Thought my ResMed Air Mini was defective, but . . .

[BeckyLC]

I was just about to post a question about whether my ResMed Air Mini was defective, but then I read a bunch of posts and think I found the issue. Apparently there's something in the algorithm that triggers it to stay with the highest pressure and not adjust if there are two apneas within a certain time. I kept being awakened with my mouth incredibly dry and the air blasting away - even when I was awake and clearly not having my airway compromised. The only way to back off the pressure was to turn the machine off and on and let it start again. Then I found out how to adjust it, and decreased the maximum preset pressure of 20 down to 13. Still happened. Last night I set the max at 8 to see if it would still happen, figuring that I'd have a ton of apneas at that maximum pressure. Nope - was not awakened once by the air blasting, and it said my AHI was 0.1. Typically, in the 10 or so nights I've used this with the higher pressures, my AHI has been 0.4 to 1.2.

Now I'm not sure what to do. I'm using the same kind of mask with the Air Mini that I normally use with my ResMed S9 (AirFit P10), but my pressures are typically 8-12. Is there some way to set the Air Mini so it won't stay stuck at the highest pressure? Or can I trust that the AHI it shows is accurate if I leave the maximum pressure so low? Thanks for any help from those of you who understand this machine!

[Dog Slobber]

The ResMed algorithm feature you're referring to where a new minimum pressure is established is in the AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her device. I don't think it's a feature of the Air Mini.

The Air Mini is likely raising the pressure because it needs to, not because it's "stuck". I think you're having a problem with your mouth opening and confusing the increased air flow with increased pressure.

This will be difficult to diagnose because of the lack of ability to look at the data with the Air Mini.

[BeckyLC]

Well, I read that in a thread from 2017 when the Air Mini was new, and it was in relation to the Air Mini as well as the AirSense 10. I guess I don't know whether it's accurate, but it would go along with the problems I've been having. I've been using my S9 for six years and never have a problem with mouth opening. If the pressure didn't get "stuck" on high, it would go down when I was awake and breathing normally - which it wouldn't until I restarted the machine.

[Dog Slobber]

It takes a long time for the pressure to drop.

Pressuredrop.png

The above graph is from my Resmed AirSense 10 AutoSet.

Look at the drop at 3:00, it took over 15 minutes to drop from 14 to about 11.

Look at the drop at 5:15, it took over a half hour to drop from 14 to about 9.

[TropicalDiver]

A quick spin through the manual suggests there is a CPAP mode, Autoset mode, and Autoset for her mode. What have you chosen?

While I am very skeptical this is your issue, one way to test your theory is to go into autoset vs for her.

[BeckyLC]

Initially it was at Autoset. The first time I lowered the top pressure (from 20 to 13) I chose Autoset for Her mode to see it that would help the problem; it did not