REMstar Auto - CPAP mode on - still getting pressure pulses

[Wrathwielder]

Hi all!

I apologize in advance for the long post below

I have a PR System One REMstar Auto
When I used it in AUTO mode, just as I was dozing off the unit would send a pressure pulse (to determine OA or CA) and it would bring me fully awake. Once I was asleep these pressure pulses and changes of AUTO MODE wouldn't bother me.
To get around this, I tried the SPLIT NIGHT mode so the unit would be in non-auto CPAP mode for 2 hours and then switch into AUTO mode.
This worked great at getting to sleep initially as the pressure was constant, but if I had to wake up and go to the bathroom while the unit was now in AUTO mode (after the 2 hour CPAP split mode ended), I noticed that when I started the unit again it would STAY in auto mode - it wouldn't start the SPLIT NIGHT mode over at fixed CPAP. It would send pulses and change the pressure as it does in AUTO mode.
I went back into the setup menu and verified that split mode was on, even unplugged the unit and plugged it back in, and then when I started it back up it appeared to be in SPLIT NIGHT mode again as it was in FIXED CPAP mode.

Anyways, not wanting to go through this procedure every time I start/stop it, I decided to just set it to CPAP mode (like I had on my old Resmed S7) and be done with it.
Everything was fine as I fell asleep, but at some point during the night I had to get up, and when I layed back down and turned the unit on again, lo-and-behold just as I drifted off here comes a pressure pulse. I then purposely stopped breathing and after a sec or so I heard the unit bump up the pressure!
What's going on? I assumed that CPAP mode should be fixed and not do anything to the pressure, whether it be Pressure Pulses or just plain incremental pressure changes.

It seems I can't "dumb-down" the thing!

Is it normal for the System One to tweak the pressure like this when in non-auto CPAP mode? I sure hope not!
It's almost like it is insisting on sending the pulse to determine what type of event it is detecting (I am seeing the RED BLOCK on graph in the PC software indicating a pressure pulse was sent) even though I'm in fixed CPAP mode.
No ramp, no flex. No resistance-tuning stuff as I'm not using a Respironics mask.

Any ideas?

Thanks everyone!

-Greg

[Janknitz]

It's almost like it is insisting on sending the pulse to determine what type of event it is detecting (I am seeing the RED BLOCK on graph in the PC software indicating a pressure pulse was sent) even though I'm in fixed CPAP mode.

I think that is EXACTLY what is happening. That's how the PR S1's work. It's the algorithm for the machine. Some people never get used to it and have to switch to a different brand with a different algorithm, others get used to it eventually.

[radaddict]

Is it normal for the System One to tweak the pressure like this when in non-auto CPAP mode? I sure hope not!

No. Not normal. Does your software indicate any pressure changes when you set the machine to straght CPAP?

It's almost like it is insisting on sending the pulse to determine what type of event it is detecting...

That's exactly what it's doing and is what it's supposed to do. It's determining if you're having a CA or OA event.

[Wrathwielder]

No. Not normal. Does your software indicate any pressure changes when you set the machine to straght CPAP?

No - I checked the data and it appears it was at 14 all night, so the pressure changes I felt/heard must have been the "pulses"

That's exactly what it's doing and is what it's supposed to do. It's determining if you're having a CA or OA event.

But even while in CPAP mode? Isn't there a way to turn off the anaylsis completely? Maybe pull the SD?
If not this is very discouraging I knew there were people that had issues with different algorythms for different machines, but I assumed that that only applied when in AUTO mode...

Why could I stop breathing on purpose after I awoke at 6AM and have the machine generate it's pulses, but after checking the menu settings and turning the machine off and on and then stopping my breathing again the machine just goes blowing merrily along for a full 30 secs without sending any pulses?

It seems it's not being consistent.

-Greg

[Wulfman...]

Go up to the Search line and put in the words "pressure pulses" and you will bet 10 pages of posts/threads to look through.

I don't know the answer, but it's a subject that's been discussed many times before.


Den

[Janknitz]

As far as I have read here on this forum, there is NO way to disable these pressure pulses.

[Wrathwielder]

I checked out all the other "pressure pulse" messages...
LORD HAVE MERCY! This is like a bad movie

My S7's 5 years old so insurance will get me a new cpap - yay!
I get a new S9 - the annoying "chirp" on exhale keeps me and my wife awake.
I get a new F&P Icon - it has an annoying "whistle" on exhale that keeps us both awake.
I get a new PR System 1 - no noise problems - hooray! Oh, but wait...now I get hit with pulses of air as I'm falling asleep that keep me from falling asleep! At least with a "whistle" I can put in earplugs!

