Need help ASAP! My cpap has gone crazy!

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:02 am

WAFlowers wrote:
Sleepless on LI wrote:Okay, Bill...now why would anyone want to drive a poor innocent 420 series machine crazy? Are you developing some weird fetish for hurting machines due to your hidden hated for therapy???
Bwahahahaha! I think the quality of treatment (or lack thereof) I've been getting recently is driving me to take out my frustrations on my 420e. Better that than the wife, kids, dogs, etc. They've all been really good recently, but I keep hoping they'll give me an excuse ... any excuse at all!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:03 am

WAFlowers wrote:If you want to drive a 420 series machine crazy (and have it overblow) do something to mess up the sensor tube. Either have it only partly connected, a bit blocked off (even water droplets from rainout will do), etc. The machine will falsely sense low pressure and pump harder trying to compensate. Of course, it is now putting out too much pressure!

Bill's absolutely right. I'd bet on there having been some water in the sensor tube, a kink in the line (perhaps pinched where it comes out of the main air hose near the machine or humidifier. Or possibly had worked loose a bit...wasn't firmly seated into the little hole on the front of the machine.

If a person takes the sensor tube in and out of that hole a lot, the end of the little sensor tube can get kind'a splayed a bit. You can use sharp scissors to snip off a bit of the splayed end to get a tighter fit again.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:05 am

Oooops...was bound to happen someday. I got "guested". Second time ever, I believe. I KNEW I shouldn't run with scissors!! LOL!!

Rodrugg · Post by **Rodrugg** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:36 am

One time my Uncle Stanley's CPAPer went NUTS for no reason at all. When he turned it on it made a crazy noise and the hose started flying all around and slapping up the furniture and the walls. My grandma finally fighted it down with a spatula so my uncle could grab it and turn that machine off. When he took it to get it fixed, they said it was a good thing he didn't have his mask on or it probably would have popped his lungs like balloons. Now he always turns it on with a yard stick and waits to see what will happen before he hooks it up.

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:04 pm

Okay, I've gotten to the point where I actually enjoy putting my mask on at night and going to bed - I find it relaxing -

And now I'm terrified again. I like my lungs in one piece.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:14 pm

Collegegirl,
dont listen to the troll... he is just here to annoy us.

Jude · Post by **Jude** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:23 pm

Hi,

I just thought I'd check out this site. One of my client's told me about it and I wanted to have a look.

I am a nurse who works for a home healthcare provider and spend my day assisting wonderful people like yourselves get used to their CPAP equipment. I love the work and have learned so much from my clients so I think this is such a valuable site for CPAP users.

I wondered if I might make a suggestion based on an observation that I have made. At our company, we suggest that CPAP users keep their CPAP machines on surge protectors as they would their computer.

I'm not sure why, but power outages can affect the elevation setting on some units. When this happens, the machine can put out 2 to 3 or more cm H20 of pressure although the unit will still read as if it was set at the prescribed pressure. On many units, you can tell as soon as you turn it on that the elevation setting is off. It's just a matter of resetting the elevation setting to get the machine back to the correct pressure output.

Hope this is helpful.

Jude

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:52 pm

Thanks, Jude! Every hint helps. That's good of you to post here. The people you help in your job are lucky to have someone like you doing everything you can to make it better and easier for them.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:56 pm

Jude wrote:At our company, we suggest that CPAP users keep their CPAP machines on surge protectors as they would their computer.

Good idea. I'd expect all the modern machines to have an embedded processor in them, so they really aren't different from your desktop computer when it comes to sensitivity to power hits.

Living in the lightning capital of the US, I immediately bought a surge protector power strip to protect my APAP. It also comes in handy when I travel as there are rarely enough unused outlets convenient to the bed in a hotel.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:57 pm

rodrugg wrote:

Now he always turns it on with a yard stick and waits to see what will happen before he hooks it up.

Well, I laughed! You're a cute little troll, rodrugg. I've liked all your silly Uncle Stanley stories.

Sorry, folks...I just can't help but feed strays from time to time.

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:11 pm

I can't believe I fell for that. I must have missed the "Don't Feed the Trolls" sign.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:42 pm

CollegeGirl,
The last I remember, your mask was such a torture! So glad it's better - what happened?

O?

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 8:31 am

Well, it's still torture. My sleep specialist is still on vacation, through tomorrow. I just woke up and there are deep trenches in my face, as well as a place that's rubbed so raw it's bleeding. And yet, I look forward to using my CPAP still because I'm not afraid of stopping breathing anymore. I know, one day, I'll get this all figured out and feel better, and every night I think "Maybe tonight is the night."

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 1:09 pm

"Maybe tonight it the night" - must be a feeling shared by many of us. I hope it the mask stope hurting you like that soon!

O.