Covering anti-asphyxiation port -- Hybrid ?

[tillymarigold]

Is it a really, really bad idea to put tape over the anti-asphyxiation port on the Hybrid? Not the line of holes that you exhale through, but the round two-part whole in the elbow that's supposed to keep you from suffocating if you lose power.

http://www.respcare.com/hybrid/images/f ... _image.jpg

The little rubber stopper that's supposed to cover the port when the air goes through it ... doesn't. It doesn't really seal over the AA port so air blows out through the port and it makes a whistling noise. The only way to stop the noise is to cover the port with something. Sometimes if I cover it with my hand for a few seconds, I can build up a pressure vacuum and when I let go, it presses more tightly against the hole, but that doesn't always work and almost never works all night.

Two nights ago I was so frustrated with it that I took some paper tape (that was in my nightstand from when I used to tape instead of using a FF mask) and covered the port, and that finally fixed it. I feel like I can get enough air through the exhalation holes if necessary (like I'm fine for the few seconds after I put on the mask and before I turn on the machine) and I'll probably wake up if the machine shuts off.

I felt like I slept really well the last couple nights but today I have a pretty bad headache so I'm wondering if I was re-breathing CO2. On the other hand, the exhalation holes should be enough to vent the CO2, right? So covering the anti-asphyxiation port shouldn't affect venting--in fact, the mask *shouldn't* vent through it.

Thoughts?

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): seal, Power

[neverbetter]

If you bought your Hybrid more than 90 days ago, your due for a new one. the code is K0553
It's better to get a new one than mess with it.

[tillymarigold]

If you bought your Hybrid more than 90 days ago, your due for a new one. the code is K0553
It's better to get a new one than mess with it.

It's less than 90 days and my insurance doesn't pay for my treatment and I don't have $150 to spare right now.

Anyway, I thought it was 6 months for a mask, only 3 months for the pillows. And this has been a problem for as long as I've had the mask.

[darthlucy]

If you bought your Hybrid more than 90 days ago, your due for a new one. the code is K0553
It's better to get a new one than mess with it.

It's less than 90 days and my insurance doesn't pay for my treatment and I don't have $150 to spare right now.

Anyway, I thought it was 6 months for a mask, only 3 months for the pillows. And this has been a problem for as long as I've had the mask.

Varies greatly between companies, and even between policies within companies. My otherwise super-duper policy paid for my machine but doesn't cover masks at all. Ever.

[Nodzy]

Whoa... covering, sealing over, the AA port on the Hybrid could be dangerous to deadly.

The lack of backpressure to seal the flapper to the AA port opening when the unit is in use could be caused by one or more factors: your brand and model of machine and mode of operation, your lower (or only) pressure setting, a combination of those, or flapper damage or wear.

I know that with the Respironics M-series in A-FLEX mode the lower pressure has to be above 8cm H2O, at least on my Revision-B mask shell. A Revision-C mask shell is supposed to be delivered to me today -- I hope it gets here.

The Revision-C mask shell has smaller diameter passive vent ports (the six vent ports across the front of the shell above the inlet swivel tube), allowing for increased normal backpressure at all pressure-set ranges. That offsets much of the problem with using the mask with A-FLEX and EPR xPAP's... so I am told by the Innomed folks. But, the smaller diameter passive vent ports supposedly do not create a re-breathing risk, and in fact. alleviate potential for that to occur.

If you need the info for Innomed to get a Revision-C shell PM me.

[tillymarigold]

Whoa... covering, sealing over, the AA port on the Hybrid could be dangerous to deadly.

The lack of backpressure to seal the flapper to the AA port opening when the unit is in use could be caused by one or more factors: your brand and model of machine and mode of operation, your lower (or only) pressure setting, a combination of those, or flapper damage or wear.

I know that with the Respironics M-series in A-FLEX mode the lower pressure has to be above 8cm H2O, at least on my Revision-B mask shell. A Revision-C mask shell is supposed to be delivered to me today -- I hope it gets here.

The Revision-C mask shell has smaller diameter passive vent ports (the six vent ports across the front of the shell above the inlet swivel tube), allowing for increased normal backpressure at all pressure-set ranges. That offsets much of the problem with using the mask with A-FLEX and EPR xPAP's... so I am told by the Innomed folks. But, the smaller diameter passive vent ports supposedly do not create a re-breathing risk, and in fact. alleviate potential for that to occur.

If you need the info for Innomed to get a Revision-C shell PM me.

I think you're misunderstanding what I'm asking. I am NOT covering the six small vent holes. I'm covering the large hole in the elbow that is *supposed* to be closed when the mask is in use. So if the six small vent holes should be enough to prevent re-breathing, why would it be "dangerous to deadly" to cover the other hole?

My shell is Revision E and my lower pressure on my 420E is 8.

[tooly125]

It is a really bad idea to cover the large hole in the elbow of the mask.
If for any reason your machine stops working you run the risk of suffocation.
The six holes only prevent re-breathing when the machine is on and air is blowing through them.
Call whoever you bought the mask from and if they can't help you call the hybrids customer service.
Don't mess around covering the large hole, it may be a rare chance something will happen but it's definitely not a chance you should take.