Is this technology going backwards?

Gotta love PR for putting in this pulse "feature" and making it mandatory - even when you're in CPAP mode and don't give a hoot about knowing if an apnea is OPEN or OBSTRUCTIVE

I bet my DME just loves me!

Guess I'll drag out my old S7 - you set it to 14 and it just blows at 14! Imagine that! Steady noise! No pulses! Gotta love old technology

-Greg

[Wulfman...]

I checked out all the other "pressure pulse" messages...
LORD HAVE MERCY! This is like a bad movie

My S7's 5 years old so insurance will get me a new cpap - yay!
I get a new S9 - the annoying "chirp" on exhale keeps me and my wife awake.
I get a new F&P Icon - it has an annoying "whistle" on exhale that keeps us both awake.
I get a new PR System 1 - no noise problems - hooray! Oh, but wait...now I get hit with pulses of air as I'm falling asleep that keep me from falling asleep! At least with a "whistle" I can put in earplugs!

Is this technology going backwards?

Gotta love PR for putting in this pulse "feature" and making it mandatory - even when you're in CPAP mode and don't give a hoot about knowing if an apnea is OPEN or OBSTRUCTIVE

I bet my DME just loves me!

Guess I'll drag out my old S7 - you set it to 14 and it just blows at 14! Imagine that! Steady noise! No pulses! Gotta love old technology

-Greg

In my opinion......"YES".
I stocked up on the older Legacy model Respironics machines (Pro 2 and Auto w/C-Flex) and have the capability of working on them, so I'm all set for the rest of my life. Those were great machines.......everything they've made since then has been "junk" in my opinion.


Den

[Janknitz]

Not everyone is bothered by the pressure pulses. If I hold my breath I can HEAR them, but I can't feel them.

IMH observation, however, it seems like some of the people who have the worst time with the pressure pulses are the people who have used an older model for years and are just not used to it. Some newbies are bothered, too, particularly those who are very shallow or slow breathers during transitional sleep.

[Wrathwielder]

Not everyone is bothered by the pressure pulses. If I hold my breath I can HEAR them, but I can't feel them.

IMH observation, however, it seems like some of the people who have the worst time with the pressure pulses are the people who have used an older model for years and are just not used to it. Some newbies are bothered, too, particularly those who are very shallow or slow breathers during transitional sleep.

I did use a fixed-cpap for 5 years, so I'm definately used to that type of treatment...
I also have "sleep onset centrals" so the "transitional sleep" that you mentioned is definately where I'm having issues with the pulses - that's really the only place.
I wish setting the auto unit to CPAP mode would dumb it down to a std CPAP...
I wonder if the true non-auto version of the System One ALSO does the pulses? If not I could go that route...

Thanks for your input!

-Greg

[Janknitz]

are just not used to it

Oops, sorry, I wasn't very clear. I mean "not used to the PR S1's pressure pulses".

I don't know if the non-auto machines do it or not, that's a good question to pose to S1 Pro users. I don't think it's a function of the auto machine per se, I believe it's how Respironics engineered the new PR S1 machines to test airway patency. But I could be wrong and it could be unique to the auto machines. Particularly since you didn't notice it in phase 1 of the split night feature.

PR S1 Pro users, please weigh in on this.

[Wrathwielder]

are just not used to it

Oops, sorry, I wasn't very clear. I mean "not used to the PR S1's pressure pulses".

That's how I took what you said - for 5 years I used a fixed-pressure type of unit so I'm definitely used to the no-frills type of devices, and not the "smart" ones...especially the type of bells and whistles that the S1 has

I'll wait for Pro users to report in - and I'll give the S1 another try tonight and see what happens in CPAP mode and try to figure out why it's not consistent with the pulses when I purposely stop breathing

-Greg

[Pugsy]

I had a waveform report from PR S1 PRO user... can't find it. If no one chimes up I will have her send me another one in the AM when she sends her regular report.

Thought for sure I kept it but the waveform I had was from someone else using APAP.

I will send her a note tonight requesting sample waveform then we can look for the pressure pulses.

[Wrathwielder]

I will send her a note tonight requesting sample waveform then we can look for the pressure pulses.

Awesome! Thanks!

-Greg

[Pugsy]

Still working on getting waveform report from PR S1 Pro user. I got a response but she didn't understand my request or what I was talking about and sent a daily detailed report.