auto setting malfunctioning on PR System One

[uphill]

Dear folks,

I've been using my PR System One Auto A-Flex for five years, and occasionally the inhale-exhale rhythm has been odd, but I've just turned off the machine and started again, and it has adjusted to my breathing patterns and let me exhale comfortably. That no longer works, suddenly; it's now got an irregular pattern, maybe one long breath in and one exhale, then a bunch of short bursts of air pushing in, then a tiny exhale, then slightly longer, then . . . just very irregular, and I've been unable to use it for two nights now. After five years of continuous usage, this is bad. My pressure range settings are 8 minimum pressure, 12 max.

I've checked all the settings, including going into the part the supplier adjusts, and everything is still the same--it's still on the Auto setting, at #3 (maximum exhale relief), the min and max pressures are the same, etcetera. But something seems to have gotten messed up with the auto setting. Has anyone had this happen? It's not a mask issue. I haven't changed my mask and it's working fine. (Nasal pillows, P10, see full name below.) Nothing has changed in my set up.

And of course it's Labor Day weekend--can't get to supplier till Tuesday. So I thought I'd try to see if any other users have encountered this. Again, my machine is five years old. Time for a new one? (My insurance requires 7 years and only pays 50 %, but of course if this is broken, I'll replace it.) Tx much for any advice!

[Pugsy]

This is why so many of us have backup machines available.
Seems like if something wants to break its always when there's no immediate relief available.

https://acbio.com/
This place does repairs but to be honest it likely will cost more to repair it (if it's repairable) than it is worth.

Put your money towards a new machine...sounds like this one is dying.

Since your insurance will only pay 50% and a maybe because of time frame...
It will probably be cheaper to just buy it out of pocket than going through a DME and paying 50% of an inflated approved amount (if insurance would even pay).

Gently used low hour machines are available or you can buy new from cpap.com (would need a copy of your RX though).

[palerider]

Dear folks,

I've been using my PR System One Auto A-Flex for five years, and occasionally the inhale-exhale rhythm has been odd, but I've just turned off the machine and started again, and it has adjusted to my breathing patterns and let me exhale comfortably. That no longer works, suddenly; it's now got an irregular pattern, maybe one long breath in and one exhale, then a bunch of short bursts of air pushing in, then a tiny exhale, then slightly longer, then . . . just very irregular, and I've been unable to use it for two nights now. After five years of continuous usage, this is bad. My pressure range settings are 8 minimum pressure, 12 max.

I've checked all the settings, including going into the part the supplier adjusts, and everything is still the same--it's still on the Auto setting, at #3 (maximum exhale relief), the min and max pressures are the same, etcetera. But something seems to have gotten messed up with the auto setting. Has anyone had this happen? It's not a mask issue. I haven't changed my mask and it's working fine. (Nasal pillows, P10, see full name below.) Nothing has changed in my set up.

And of course it's Labor Day weekend--can't get to supplier till Tuesday. So I thought I'd try to see if any other users have encountered this. Again, my machine is five years old. Time for a new one? (My insurance requires 7 years and only pays 50 %, but of course if this is broken, I'll replace it.) Tx much for any advice!

Try turning aflex *off*

[uphill]

Hey, thank you so much! I can live with this! I wonder if you might mind explaining why this worked--I thought that without A-Flex, there'd be no exhalation relief. Is it correct that what I have now is CPAP (a steady pressure), but with some exhalation relief? Thanks again, palerider. This will get me through the next three nights at the least--and who knows, maybe it'll even be better overall. I've never tried this setting.

[uphill]

Thank you very much, Pugsy. I appreciate your advice about the replacement situation. From my previous experience, I agree with your point that the 50 percent of the inflated insurance price won't be much more than the full price on an online site. Also, yes, will look into used. Maybe this is a time to try a bipap ASV. I believe I have UARS even with the APAP. Tx much again.

[palerider]

Hey, thank you so much! I can live with this! I wonder if you might mind explaining why this worked--I thought that without A-Flex, there'd be no exhalation relief. Is it correct that what I have now is CPAP (a steady pressure), but with some exhalation relief? Thanks again, palerider. This will get me through the next three nights at the least--and who knows, maybe it'll even be better overall. I've never tried this setting.

What *flex does, is drop the pressure sometime around when it thinks you should exhale (that's the exhalation relief), then it raises the pressure just before you're ready to inhale. the higher the flex number, and the harder you're breathing, the more it drops the pressure.

The slightly weird timing messes with some people, they think the machine is trying to rush their breathing, and instead of just ignoring the antics of the machine, they try to 'keep up with it', and then the machine just rushes them more... Some people don't do well with it, because of that... other people like the way it works, or just aren't bothered by it.

By turning off flex, you don't have the exhalation relief, but then, flex doesn't give a lot of relief anyway.

You've got an apap, without pressure relief now, whether you've got it set to cpap or apap mode (so the pressure varies throughout the night) I don't know. *flex is a breath by breath thing, it's not the apap function where the pressure raises and lowers slowly during the hours of the night.

"they" broke the equipment listing, so if you could put your prs1 model in your 'other comments', it'd be helpful in the future.

[uphill]

Thanks very much again, palerider. I understand.

My AHI went much, much higher in my two nights so far without the flex feature--weird. Usually it's around 1. Was 6 the first night, over 12 the next.

I get that some folks don't do well with flex--I always have. The flex feature seems now to be malfunctioning. Will see what the supplier says tomorrow! Probably, tomorrow, I'll be searching the forum for machine recommendations.

Tx again. And I will put machine model in comments.

[palerider]

Thanks very much again, palerider. I understand.

My AHI went much, much higher in my two nights so far without the flex feature--weird. Usually it's around 1. Was 6 the first night, over 12 the next.

I get that some folks don't do well with flex--I always have. The flex feature seems now to be malfunctioning. Will see what the supplier says tomorrow! Probably, tomorrow, I'll be searching the forum for machine recommendations.

Tx again. And I will put machine model in comments.

Would have to see a chart to get an idea what's going on...