ResMed AirSense 10 reporting false time used and mask removals

[tgbyrne]

Your Session Times graph on the Overview page just screams "hardware error" to me. Power is a likely candidate.

This could be anywhere from the municipal power supply to something inside the machine. Check that all the connections are tight.

Wall power outlets can go bad, as can power supply to your house. If you can, plug the CPAP machine into an outlet on a different circuit (use an extension cord if necessary). If you are using a surge protector, temporarily remove it to eliminate it as a possibility. If you have an AC voltmeter, plug it into the wall socket you use and see if the voltage level seems stable (I once had wildly fluctuating voltages because of a failed tap on a pole transformer that affected only our house).

Watch the machine display as you wiggle connections slightly. If the machine blinks on and off, you may have found the bad connection.

The power connector on the back of the CPAP machine is connected to a circuit board internally. Those power connectors have been known to fail, which means repair time for the CPAP machine.

If the problem is the machine, I suggest jumping at the chance for the insurance company to supply you with a new machine.

Thank you. All connections are tight. Last night I swapped out the cord from the transformer/brick to the wall, and plugged into an extension cord going to a different outlet with nothing else attached. Still got bad results this morning.

The machine display did not change when I wiggled the connections.

[tgbyrne]

I would double check the wall outlet. Over the years they tend to loosen up. The plug wiggles when it it plugged in. A couple years ago I changed 4 in our home that were very heavily used.

Thank you. The wall outlet is fine, but for grins last night I plugged into another outlet, and still had bad results this morning.

[tgbyrne]

What I would suggest is to replace the CPAP under warranty. There are situations that cannot be simulated like the intermittent shutting of the CPAP because it turns back on from the smart start feature. Also you can try replacing the power supply incase it is faulty.

If the machine is older than 2 years it will be out of warranty and I assume it likely is since OP stated.

I suppose the OP could try turning off SmartStart and see if that makes any difference or not but leaks shown don't give us cause to think leaks were causing the machine to turn off.

I have been using a ResMed AirSense 10 with Amara View Full Face mask successfully for the last 5+ years,

I have tried nights with AUTOSTART OFF, but still had bad results. As a matter of fact, my medical equipment supplier called ResMed on my issue at my insistance, and they also suggested AUTOSTART OFF.

[tgbyrne]

Unfortunately the OP's DME is an idiot and thinks that if you combine all these interruptions and it adds up to 4 hours then everything is all hunky dory.

Absolutely.

The only thing I would rule out is a reporting error caused be a corrupt/bad SD Card, by swapping it out.

Then, if the problem persists, insist on a replacement machine (assuming it's still under warranty.

Thank you. I had not thought about changing out the SD card. I'm going to try that tonight.
However, the machine's display shows bad data as soon as I turn it off in the morning. Does the machine write to the SC card throughout the night, or only when if uploads via WiFi to myair.resmed.com? I ask because one time I loaded OSCAR immediately in the morning before WiFi upload, and it showed even less than the machine's display.

[tgbyrne]

The only thing I would rule out is a reporting error caused be a corrupt/bad SD Card, by swapping it out.

I might think reporting error (either machine or bad SD card) if the OP wasn't reporting waking up and the machine being off and his feeling of suffocation causing distress.
Makes me think the machine is really turning itself off and not a reporting error.

I don't know for sure if the machine actually turned off that suffocation night. I *should* have rolled over to check, but instead did a hard exhale, and it seemed like things started moving again.
I'm going to try a new SD card tonight. It's worth a shot!

[tgbyrne]

For what it's worth, here's last night's data using a different power cord (same transformer/brick, though) and outlet.

I tried to turn off the ramping feature, but the feature was permanently ON and not changeable. I was going down this path because it seems the first time the machine stops recording is at the end of the ramp. I *did* change the initial pressure from 4 to 5. As you can see, same bad results.

My medical equipment supplier said that the machine was out of its warranty, and the only way to get a new machine was for my doctor to order a new sleep study as insurance won't cover a new machine before 5y. My doctor asked me to check if my insurance would cover a repair, and it won't. I'm going to check on Monday if they indeed will cover a new machine with or without a new sleep study; I don't want to take my MES's word for it.

[Pugsy]

Ask your insurance company directly if they require a new sleep study to get a new machine since yours appears broke.

Don't ever, ever take the DME's word on things like this....go straight to the source.

I don't know your insurance but even Medicare doesn't require a new sleep study if a machine needs to be replaced. They are good with the old sleep study.

Call up your insurance company and explain the situation and ask them what they require.

To turn Ramp off when you can't seem to turn it off (which should be in the clinical setup menu area)...just set the minutes to 0 and that effectively turns it off as well.
Maybe you weren't in the clinical setup menu area when you tried to turn it off.

