Airsense 10 Chugging/Pulsing

[ragtopcircus]

I just took my new Airsense 10 For Her for a daytime spin. It is setup in regular auto mode, standard response, EPR 2, 13-16, slimline tubing, using a P30i mask. I’ve been running my Dreamstation at 13-15 or 13 fixed, AFlex/CFlex+ 3), so I started out with similar settings.

With the mask type set to “pillows” as specified in the mask user guide, the blower chugs when inhalation or exhalation slows. This is quite uncomfortable, and the pulsating noise is distracting. It doesn’t take a long pause for this to happen; it was occurring between normal breaths. Basically, it was acting like EPR was switching on and off rapidly (several times per second) with no hysteresis whatsoever. I could stop the chugging by focusing on making my breathing VERY smooth with no pauses and slightly hyperventilating.

Switching the mask type to “nasal” (but still using the pillows mask) significantly reduced the chugging, but it still seemed a little over-sensitive.

I realize the P30i is a little different, pneumatically, from the P10, but the user guide actually specs “pillow” mode for both the P30i and N30i cushions.

So, what gives?

[Pugsy]

Make sure the hose diameter is set to the correct size for the slimline hose.
If it is set to 22 mm it might do what you describe.

[ragtopcircus]

Make sure the hose diameter is set to the correct size for the slimline hose.
If it is set to 22 mm it might do what you describe.

The hose type is set to slimline.

[Pugsy]

Where did you get the machine from?

I get the impression the machine is brand new to you so you don't know if it always did this or not.

[centrum]

I use dreamwear nasal caushion ...similar to n30 and your p30...and my airsense set it as nasal mask .... your machine is more comfortable in nasal mode...maybe it's the right seting to have.

[ragtopcircus]

Where did you get the machine from?

I get the impression the machine is brand new to you so you don't know if it always did this or not.

It is a brand new machine from CPAP.com, with 0 hours runtime reported (now ip to 1). I have not contacted them yet.

[ragtopcircus]

I use dreamwear nasal caushion ...similar to n30 and your p30...and my airsense set it as nasal mask .... your machine is more comfortable in nasal mode...maybe it's the right seting to have.

It’s better on nasal or full face, but not “right”. It feels kind of jerky, like it’s even switching between IPAP and EPAP mid-breath.

[Pugsy]

It shouldn't be doing that. Mask selection shouldn't make it do that either.
Sounds like a faulty sensor to me. Give cpap.com a call....lemons do happen.

[K5MOW]

I would contacted them as soon as you can. Let us know what they say.

Roger

[ragtopcircus]

The call was not overly successful. It was clear that I was speaking to someone in customer service with a cheat sheet, not a tech. She was more concerned that I had changed the settings from the way they set it up, per my original prescription (though actually, my Rx was for 13 fixed and flex 3, and they left EPR off). Nevertheless, I will try what they asked when I get home and see what happens: set it to 13 fixed and reduce EPR from 2 to 1. That may provide useful diagnostic info, so what the heck. I have 30 days to return it regardless.

[Pugsy]

Don't feel too bad.
I had to jump through the same sort of hoops with a machine that I had a problem with.
It eventually went back and a replacement new machine was sent out.

[rcobourn]

I had something like this happen when I'd overfilled the humidifier chamber. Could also happen if the machine wasn't level.

[ragtopcircus]

I had something like this happen when I'd overfilled the humidifier chamber. Could also happen if the machine wasn't level.

It was on the nightstand, so reasonably level. The water level was slightly below the max line. Dumping a little water might still be an interesting experiment though.

[K5MOW]

The call was not overly successful. It was clear that I was speaking to someone in customer service with a cheat sheet, not a tech. She was more concerned that I had changed the settings from the way they set it up, per my original prescription (though actually, my Rx was for 13 fixed and flex 3, and they left EPR off). Nevertheless, I will try what they asked when I get home and see what happens: set it to 13 fixed and reduce EPR from 2 to 1. That may provide useful diagnostic info, so what the heck. I have 30 days to return it regardless.

Let us know how it works.

Roger

[ragtopcircus]

I can't say that anything made a difference per se, but it has gotten a lot better. Maybe just reseating the humidifier when I dumped some water helped? Maybe it needed to calibrate itself? I'm still not sure it's completely right though.

These Oscar screenshots are from this evening after it settled down. I returned it to 13-16, EPR 2, and refilled the tank to the max line. This a brief test, lying down but fully awake. I included mask pressure for whatever insight it may provide into what the machine is doing or thinks it is doing. I realize this is not the normal layout for assessing sleep issues.

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