ASV users: the everything ASV thread.

[pharm30]

... Last night the machine actually broke the seal on the nose of the mask and blasted air into my eyes, first time that has happened that I remember. So, does this sound like a machine malfunction or is it all in my head? I was doing very well, sleeping decent for months. Starting to feel tired and cranky again. Getting very frustrated. ...

Sounds as if the mask might have been too tight and it led to the mask failure. Lots of leaks and interruptions due to the leaks will make your sleep anything but ideal. Sounds as if it is time for a new mask. An ASV unit does tend to wear out masks. That constant pressure change will make matters worse until you get a new mask. Hopefully that's all it is.

The mask I am using is 2 weeks old. I do think it might be tight, but I can't seem to get it to not leak any other way.

[ameriken]

Have you tried the padacheek liner? I use one, it's not perfect but works 99.5% of the time and I mostly have no leaks. I'm not familiar with your mask, but if you have upper and lower straps, try to make sure they are evenly tightened all the way around. If you have one strap or one set of straps tighter than the other, you'll get leaks. You've got to try to keep the pressure even all the way around, so I sometimes find myself sitting up for 5 minutes trying to get an even adjustment. It can be a royal pain in the ass sometimes.

[pharm30]

Have you tried the padacheek liner? I use one, it's not perfect but works 99.5% of the time and I mostly have no leaks. I'm not familiar with your mask, but if you have upper and lower straps, try to make sure they are evenly tightened all the way around. If you have one strap or one set of straps tighter than the other, you'll get leaks. You've got to try to keep the pressure even all the way around, so I sometimes find myself sitting up for 5 minutes trying to get an even adjustment. It can be a royal pain in the ass sometimes.

I updated my mask - been using the FX for 3-4 months now.
I have a pad a cheek liner. I haven't used the full face one yet. I had cut an old one in strips and usually put it on my nose and it had seemed
to work for the last couple months. I will have to try to use the full liner.

I mentioned my problems to the DME, after some confusion, they sent a RT out to my house. I explained to her what was going on, she didn't really seem to know what I was talking about, wasn't sure if machine was malfunctioning, asked her for advice about mask fitting, she said she wasn't sure.

All she did was replace my machine with a "new" one - I thought it was new until I saw it had 35 hours on it.
I wouldn't think the DME would be too happy about replacing the machine, but no one knew how to troubleshoot anything or offer any help, so I'll take it.

Is there a way to decrease the ramp function time? I actually slept almost 6 hrs with machine last night - it appears the ramp function was set at 45 min and the only hypopnea events it registered was during the ramp time.

Is the pressure that you set for during the ramp the maximum the machine will go? I think it was pre-set at 4. My avg pressure is around 7, so should I increase the pressure from 4? Sorry, I think I had increased it on the other machine, but I forgot how and what I had it set at.

[dormirjespere]

Question: I am using the PR bipap ST with ok results, but still not great. Do you think that the ASV is worth my looking into? I see my doc next Thurs. Thanks. (I only just found this website today, and this is the first time I've ever heard of "ASV". This website is an eye-opener for me!

[lostmary]

I just got my ASV yesterday and used it first time last nite. I LOVE it. I loved the overnite trial at the sleep center trIal, but I wasn't sure how it would be at home. Well, it's just as wonderful. I had problems with my mask and the seal around it (ffm), but I can fix that without waking up lol. The rep told me that social secuirty wouldn't cover the asv unless you had well over 50 episodes. not sure if they mean per nite or hr or what, but I was well over that on the bipap. I didn't know sleep could be so wonderful. any advice about the unit or problems that I should know about;

Mary

[Grand-PAP]

... blasted air into my eyes . . . I do think it might be tight, but I can't seem to get it to not leak any other way.

Sounds as if the mask might have been too tight .

Hi pharm30,

I agree with JBF regarding the mask. Even to mention a mask can cause a major discussion/argument, especially when the discussion is the Quattro v Quattro FX. If you ask TWO people, you can get three or four opinions! But here goes . . .

I have gone through a series of masks. My second was the Mirage Quattro F/F. I continued through several others. Because of all the good press, I bought "your mask"- the Mirage Quattro FX F/F. I've got to admit, I loved the mask, but in order to even approximate the leakage control of the Quattro, I had to "over" tighten it and the major problem was exactly what you mentioned, "blasted air into my eyes". Finally, I gave up and went back to the Quattro F/F. Of all the masks I have tried, the Quattro with a pad-a-cheek liner has proven the most effective for me.

[ameriken]

Question: I am using the PR bipap ST with ok results, but still not great. Do you think that the ASV is worth my looking into? I see my doc next Thurs. Thanks. (I only just found this website today, and this is the first time I've ever heard of "ASV". This website is an eye-opener for me!

