Possible problem with BiPAP machine?

[madmoe]

Hi, I've been using my BiPap machine (shown in my profile below) since around October 2012. It starts up fine and have the pressure (20). After about 3 hours I woke up and felt something was wrong. I noted that the pressure in my mask was much lower than it should be (I could easily exhale, very little resistance), but the machine was not indicating any problems. My wife woke up and said it sounded like something was leaking. We checked the mask and I reseated the mask, but could not find any obvious leaks. Any ideas? Is this just me?

[Mary Z]

Not to insult you, but check the obvious things. Is the humidifier fully closed, are there leaks from the hose near the connection to the mask?
I often find I do not feel the pressure after a bit- should I wake during the night for one thing, but if you're hearing leaks something is wrong. I admit it's hard not to close the humidier on these respironic machines. If you figure it out please let us know.
Mary

[squid13]

Are you in straight bipap or auto bipap? If in auto set at 20 it will go to what pressure you need. Mine is in auto set at Ipap 20 but it very rarely gets there, usually stays around 16 or 17.

[JDS74]

Hi, I've been using my BiPap machine (shown in my profile below) since around October 2012. It starts up fine and have the pressure (20). After about 3 hours I woke up and felt something was wrong. I noted that the pressure in my mask was much lower than it should be (I could easily exhale, very little resistance), but the machine was not indicating any problems. My wife woke up and said it sounded like something was leaking. We checked the mask and I reseated the mask, but could not find any obvious leaks. Any ideas? Is this just me?

Try the following:

With everything set properly and the mask on, turn on the machine. If I remember correctly (my machine is at home and I'm not) the display should show the pressure reading. Does it show your IPAP max of 20?

If that's OK, unplug the mask and hold your hand over the hose end to block all air flow. The pressure reading should go to your IPAP max.

If that's still OK, listen for leaks. Then unplug the hose from the humidifier and check pressure again by blocking the outlet.
If you can't find a leak by now, leaking is noy the problem.

OK reassemble and turn the machine off.

Turn the control knob until you see therapy highlighted. Press the control knob and you will be able to see your settings. Since you refer to your machine as a BiPap, it's likely you'll see something like IPAP 20, EPAP something quite a bit lower. That would likely indicate auto mode and what the machine is doing is dropping the pressure because it is not detecting an obstracive event, an hypopnea, or snoring. Any of those will raise pressure until IPAP max is reached. Absent any of them, and pressure drops to EPAP min.

In the testing, blocking the air flow simulates an obstructive event and the response should be raise pressure until IPAP max is reached.

As was suggested, check carefully to make sure the humidifier lid is fully closed after the tank is fully inserted.
Another source of leaks is not fully seating the hose at either end. If you don't get it completely on, it can move during the night and leak.

If you can't find anything wrong, take it back to your DME for a checkup.

Hope some of this helps.

JDS74

[VikingGnome]

I had a small hole in my hose that caused a leak when my cat pounced on it with her claws. The sound was loud even though the hole was very small. Took a while to find the hole for temporary fix. Bought new hose the next day.

Also, my hose connection to humidifier seems to get loose over time. That's a signal I need a new hose. I never get leaks at the mask end of the hose because quick disconnect. But if you disconnect your hose from humidifier frequently (for cleaning, etc.) the hose can leak at that connection.

Just some other ideas to check.