Difficulty inhaling now, after 4 years on CPAP

[windbreather]

I haven't had to post in quite awhile - everything was going well. I want to get some input before I call my DME provider. The past month or so, I have noticed that I have no energy, and yawn alot. It is the same feeling I had before I started my CPAP 4 years ago. I saw my Dr yesterday, told her about my symptoms. She increased my CPAP from 13 to 15. I started thinking when I got home tho, that I haven't heard my CPAP "cycle" for lack of a better term. When I inhaled, I would hear the CPAP whoosh. But I haven't heard that lately. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Linda

[LSAT]

Take the unit to your DME and have them test the pressure. You may be close to qualifying for a new unit. Be sure to get one that displays data this time.

[windbreather]

2 years ago I had an Elite, which I loved because it displayed the data. But, as I was new to the CPAP world, my DME had me purchase an Escape, which I recently found out doesn't display data. I am going to go to the DME tomorrow - thanks.

[Slinky]

Geeze, WindBreather, how did that come about? 2 years ago you had an Elite and then ended up w/an Escape?? I'm sure sorry to hear that! My first CPAP was an Elite and I loved it.

Good luck determining and correcting this current problem.

[WillCunningham]

I have had a similar experience where I suddenly felt like I wasn't getting enough air and also found my sleep deprivation symptoms returning. I thought I might have a defective machine too. It happened to me at least 3 times so far over a number of years. It was subtle and took time for me to notice..but the first time it happened I discovered that my hose had a leak in it. The tubing was cracked right near the end connector but it wasn't obvious when I plugged it in because it was held mostly closed by the bend in the hose. I replaced the hose and started feeling better soon afterwards. That happened a second time as well and it took long enough for me to feel awful again for me to clue in and check it. Now I am paranoid about it and make sure to check my hose almost every day.

The other issue that I ran into was very similar and involved my Activa mask. It has too little rubber stoppers that can be removed to allow an oxygen line to be hooked to the mask in the event you need oxygen. At some point the stopper fell out and while I could feel the air level was off, the hose wasn't cracked and the machine seemed to work so I assumed it was a perception issue. It took me a while to track that one down so you might want to check for something like that as well, perhaps a loose air cushin, ect.

It is probably not either of those issues but it is something easy to check. Hope it works out soon for you.

[windbreather]

Slinky,
I just got back from my DME. They looked at my chart and said my insurance wouldn't pay for another Elite, so that's why I got the Escape. They gave me a VPAP 25 loaner today, until they can locate an Elite for me.

[windbreather]

WillCunningham,
I had a slit in my hose once too, not fun! Thanks for your advice, will keep it in mind.

[BlackSpinner]

Slinky,
I just got back from my DME. They looked at my chart and said my insurance wouldn't pay for another Elite, so that's why I got the Escape. They gave me a VPAP 25 loaner today, until they can locate an Elite for me.

What they probably meant was "we won't make as much money off you" Call your insurance company. Unless you are with an HMO most companies bill by code and bricks and good data machines are billed on the same code. There is maybe $50 difference between an escape and elite on line and that is not wholesale either.