I'd definitely talk with your Doc, I think there was another member here who wasn't doing well with the ST and upgraded to the ASV.

[ameriken]

I just got my ASV yesterday and used it first time last nite. I LOVE it. I loved the overnite trial at the sleep center trIal, but I wasn't sure how it would be at home. Well, it's just as wonderful. I had problems with my mask and the seal around it (ffm), but I can fix that without waking up lol. The rep told me that social secuirty wouldn't cover the asv unless you had well over 50 episodes. not sure if they mean per nite or hr or what, but I was well over that on the bipap. I didn't know sleep could be so wonderful. any advice about the unit or problems that I should know about;

Mary

If the machine is working great, I don't think there is much advice that can be offered, the only thing I'd suggest is downloading the software so you can read your own reports from every nights sleep. If you don't have the software, PM Pugsy, she should be able to point you to a link. Good luck

[JohnBFisher]

...I mentioned my problems to the DME, after some confusion, they sent a RT out to my house. I explained to her what was going on, she didn't really seem to know what I was talking about, wasn't sure if machine was malfunctioning, asked her for advice about mask fitting, she said she wasn't sure. ...

Sigh! An RT *SHOULD* know about ASV units. It's not that hard. I can understand a doctor (who might not deal with a lot of them), but come on .. that's one of the units that an RT should know how to use. Unfortunately, a lot of them do not take the time to learn about products - as they should.

...Is there a way to decrease the ramp function time? I actually slept almost 6 hrs with machine last night - it appears the ramp function was set at 45 min and the only hypopnea events it registered was during the ramp time.

Is the pressure that you set for during the ramp the maximum the machine will go? I think it was pre-set at 4. My avg pressure is around 7, so should I increase the pressure from 4? Sorry, I think I had increased it on the other machine, but I forgot how and what I had it set at. ...

Yes, you should be able to adjust the ramp time. Unfortunately, I don't have the clinician's manual. Could someone help pharm30 with this one?

A pressure of 4 is a REALLY low starting point - even for a RAMP feature. You might want to just disable the ramp feature all together. You can probably call Respironics to find out how to disable the RAMP feature. That does not modify the prescription, so should be something you can manually adjust.

Hope you get some answers on this one.

[JohnBFisher]

Question: I am using the PR bipap ST with ok results, but still not great. Do you think that the ASV is worth my looking into? I see my doc next Thurs. Thanks. (I only just found this website today, and this is the first time I've ever heard of "ASV". This website is an eye-opener for me!

If you have an ST unit, then DO talk with your doctor about the possibility of having an ASV titration. They will need to do a sleep study to adjust the pressures to your needs. The unit can be a difficult one to which to adjust. But it makes a HUGE difference.

[JohnBFisher]

... The rep told me that social secuirty wouldn't cover the asv unless you had well over 50 episodes. not sure if they mean per nite or hr or what, but I was well over that on the bipap. I didn't know sleep could be so wonderful. any advice about the unit or problems that I should know about; ...

Greetings Mary!

I don't think the rep was correct on the medicare rule. Another poster recently noted the criteria - and he went to Social Security to get the information. A lot of the DME reps tend to "talk out of their butt" rather than actually doing research.

The only suggestion I might offer is that you might find you need to use a mask liner to help decrease leaks with the Quattro FX full face mask. As the ASV unit ramps up the pressure to address a central apnea, it tends to cause just about any mask to leak. It gets worse as the mask gets older (and the silicone cushion tends to get stiffer). You can find the mask liners at:

http://www.remzzzs.com/
http://quietusliners.com/
http://padacheek.com/

Also, I would suggest getting the software to read the data from your machine. Otherwise, it sounds as if you are well on your way to better sleep.

Best wishes for many good nights of sleep!

[pharm30]

Last night I didn't sleep well.
I checked my data and it said I was 100 % periodic breathing?
Red line across the whole graph.
Every now and then I will have a mark or two for PB.
What does that mean?
Thanks

[ameriken]

Can you post an image of the report of 100% PB as well as perhaps the previous night or two?

[pharm30]

i can't figure out how to save pdf file as a jpg. I have windows 7.

[pharm30]

anyone know what display code E67 means? I have alarm going off and haven't used machine since Thursday.
Does the three beep, then two beep, two of the buttons are blinking, and that code on display.
The reset button does nothing, only thing I can do is unplug the power to get it off.
It runs for about 20 min, then alarm goes off again.
Called DME first thing this AM, of course they have not called me back yet.
My guess is they will have NO idea....