Started using CPAP machine 6 months ago. I got the Remstar CPAP machine and been nothing but problems. This is my FOURTH machine in 6 months. The machine has a mind of its own. It decides to vary pressure for some random reason. I turn in each one to my medical supplier ans all they say is "Well, looks like you got a bad one".... They told me that the supplier only provides this particular model...By the way I am writing this at 1:17 AM because my FOURTH machine quit and I can't sleep.
I am not sure what to do next.
Anyone else have a problem with this machine?
RemStar CPAP machine
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phonecaller
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phonecaller
Sorry to hear of all the problems you are having.phonecaller wrote:I have no idea what to do. Is it legal for me to buy a CPAP machine on the internet? Do I need clearance from my doctor?
Help
That sure seems like extraordinary odds, of having all those machines being defective.
This makes me wonder if there isn't some other big problem that we haven't looked at here.
Do you have medical insurance? Without knowing some of the facts here, it's tough to guess what can be wrong here. For all we know, your DME (medical supply provider) could be part of the problem.
As long as you have a copy of your prescription, you are entitled to purchase an xpap machine anywhere. CPAP.com is an excellent place to buy one .
Hopefully some of the others here can also be of help in solving your problem.
Good Luck!
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Vader
Vader
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phonecaller
It is strange. My medical supplier is reputable but it seems that they are having problems with this machine. I take the machine to the medical supplier, they check it out, and then agree with me. I watch them grab a new machine (in box) and start the process all over again. They even admitted to me that they have been having trouble with the model but coudn't give me any details.
I do not want this machine anymore. Cost does not matter as it relates to sleep (relativly speaking) I am thinking about ditching my medical supplier and going direct and trying a new manufacturer.
I do have medical insurance.
I am stunned as everyone else. Thanks for the advice. Any thoughts to a manufactuer/model?
I do not want this machine anymore. Cost does not matter as it relates to sleep (relativly speaking) I am thinking about ditching my medical supplier and going direct and trying a new manufacturer.
I do have medical insurance.
I am stunned as everyone else. Thanks for the advice. Any thoughts to a manufactuer/model?
Just out of curiosity, do you plug your machines into a good-quality surge protector that would prevent power fluctuations and spikes from reaching them?
Four bad machines for one person is a lot, so I'm wondering if there could be some external effect causing the problems. I suppose it's also theoretically possible that they could have come from a bad batch with some sort of manufacturing defect, ending up at the same supplier...
Very strange. Good luck getting it all straightened out.
Four bad machines for one person is a lot, so I'm wondering if there could be some external effect causing the problems. I suppose it's also theoretically possible that they could have come from a bad batch with some sort of manufacturing defect, ending up at the same supplier...
Very strange. Good luck getting it all straightened out.
Last edited by zzzzzz!! on Sat Sep 08, 2007 1:01 am, edited 2 times in total.
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phonecaller
Something weird happened.
The past 4 machines died. Tonight this one has been fluctuating pressure. Up and down and never consitent.
After the last post, and for giggles, I changed outlets to see if it made a difference.
SHAZAAM, she came back to life at a consitent pressure. I may be delierious becuase I am tired, but I think the change of outlet may have been the trick. After all I am staying at my sisters away from my home.
Anyone? I am going to check it out again to see if the pressure is steady
Hang tight
The past 4 machines died. Tonight this one has been fluctuating pressure. Up and down and never consitent.
After the last post, and for giggles, I changed outlets to see if it made a difference.
SHAZAAM, she came back to life at a consitent pressure. I may be delierious becuase I am tired, but I think the change of outlet may have been the trick. After all I am staying at my sisters away from my home.
Anyone? I am going to check it out again to see if the pressure is steady
Hang tight
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phonecaller
Alright, I found a surge protector in the house and now giving it a whirl.
Honestly its better, but I dont think the machine is 100%.
When I first put the machine on tonight, the pressure was all across the board. Now I am sitting and listening to the airflow and it sounds much better.
Probably needs to go into the shop but it might work for the night.
I tried resetting the machine, taking out the card, and even blowing into the machine.
Think the damage might be already done if the machine experienced a power surge without a surge protector?
Honestly its better, but I dont think the machine is 100%.
