Questions about M-series BiPAP Auto Bi-Flex machine

[OxyJo]

Hi, everyone! Long time no see! How are you?

I just went back to have a follow-up visit with my sleep doctor. After reviewed the records in the card that recorded my BiPAP treatment for the last 7 weeks, he admired me for pretty-well adopting to the treatment and for continuing using the BiPAP machine without interruption. The nocturnal oximetry result also showed that my SpO2 level are always in the desired zone (above 90) during the whole night sleeping. So he wrote me a prescription for purchasing a BiPAP w/ Auto Bi-Flex machine. And my DME person, who was also in the same room with me while I was talking to the doctor, took the old rent machine (Resperonics BiPAP Pro) from me and immediately gave me the Resperonics M-series BiPAP w/ Auto Bi-Flex machine instead. Now I finally have a BiPAP of my own and I am formally starting my BiPAP journey.

I started using the new machine last night, but I have problem adjusting myself to it:

1. The new machine seems noisier than the old BiPAP Pro. The wheezing noise comes from the air inlet, and it just sounds like my breathing being amplified by a speaker. Is there any way to make the new machine quieter? I called the customer service representative in Resperonics, and she told me that I can get a "Whisper Cap" for killing the noise. What is it? Has anyone see it before? Where can I get it?

2. The new machine is set up to provide auto pressure adjustment w/ Bi-Flex feature. The doctor told the DME person to set up my machine to have the MAX pressure 18 / MIN pressure 5 / Pressure difference (IPAP - EPAP) 3. My titration is 10/7. However, w/ the same Mirage Quattro FF mask, I had more air leakage last night w/ the new machine than other nights I had w/ old BiPAP Pro machine. I wonder if this is caused by increased pressure? Can I lower the MAX pressure (ex. to 15 or even 12) to get rid of leakage?

3. The new machine I got from the DME is w/ the humidifier, but w/o the USB card reader and the EnCoreViewer software. So should I contact my DME to get those for me? What will this reader and the software help me? How can I do to have the insurance company willing to pay the card reader and the software for me?

4. Where can I get the "Disposable Ultra-Fine Filter" for the M-series machine? Will putting this filter into the air inlet help die down the noise I mentioned in point #1? By the way, I plan to spray some aromatic oil (or perfume) onto the filter so that the treatment will be much more pleasant. Can I do that without damaging the machine or the filter itself?

Thanks a lot for your help!

[Babette]

Your DME should be able to get you the Whisper Cap. It's about $14 at cpap.com, also.

Software and card reader are available, as well, from cpap.com.

Cheers,
B.

[cflame1]

you don't want to put the aromatics on the filter... SleepGuy's got a setup that puts it by the intake... it's not ON the filter.

and go to CPAP.com... they've got much better filter prices than anybody that I've seen.

[Babette]

http://www.pur-sleep.com

That's the source for CPAP aromatics that are safe to use, and therapeutically efficient.

Cheers,
B.

[GumbyCT]

Your DME should be able to handle all of the issues you mentioned. But DME won't likely help with software.

A new machine should have come with both filters (including fine), how many hours on this machine?

The whisper cap will help some but I think you also have some leak problems which will cause the machine to raise the pressure. I would move the min. pressure to 7cm but wouldn't touch the Max. right now. Check your mask for leaks at Max. pressure without using ramp.

I'm willing to bet if you wanted to the DME would trade you this M series for the used Pro loaner you had.

[OxyJo]

To Babette: Thanks a lot for telling me that I can use "Whisper Cap" to lower down the noise of my new M-series BiPAP machine. I have the sample aromatic pads from Pur-sleep, but it is too big for the M-series' air inlet. So can I drop 1 ~3 drops of the aromatic oil from Pur-sleep directly onto the Ultra-Fine filter?

To GumbyCT: I just got this brand new machine yesterday evening, and I have used it only for one night, so the total used hours on it are less than 7. The new machine does some with the Ultra-Fine Filter, I just forgot to use it on the machine last night. I just read the "Wisdom" section, and learned that it's better to have the monitoring software available. But without being covered by the health insurance company, $200.00 for the USB connector and the software is a little bit too much for me. And I am not sure whether I will do the checking myself regularly, or just go see the sleep doctor more often. So any opinion on this?

How should I check for my mask leakage? By the way, some of the feature (ex. showing AHI, mask leakage) was unavailable (being locked by the DME). so should I asked the DME person to unlock these feature for me?

Thanks a lot.

[Babette]

You're not understanding how Pur Sleep works.

You position the pad on the TABLE, behind the machine, and beneath the air intake. The pad does not touch the machine. It just sits there, right behind the machine, and below the air intake filter.

Do not use Pur Sleep or any other aromatherapy product directly on your air intake filters - neither the grey foam washable filter nor the white paper filter. Also, do not add it to your humidifier chamber water.

Putting essential oils directly INTO your machine could void your warranty, ruin your machine, and you run the risk of aspirating the oils into your lungs.

Cheers,
B.