But I doubt your problem is ramp related. I think your machine is likely dying. It certainly can't be trusted and if it was under warranty this would qualify for machine replacement.

[BlueDragon]

However, the machine's display shows bad data as soon as I turn it off in the morning. Does the machine write to the SC card throughout the night, or only when if uploads via WiFi to myair.resmed.com? I ask because one time I loaded OSCAR immediately in the morning before WiFi upload, and it showed even less than the machine's display.

You say "the machine's display shows bad data" when you turn it off. What does it show or say?

Yes, the machine writes to the data card throughout the night. If the card is not in the machine, there's no detailed data from which the charts are created but only minimal summary data for the day.

Trying a different SD card is a great idea. Any card between 2 GB and 32 GB will work, but not larger (at least not without some additional formatting work).

[joeljjk11]

I would say your machine is malfunctioning and not working anymore. I have the same machine and weird things starting happening last week and it would turn off in the middle of the night and the hours would not report correctly. It would also say the tubing was blocked and but the tubing was fine. The machines don’t last forever and mine was six years old so I am getting a new one soon.

[tgbyrne]

Ask your insurance company directly if they require a new sleep study to get a new machine since yours appears broke.

Don't ever, ever take the DME's word on things like this....go straight to the source.

I don't know your insurance but even Medicare doesn't require a new sleep study if a machine needs to be replaced. They are good with the old sleep study.

Call up your insurance company and explain the situation and ask them what they require.

To turn Ramp off when you can't seem to turn it off (which should be in the clinical setup menu area)...just set the minutes to 0 and that effectively turns it off as well.
Maybe you weren't in the clinical setup menu area when you tried to turn it off.

But I doubt your problem is ramp related. I think your machine is likely dying. It certainly can't be trusted and if it was under warranty this would qualify for machine replacement.

Yes, agreed1 I'm definitely calling my insurance company (BCBS) first thing Monday as they don't have hours on the weekend. They were very helpful on Friday when I asked if machine repair were covered; I forgot to ask about replacement as I was in the "it's fixable" mindset.

Thank you. I realized that I had to click the RAMP option, and then turn the dial. However, as I had just inserted a new SC card, I left RAMP as-is to see if indeed it were because of a bad SD card. I'll try RAMP=0 tonight.

Interestingly, pre-2020, with the CPAP I've not suffered jet lag when traveling overseas (I don't use it on the plane, but do otherwise in the hotel). This morning, I feel like I'm jet lagged from a 14h flight!

[tgbyrne]

However, the machine's display shows bad data as soon as I turn it off in the morning. Does the machine write to the SC card throughout the night, or only when if uploads via WiFi to myair.resmed.com? I ask because one time I loaded OSCAR immediately in the morning before WiFi upload, and it showed even less than the machine's display.

You say "the machine's display shows bad data" when you turn it off. What does it show or say?

Yes, the machine writes to the data card throughout the night. If the card is not in the machine, there's no detailed data from which the charts are created but only minimal summary data for the day.

Trying a different SD card is a great idea. Any card between 2 GB and 32 GB will work, but not larger (at least not without some additional formatting work).

When I turn it off in the morning, the machine's display shows the same as what OSCAR and MYAIR do. For example, I started last night's session at 22:58 and ended it at 07:02, which is 8:04 usage, but the display showed 4:26.

Between 12:45 and 02:15, the air flow to my mask was very weak. I tried several sharp exhales to get things moving again, but had no luck. It will be interesting to see what OSCAR says when I review the latest data. I suspect it will show events during that time even though I was otherwise breathing slowly and deeply to stay relaxed.

The new SD card that I used last night was 32G.

[tgbyrne]

I would say your machine is malfunctioning and not working anymore. I have the same machine and weird things starting happening last week and it would turn off in the middle of the night and the hours would not report correctly. It would also say the tubing was blocked and but the tubing was fine. The machines don’t last forever and mine was six years old so I am getting a new one soon.

Agreed...all things are pointing to my machine malfunctioning!

I feel bad that you're having similar issues. Where was it saying the tubing was blocked?
Last night's experience with low air flow from my machine had me thinking the tubing was blocked, but I've switched out for new and old tubing several times over the month to eliminate that possibility.

I'm calling my insurance company first thing tomorrow, and then my prescribing doctor. I don't want to deal with this malfunctioning unit anymore!

[tgbyrne]

Last night's data with a new 32G SD card installed. No luck; it wasn't the SD card.

[Pugsy]

Try turning SmartStart off and see what happens.

[tgbyrne]

Try turning SmartStart off and see what happens.

Thank you. SMARTSTART OFF was one of the options I've tried a couple of times. No luck, but thanks!