When I first put the machine on tonight, the pressure was all across the board. Now I am sitting and listening to the airflow and it sounds much better.
Probably needs to go into the shop but it might work for the night.
I tried resetting the machine, taking out the card, and even blowing into the machine.
Think the damage might be already done if the machine experienced a power surge without a surge protector?
I'm no expert, but I'd say yes, quite possibly -- electronics can be pretty sensitive to power fluctuations.phonecaller wrote:Think the damage might be already done if the machine experienced a power surge without a surge protector?
I'm guessing the cpaptalkers who would know more about that are probably sleeping at the moment but may show up to give their input in the morning. In the meantime, hope you get some good sleep!
Is it possible you've been given Auto machines instead of straight Cpap ones? They are more desirable, but if you're not expecting the effect, it could be seen as being 'defective'. They self-adjust to the pressure you need, and can vary all night depending on your breathing, which most of us think is much better, though some people do well on plain Cpap. Can you tell from the writing - every word - on the top of the machine what you really have?
Which Remstar machine do you have? Do you know what the pressure is set to?
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My suggestion is invest in a UPS not a surge protector..APC makes a nice one under a hundred.
What's the differnce...
Well a UPS is uninterupted power supply, meaning it has a battery..
That helps in two ways..
First if the power goes out, you can run off one for quite some time if you need to, not sure the draw on a CPAP, but I doublt its worse than a monitor and a computer combined.
Second it's the very best surge protector, because voltage goes through the battery first and on a surge gets caught and cleaned up. Remember its not just Surges your worried about, your worry about brown outs too. That's when the power drops bellow 110. Many old houses do this, a refidgerator comes on and sucks up all the juice on that circuit and bam you've dropped to 90 and got a bunch of electronic static so to speak as the circuit tries to keep up making the voltage dip and spike,it's dirty so to speak. This is very damaging to electronics, its unclean power.
Sooooo
When this happens the UPS takes the dirty 90 volts, cleans the spikes out and where it dips borrows from the battery until it reaches a clean 110 again. Sometimes it's borrowing 20 voltz, a second latter just 12, a second after that 32. See my point, at the other end it always has a clean 110 comming out.
It is such a wise investment, they start around 60 and depending on the money you invest can go as high as 500 depending on how long you want that puppy to run your cpap. Do you want an hour or 8 hours. it can also run things like lights and computers. It doesn't have to be one device, but the more hooked up the quicker the battery dies.
Stick to good brands like APC or equivilant, you can get them from staples or any other computer and office store in your neighborhood.
Even if this doesn't resolve you issue, you really need one of these when it's a medical danger.
My two copper pennies...... Dave..
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, Power, clean
What's the differnce...
Well a UPS is uninterupted power supply, meaning it has a battery..
That helps in two ways..
First if the power goes out, you can run off one for quite some time if you need to, not sure the draw on a CPAP, but I doublt its worse than a monitor and a computer combined.
Second it's the very best surge protector, because voltage goes through the battery first and on a surge gets caught and cleaned up. Remember its not just Surges your worried about, your worry about brown outs too. That's when the power drops bellow 110. Many old houses do this, a refidgerator comes on and sucks up all the juice on that circuit and bam you've dropped to 90 and got a bunch of electronic static so to speak as the circuit tries to keep up making the voltage dip and spike,it's dirty so to speak. This is very damaging to electronics, its unclean power.
Sooooo
When this happens the UPS takes the dirty 90 volts, cleans the spikes out and where it dips borrows from the battery until it reaches a clean 110 again. Sometimes it's borrowing 20 voltz, a second latter just 12, a second after that 32. See my point, at the other end it always has a clean 110 comming out.
It is such a wise investment, they start around 60 and depending on the money you invest can go as high as 500 depending on how long you want that puppy to run your cpap. Do you want an hour or 8 hours. it can also run things like lights and computers. It doesn't have to be one device, but the more hooked up the quicker the battery dies.
Stick to good brands like APC or equivilant, you can get them from staples or any other computer and office store in your neighborhood.
Even if this doesn't resolve you issue, you really need one of these when it's a medical danger.
My two copper pennies...... Dave..
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, Power, clean
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