DreamStation: avoiding data loss after bathroom breaks

[leptic]

Hi -

I'm coming up on my first week of use on a DreamStation Auto CPAP machine. It's a bit of an adjustment, but overall I am tolerating it ok.

One of my apnea symptoms has been nocturea, and it's not uncommon for me to get up three times in a night to go pee (I've been checked for diabetes and other issues nothing noted so far).

Usually I just disconnect the hose from my mask, and stagger over to the bathroom. Often when I come back it looks like the machine has shut off, and I hit the power button to turn on again, which does seem to re-establish pressure. However, I've been finding that most nights, I have big chunks of data missing after the first trip to the bathroom.

This is shown below - you can see the spike in my 'leak rate' when I remove the mask. Then recording just seems to stop - until later I manage to turn it back on through my fumbling.




I would be grateful if someone could advise me of the optimal sequence to use during nighttime bathroom breaks to avoid data loss. I suppose it would be safer to manually turn the machine off, then back on, each time? I suspect I'm misunderstanding what is done automatically when the leak rate spikes.

[jimsp1]

I guess most of us would simply turn off the machine when we get up and turn it back on when we return. I really don't understand why you're taking off the mask and not turning off the machine. It just takes a push of a button.

[leptic]

I guess most of us would simply turn off the machine when we get up and turn it back on when we return. I really don't understand why you're taking off the mask and not turning off the machine. It just takes a push of a button.

I thought I was doing what the sleep tech showed me, but suspect I misunderstood. I guess I was worried that turning it off would somehow interrupt the recording session, but it seems like the system is designed very intelligently in this regard (it's clearly smarter than me). Thanks for confirming that the simple solution is in fact the best one...

[palerider]

your pressure is too low to deal with the hypopneas and obstructive apneas.

make sure that 'auto on' is turned on in the settings, somewhere, so you're not laying there breathing without the machine running for an hour, again... (assuming you're not taking really long pee breaks)

[leptic]

your pressure is too low to deal with the hypopneas and obstructive apneas.

make sure that 'auto on' is turned on in the settings, somewhere, so you're not laying there breathing without the machine running for an hour, again... (assuming you're not taking really long pee breaks)

Thanks - I could have sworn the machine was pushing air when I put the mask back on, but will clearly need to check the settings. Thanks a lot!

[Pugsy]

I am not sure about the DreamStation and I don't have a manual for it but look in the clinical setup area for 2 settings...
Auto On
Auto Off

Set both of these to the "ON" selection if you have them. If you don't have them let me know and I will go try to find a manual to see what choices you have.
With these both set to the "ON" selection when you take the mask off or unhook the hose the machine will stop on its own after a minute or so (will give you a large leak during that time frame but it's easy to see and ignore)...and then when you put the mask back on and take a few breaths the machine will start on its own. No more worrying about turning it on after a bathroom break.

Auto On...that setting when turned to "ON" means that the machine will start when it senses you are breathing and no need to push the On button.

Auto Off...when it is set to "ON" it will turn itself off after about a minute of not sensing that you are breathing....which from what you describe it sounds like this is already set to On.

If you can find Auto ON or some similar wording setting and turn it to "ON" the machine will turn itself on as soon as you take 3 or 4 breaths and it senses you are on the end of the hose.

[leptic]

I am not sure about the DreamStation and I don't have a manual for it but look in the clinical setup area for 2 settings...
Auto On
Auto Off

Set both of these to the "ON" selection if you have them. If you don't have them let me know and I will go try to find a manual to see what choices you have.
With these both set to the "ON" selection when you take the mask off or unhook the hose the machine will stop on its own after a minute or so (will give you a large leak during that time frame but it's easy to see and ignore)...and then when you put the mask back on and take a few breaths the machine will start on its own. No more worrying about turning it on after a bathroom break.

Auto On...that setting when turned to "ON" means that the machine will start when it senses you are breathing and no need to push the On button.

Auto Off...when it is set to "ON" it will turn itself off after about a minute of not sensing that you are breathing....which from what you describe it sounds like this is already set to On.

If you can find Auto ON or some similar wording setting and turn it to "ON" the machine will turn itself on as soon as you take 3 or 4 breaths and it senses you are on the end of the hose.

Thanks - I will try the 'Provider Mode' and report back.

[chunkyfrog]

Just pull the mask a tiny bit away from your face.
If it's on, there will be an unmistakable blast of air, that quiets down as soon as you reseal the mask.

[library lady]

I always turn the machine off when I get up at night and then turn it back on. I don't take the mask off, I just unhook the hose. I didn't note which mask you use, but I think all masks are separate from the hoses, which have a coupler to snap it on to the mask. You will not lose data, but you will see a break in the data for the times you are up, and you can see how many minutes you spent on your break. The advantage of turning the machine off is that the machine will not record a spike in the leak rate.

[leptic]

I always turn the machine off when I get up at night and then turn it back on. I don't take the mask off, I just unhook the hose. I didn't note which mask you use, but I think all masks are separate from the hoses, which have a coupler to snap it on to the mask. You will not lose data, but you will see a break in the data for the times you are up, and you can see how many minutes you spent on your break. The advantage of turning the machine off is that the machine will not record a spike in the leak rate.

Thanks Library Lady, I think I will do this.