System One Humidifier Problems?

[aj]

So, this is a question for those of you with the new Phillips Respironics System One APAP unit. I am wondering what you think of the humidifier system. Are you getting enough humidity? I have been providing these new machines to my patients and am starting to get a few complaints that the units are not putting out enough humidity, even at the max setting.

I am having the same problem, but I wear a full face mask and that may be part of the problem for me.

So, before I decide to stop vending these units, I thought I would come to you for input.

Thanks,

Andrew

[bailachel]

I have a PR System One Auto with a heated humidifier and I haven't had this problem. In fact, I just reduced my humidity level from 2 to 1.

[Gerryk]

Andrew, since you are here. I for one appreciate suppliers and dme's coming here and asking us what we think and asking us as your pt's.
What do you think of us checking our own data? My DME doesn't even have me come in except to occasionally check the machines pressure. She just has me pull the data off and email it to her. This saves her at least 20 minutes but usually much more because we are both talkers.

Do you have the new version of Encore pro and is it much different than 1.8? Have you been able to get the old software to work with the new machines?

I offered to set up my DME's computers so they could run the new software, but they are under contract with a company.

Thanks

Gerry

[blakepro]

The PR System One has a series of sensors that adjusts the humidity based on the rooms temperature and the humidity already existing in the room. It does this to eliminate rain out.

I believe that the conditions of the room the person is sleeping in can greatly affect the actual amount of humidity it pumps out because of this.

It is less humidity than my old Remstar Plus used to put out, BUT I have not had ANY issues with rain out since I switched. Its amazing in that regard! I would suggest your patients try adjusting their rooms heat, and or getting a air humidifier for their room to see if it helps.

I also suspect that the pressure they are using greatly affects this. (the more pressure the less effective the humidity)

Anyway, I wouldn't trade it for my old one! I love having no rain out problems, and I usually have it cranked to 4 or 5.

[roster]

So, this is a question for those of you with the new Phillips Respironics System One APAP unit. I am wondering what you think of the humidifier system. Are you getting enough humidity? I have been providing these new machines to my patients and am starting to get a few complaints that the units are not putting out enough humidity, even at the max setting.

I am having the same problem, but I wear a full face mask and that may be part of the problem for me.

So, before I decide to stop vending these units, I thought I would come to you for input.

Thanks,

Andrew

By what method are they making the judgment "not enough humidity"? Are there symptoms that lead them to this conclusion?

Do they check the water level in the tank at the beginning of the night and then again when arising to know how much water was consumed compared to the machine they used previously?

I, for one, think the need for humidity is commonly overestimated and users often have humidity settings at too high of a level.

[Gerryk]

Any of you out here using this new machine?

Aj have you followed any of this so far?

Gerry

[blakepro]

Any of you out here using this new machine?

Aj have you followed any of this so far?

Gerry

Looks like he vanished?

[cohodependent]

Sorry for the delay. I have been too busy to check back. The main complaint that I am getting, and again it is only from a few patients, is that they are waking up between 3 and 4:00am due to severe dry mouth. These are folks who are on a full face mask already. The mask fits well and the leak rates are with in normal limits. They are also not using hardly any water.

That being said, I am having this same problem myself and I am the expert. I also wear a full face mask, Quattro, and am waking up around 4am needing to get a drink of water just to get my mouth lubricated. My mask fits well and does not leak, usually.

I have been talking with the smart guys who designed these machines, and I my point to them is that "rain out" is usually an easy fix. I really like the new units and the data that they give makes my life much easier, but if I have to start providing a stand alone humidifier then I may just stick with the M series, which has it's own problems.

I do have to say that I recently demo'd the Fisher & Pakel Senseawake Auto and really liked it. So, we may go that direction. I like the Aflex and Cflex for patient comfort, but there are a lot of patients out there who do not need that.

Gerryk, to answer your questions I do not have any problem with my patients downloading their own data. But, I follow most of my patients very close, so I tend to do it my self. I do have the new version of Encore Pro, but at this point I am running it seperate from the older version. The new machines require Encore Pro 2.0 and are not compatible with the older machines. I do also have to use Encore Anywhere for some on my patients who got their units from a different DME provider. I work in a Physician owned sleep lab/clinic and there are several insurance companies that require patients to use a contracted DME vendor.

[bailachel]

My PR System One and I have come to Florida for the holidays. I am happy to report that the humidity sensors are doing their job. The humidity level in Florida is clearly much higher than in Maryland at this time of year. I did not adjust the humidity level on the machine, however it is using about half as much water per night.

[no_more_headaches]

There should be a way to display the rainout prevention method. I have a heated hose and don't have to worry about ambient temperature issues. Why should I be punished.

[socalmonkey]

Andrew,

I have been using the System One Humidifier since late August, and I have had no issues with it not delivering enough moisture. Like others have stated, I have actually turned it down. The room temperature and humidity will effect it. But it will never rain out. So it just might be different than what they are use to.

Mine does seem to go easy on water consumption (which is nice). Most of the time, I am only re-filling it every 3 days or so. But that varies based on local weather conditions. This is the best humidifier I've ever used. I never wake up with a dry mouth or feeling like didn't get enough moisture. If people are waking up with a dry mouth, I would think that might be from breathing through the mouth.

My experience (so far) with the entire PR System One has been very positive and overall, it's delivered improved results to my therapy.

[cotech50]

I started out a 1 but after about a week was getting pain in my sinuses over my eyes which i never get so I went to 3 better but still get sinus aches at times>

[Dog Tired]

I too would like a little bit more humidity if I could get it. I currently run it on the max setting.

I use about half a tank of water per night. Mild dry mouth in the morning, but not a major drama.

The ambient sensors clearly do their job - and absolutely no rain out. Ever.

Although I had my heated tubing at the ready, just in case.

The heated tubing was always necessary with the Resmed - but I was able to dial up the humidity to a greater extent than I can on the Respironics.

[roster]

Mild dry mouth in the morning, but not a major drama.

Dry mouth is an indication you are doing some mouthbreathing. If you are using a nasal mask, when you mouthbreathe the pressure in the airway may be lost. You can continue to have apneas.

If you think you have this problem, there are solutions.

[kerryvan]

I started out a 1 but after about a week was getting pain in my sinuses over my eyes which i never get so I went to 3 better but still get sinus aches at times>

Interesting, the last three days I've had a sinus headache over my eyes. I started with a 4 setting, and getting a dry mouth, then one day at 5 with my lungs feeling overly moist and major headache, so I dropped it down to a 3 last nite. still have a head ache, but slept about 7 hrs, haven't done that in over 5 yrs. only was up twice, and prior to getting my machine was up about 3-5 times a night, with longest sleep at 2 hrs. now hitting 4 hrs.