CPAP Field Emergency - Help!!!

MandoJohnny · Post by **MandoJohnny** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:17 am

I am a long way from home, out in Irvine, CA on buisness. After 7 months of working perfectly, my RESMED S8 Elite crapped out in the hotel last night. When I plug it in, the display comes on normally, for about 5 seconds. Then the screen goes blank, every time. It does not come back on once it goes blank, except that occasionally it will flash random characters. When I press the start button, sometimes it will come on, sometimes not. When it does come on, the output seems weak and it is intermittent. It will blow for 15 seconds and then just quit for a few seconds and then start up again. It worked fine the night before and nothing out of the ordinary happened to it between it working and not working. It is not useable as a CPAP.

Last night I spent my first night without CPAP in 7 months. It was miserable, and I have a cold to boot. My DME could overnight me a new machine, but I am headed home tomorrow, so I am going to have them send the new machine to my house.

Here is my question: I know there are some EE's on this forum and some people who have dug into machines. Is there any way to get this piece of Australian junk to work one more night until I get home?

Pad A Cheek · Post by **Pad A Cheek** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:25 am

Contact A DME in Irvine CA and see if you can rent it for one night, explain your situation, and see if they cannot work with you.

Many offices have CPAPs they probably can help you out for one night.
That is the approach I would use. The other option, a fellow PAPPER from the area may be ready to help you with an extra machine they have as a back up. If I was there I would help you out in a heartbeat.

Do not sleep without it if you can help it.

Take care of yourself and good luck with that.

Karen Moore

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:16 am

Good luck, Mando Johnny!

I really didn't need to read this first thing this morning tho! This is THE FIRST morning I've felt human since starting PAP 58 nights ago! My stats didn't look good at all, but who cares? Its how I FEEL!

But I have the Resmed S8 Elite too. And a while ago, not too long after I got it, during the night I reached over to reset the Ramp or something, I'm not sure what and gads!!! It scared the devil outta me w/a loud clacking, rattling ... sure woke me up!!! Then 4 or 5 nights intermittently the humidifier didn't work at all, it had distilled water in it, but it didn't respond to ANY setting just blew COLD air. And then just night before last it woke me up rattling and clacking again, even woke my hubby. I quickly shut it off. When I started it again it worked just fine and it worked just fine last night. At least as far as I could tell.

When I took it in to my DME the first time it pitched it fit and sounded like it was gonna fall apart, the DME called Resmed before checking it out. She couldn't find anything wrong w/it but did say Resmed said they would replace it if I wanted. I think now I am going to ask that they replace it if the offer still holds. You have me worried.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:31 am

From what I understand it's pretty easy to get water form the HH into the unit on resmeds.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:47 am

Any time a company says they'll replace your machine (or anything else!), don't hesitate, feel guilty, hem and haw or anything else - just immediately say 'yes please' and take it! Their offer is based on knowing the machine is probably junk, at the very best it's based on good customer relations, but if they make the offer take it. They can repair it very easily, the people who do the repairs are getting work, they have a million spare parts, etc. and a pipeline to China or wherever it was made, and no one is doing you a huge favor for you to hesitate about - my only question would be "What happens if the new one's no good?" and I'd consider those options - and nothing else.

MandoJohnny · Post by **MandoJohnny** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:09 am

From what I understand it's pretty easy to get water form the HH into the unit on resmeds.

That may be what happened. This morning, I got ahold of my DME RT and he had me try the machine again and walked me through some diagnostics. It worked normally for a while, which it did not last night. It still messed up again eventually. I'm hoping that by tonight, it has "dried out" and will work one more night. He concluded that the machine is wasted. He did give me one helpful hint, which was that if I can get it to run at all, I should turn it on, wrap a washcloth around the mask outlets to provide some back pressure, and let it run for few hours. If it is water, that will tend to dry it out.

The DME is delivering a new machine to my house tomorrow, so it will be waiting for me when I get home tomorrow night. Last night was rough, but surprisingly I don't feel too bad this morning. I plan to get a lot of rack time tonight, CPAP or not. I am going to see if I can find a loaner/rental machine in town. Wish me luck.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:36 am

If it is a water problem, what about using the hotel hair dryer on low and back a bit to help dry it out?

I have done so with success on various electrical appliances through the years. If it can get you through the night, it would be worthwhile.

If the hotel room doesn't have a hair dryer, then maybe the front desk would have one for loan--or charmingly ask one of the female hotel guests? Clue: Do not choose one with helmet hair; chances are they don't do their own hair and would not blow dry daily!

Sorry for your loss of good sleep. It is just what one doesn't need while on business trips!

sinkem · Post by **sinkem** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:42 pm

I sent you a PM for a location that might help

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:06 pm

[quote="Slinky"]Good luck, Mando Johnny!

I really didn't need to read this first thing this morning tho! This is THE FIRST morning I've felt human since starting PAP 58 nights ago! My stats didn't look good at all, but who cares? Its how I FEEL!

But I have the Resmed S8 Elite too. And a while ago, not too long after I got it, during the night I reached over to reset the Ramp or something, I'm not sure what and gads!!! It scared the devil outta me w/a loud clacking, rattling ... sure woke me up!!! Then 4 or 5 nights intermittently the humidifier didn't work at all, it had distilled water in it, but it didn't respond to ANY setting just blew COLD air. And then just night before last it woke me up rattling and clacking again, even woke my hubby. I quickly shut it off. When I started it again it worked just fine and it worked just fine last night. At least as far as I could tell.

When I took it in to my DME the first time it pitched it fit and sounded like it was gonna fall apart, the DME called Resmed before checking it out. She couldn't find anything wrong w/it but did say Resmed said they would replace it if I wanted. I think now I am going to ask that they replace it if the offer still holds. You have me worried.

MandoJohnny · Post by **MandoJohnny** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:11 pm

Thanks, everyone for the advice and the encouragement, on this thread and in various PMs I got. I was able to take a some of the advice, but not all, but every bit of it gave me options to think about rather than just feeling "SOL."

I am test-running the machine this evening. It is still misbehaving, so the jury is out whether I have to do another night without CPAP. I have noticed when it does its momentary shut downs, it makes a single click sound before it starts back up again, so I am guessing there is some kind of solenoid involved. But then the blank display probably indicates some kind of microchip issue. I don't much care at this point, it is history after tonight.

The DME will have a brand new machine waiting for me at my house when I get home tomorrow night. I took very good care of this machine, but I am going to really baby the new one.

CPAP Field Emergency - Help!!!

CPAP Field Emergency - Help!!!

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