Worked great - until it didn't

[PK888]

Hi - I have not been on here for many years because things were going great. Then the past 4 weeks or so I have been getting strange readings: a few times a high AHI. But 6-7 times it said mask off 10 times, which of course it wasn't. The company provider said to turn off the auto on/off setting to solve this. This did not solve the mask off warning problem. For example, last night usage 7.5 hours, leak 15/20 points (usually leak level is higher), AHI 2.2, and mask off 10 times. I am taping mouth shut now because the full face mask I tried leaked like crazy. Am really only concerned about AHI reading being ok, but pulmonary doc will make me try a different mask. Any advice, suggestions greatly appreciated. I am totally compliant with the machine and very much need to keep apnea under control because of heart failure and pulmonary health issues. Thank you!

[Dog Slobber]

The Mask On/Off statistic is a misleading statistic.

It doesn't actually measure how many times you put on and take off your mask, instead it measure how many times the machine is powered off and on.

On the nights where you have a lot of Mask On/Off events, did you turn your machine off and on a few times?

It might also be a power cycling problem.

• Try changing extension chords/wall outlets
• Check that the power cables are firmly seated into:
  • into the back of the machine
  • into the wall outlet
  • into the power brick
• Unplug the device for a minute or so, then power back on.
• Has your electrical been experiencing power brownouts?
• Do you have a battery you could try running off for a night?
• Do you have a spare power brick you can swap in?

Your signature claims you have an AirStart, is that accurate? Hope not, cuz an OSCAR graph would be valuable to see if it's showing actual power cycles.

[ChicagoGranny]

Unfortunately, your AirStart model is not supported by OSCAR. That makes it harder to diagnose problems. (It is an AirStart and not an AirSense, eh?)

Someone else may have some ideas, but have you tried turning off the power to the machine, waiting at least 30 seconds, and then restarting it?

[PK888]

Sorry it is a Resmed AirSense 10. And N20 mask. I poked the wrong machine name.

[PK888]

Thank you both for suggestions. I am trying to see how to respond to each post. The site is quite different from 15 years ago! I have powered it off each day for 30 seconds in case that might help. I’ll check all the plugs and power bar. The auto on/off is disabled so I have to manually turn it on and off. Maybe 1-2 times per night only. If it powered off I would have to wake up to turn it back on. So I don’t think it is actually loosing power.

[Dog Slobber]

If it powered off I would have to wake up to turn it back on. So I don’t think it is actually loosing power.

No, this isn't true with ResMeds.

If a blowing ResMed has the power removed, when power is restored it will resume blowing.

Try it.

Turn your ResMed on, start the blower, then physically unplug it. Wait a minute, then plug it back in, it will resume therapy mode and start blowing.

This is a design decision, so they will resume after a power fail.

[SleepGeek]

If it powered off I would have to wake up to turn it back on. So I don’t think it is actually loosing power.

No, this isn't true with ResMeds.

If a blowing ResMed has the power removed, when power is restored it will resume blowing.

Try it.

Turn your ResMed on, start the blower, then physically unplug it. Wait a minute, then plug it back in, it will resume therapy mode and start blowing.

This is a design decision, so they will resume after a power fail.

afaik this is true of most modern cpaps.

[Pugsy]

If it powered off I would have to wake up to turn it back on. So I don’t think it is actually loosing power.

No, this isn't true with ResMeds.

If a blowing ResMed has the power removed, when power is restored it will resume blowing.

Try it.

Turn your ResMed on, start the blower, then physically unplug it. Wait a minute, then plug it back in, it will resume therapy mode and start blowing.

This is a design decision, so they will resume after a power fail.

To the OP here....
What DS has said is true even if SmartStart is turned off the machine will power up and start blowing where it left off after a power outage when the power gets restored. I just specifically tested that scenario to confirm.

If you are seeing a lot of mask off (power disruptions) and you don't think that you really had them then something isn't quite right with the reporting of your machine.
So either something is wrong with the machine or your power supply either at the power brick, power plug or your electrical outlet.

I suggest that you use OSCAR software to see if you are indeed having power disruptions causing the "mask off" notations.
They should show up on the graphs as breaks in therapy if the machine is powering off for long enough for the machine to register a "mask off".

[PK888]

Ok. I need to learn what OSCAR software is and how to access it. Thanks.

[SleepGeek]

https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/

[Dog Slobber]

I suggest that you use OSCAR software to see if you are indeed having power disruptions causing the "mask off" notations.
They will show up on the graphs as breaks in therapy (however brief) if the machine is powering off.

Adding to what Pugsy said.

I deliberately use Ramp on my setup, not because I like Ramp. But because with Ramp turned on, should my machine power-cycle, then it is obvious in my pressure trace. Pressure will be at my Ramp Start pressure (8.6cm), and not my minimum pressure (9.0cm),

Fractional power-cycles can be very difficult to see, especially on a volatile trace. But if my pressure is ever below 9.0 cm, the only explanation is a shutdown and restart.



In the above trace the machine, clearly was restarted at 1:15 and 6:45, and because the pressure is being ramped from 8.6 to 9.0

[PK888]

I tried the OSCAR link. They want a credit card number for a free account?

[zonker]

I tried the OSCAR link. They want a credit card number for a free account?

just tried this link and wasn't asked for a credit card-
https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/

and neither should you. oscar is a totally free piece of software.

[ozij]

I tried the OSCAR link. They want a credit card number for a free account?

I tried the OSCAR link. They want a credit card number for a free account?

just tried this link and wasn't asked for a credit card-
https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/

and neither should you. oscar is a totally free piece of software.

Same for me.
https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/
They don't. At least, never before, and not now.
Not for Engnlish.
Which language did you try?

[ChicagoGranny]

I assume the members who just tested the link were doing an update because OSCAR is already loaded on their PCs. Maybe they are charging new users only??