is already itching me all around it. Driving me nuts. I had to make it too tight to stop the leaks.

I dont now.

4. Hate to sound so dumb, but does this machine ever turn off? Even when it looks off, I can turn the knob and it shows the climate control window. Or I can push the knob down and the window lights up.The start/stop button seems not to turn machine on, just the air on. I see a green light on the start/stop button. Do I have to unplug it?
Thanks for any help you can give me.

There is a feature called smart start I think. That means that when you put on the mask and start breathing machine starts. Therefore, it is in standby mode all the time.

[Lazer1234]

2. What should I notice with the EPR on? I had it off then on 2 and really could not tell a difference.

If you have the pressure of 4-20 so does not lower expiratory pressure anything, because the lowest as the S9 can have is 4. If you put 7-20 and epr 3 then you will feel the difference.

[Sleepless in Ca]

DonaldST. When awake I am not having any apnea episodes so the machine has no need to increase the pressure.

Lazer1234, I was checking the fit in whatever window lets you. I kept getting the red frown face but as I increased the tightness to very uncomfortable I finally got the green happy face.

You said "feature called smart start I think. That means that when you put on the mask and start breathing machine starts. Therefore, it is in standby mode all the time."

I read a while back that with the S9 if you use a full face mask you do not have that slow start as you start breathing. I had that with the testing machine and liked it. With this one there is a full blast of air that makes me panic feeling like I am suffocating.

I do not like it to be on all the time. I will have to unplug it then.

The pressure was at 5.5 so I guess from what you said Lazer1234, that is why I felt no difference.

I sure hope someone knows about the Philips Respironics Amara full-face mask. I am not sure if
I will be able to stand the other one all night.

[Lazer1234]

1. On the climate control window at the bottom it has a box which has cooling down sliding scale when you first turn off the machine. But when you turn on the machine instead it shows a yellow triangle and a 4.0 and the sliding scale. I assume this is the pressure it is set on. It is slowly going up even as I sit here awake. Why would it go up? It is supposedly set from 4 to 20. Why would it need to change when I am awake?

Is it humidification? The number of the set humidification. And the heating of the water.

[cdru]

You said "feature called smart start I think. That means that when you put on the mask and start breathing machine starts. Therefore, it is in standby mode all the time."

I read a while back that with the S9 if you use a full face mask you do not have that slow start as you start breathing. I had that with the testing machine and liked it. With this one there is a full blast of air that makes me panic feeling like I am suffocating.

SmartStart is automatically turning the machine on when you put the mask on and breath, or take the mask off and it shuts off after a few seconds. The slow start is ramping up the pressure over a period of time to allow yourself to be adjusted to the pressure. I can't answer whether either feature is not available with a full face mask, but I wouldn't know why they wouldn't be.

Over time you'll adjust to the pressure and most people don't bother with the ramping of the pressure after the initial adjustment period. When I first started I used it for about a week, but then got accustomed to it and actually preferred full pressure right away.

[zoocrewphoto]

DonaldST. When awake I am not having any apnea episodes so the machine has no need to increase the pressure.

The machine doesn't know whether you are awake or asleep. Breathing during sleep is normally very regular (or should be), while awake breathing is often erratic. Thus, it is very easy, while awake, for the machine to mistakenly think there are events and go ahead and raise pressure to control them.


If it is truly going up from 4 within the first 30 seconds, my guess would be that it is NOT set for 4-20, but has a higher minimum set. My machine is set for 11-17. It takes about 10 seconds to get from 4 - 11, and then it it goes up and down as needed between 11 and 17.