S9 Stops and Starts

[bbf]

Hi - Really appreciate help I have received from this group. For the last two weeks, the usage time based on how long I slept is different than the time recorded by the machine. I am pretty sure I am not taking the mask on and off, since the Bella straps are not that easy. Also pretty sure I am not starting and stopping machine in my sleep, since I can not reach without sitting up and am using the autostart/stop feature!

Spoke with DME, and he agreed that the machine may not be sensing exhale and shutting off and restarting when sensed again. I am quite congested and noticed sinuses can get almost completely blocked during the night. I saw an ENT and am trying some new medications to see if we can quiet the congestion.

Here is a typical graph:

http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/bev58 ... 7.png.html

Anyone have this problem with the S9 and how did you resolve? I turned up the humidity to 4.5 and temperature to 78deg.

Thanks!

[Pugsy]

Turn SmartStart off for now.
That way you can see if leaks are big enough that the machine isn't able to sense breathing and turns itself off.

[sol]

You,re using nasal pillows. SmartStart/Stop does not works using nasal pillows with pressure less than 7 cm H2O

[mrsbongo1]

Several weeks ago my S9 Elite started doing the same thing, I was not having high leaks but did have the Smart Start turned on. I turned the Smart Start off but the machine kept stopping several times during the night. I know the mask was on and I had not gotten up or turned off the machine. DME gave me the run around for a few days, but ResMed replaced my 9 months old machine no questions asked.
Kathy

[bbf]

Thanks for the advice - I did shut off auto-start last night. Attached are the stats - notice the couple hour gap. I woke up at 4 with the mask on, don't recall if there was flow, but did go to bathroom and restart. The leaks don't seem too bad?

http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/bev58 ... 5.jpg.html

Is it me or the machine?

[Pugsy]

Leaks aren't bad. The worst it ever was that I see was barely 24 L/min. That's not enough leak for the machine's sensors to simply not sense anything at all.

I would be blaming the machine since I can't blame leaks. And you woke up with the mask on. We don't always wake up immediately when the machine stops because there is some air flow through the vent holes or you may have compensated with mouth breathing. I have seen that happen myself when the power has gone out but for me I woke up after about 30 minutes and wasn't under any stress (like suffocating).
If it cut itself off at 1AM....the wake up at 4 am to pee was probably because it allowed apnea events to happen which stresses the body and that stress hormone (ANP) tells the kidneys to work harder and when kidneys work harder more urine is produced.

ResScan will probably support (confirm the blanks in usage)....that is what the DME will want to see.
I would be alerting the DME and being more forceful about it possibly being a problem with the machine.
If it had been leaks being bad...we would see BIG leaks. From my own personal experience..it takes leaks well over 24 L/min before the sensors throw up their little hands. I have seen leaks at 40 L/min and the machine still function and I was using SmartStart.
It still flagged some events at that 40 L/min leak too...and I had a bunch of them.

I am blaming the machine now that I see that we can't blame leaks.

[bbf]

Thanks for the advice. I will turn autostart back on, and have a discussion with the DME regarding replacement!

[bbf]

Met with DME and he read data. Since I was within 7 days of 60 day compliance period, DME wanted me to keep the machine for 7 more days and get at least 3 nights of 4 hours before giving me a new machine. He did give me a new mask to try, the Swift NANO, at no charge. LOL - seems to have worked as I have had 2 nights of over 6 hours usage with no "stops and starts" of machine as I was having.

I do like the NANO (cord management is much easier than Swift), and will continue to experiment with both masks to see if there is a difference. Maybe the chronic congestion/allergies also had a role as I am on a new nasal spray and finishing a course of steriods to reduce congestion.

[Bugzie]

Hello all,

I'm new here, but have been lurking for a few days. I'm looking for some knowledge, advice, suggestions etc., concerning my ResMed VPAP-S machine. The issue I'm having started some time ago, bear with me while I explain:

I was started on bipap just about a year ago. For several months I used the machine only at night with 4 liters of /02 bled in. When it was discovered that my 02 levels were dropping into the 70's at night, my doc increased the 02 to 8 liters. I seem to be doing ok with that. Then it became an issue for me to try and breathe without the machine. So now I'm what they call "bipap dependent". ( I have bad lungs and am currently seeking a lung transplant.)

Not being able to tolerate the headgear 24/7, I stripped the mask of all the straps and just hold the bare mask to my face, while I'm sitting at my desk. This way, I can lay it down to take a bite of food, or drink, or talk etc., and then hold it back to my face and breath as necessary. The machine would continue running while I laid it aside to take a few bites of food, then I could pick it up again and resume breathing as usual.

So anyway, I was in the hospital a few months ago and my bipap started doing this funky thing of shutting off every few seconds. It is really odd. I would have to push the start button, then push the DIAL button, then start button again, then DIAL once again to restart the machine. I called my supplier and they brought out one machine, but when I tried it, even though the settings were the same as my broken machine, the new machine would not blow sufficiently for me to get a good breath! I tried to explain to the supplier, but he didn't seem to grasp what I was telling him.. (he was in a hurry to get home to his kids soccer game.) They immediately sent another person to my hospital bed with another machine, it worked fantastic.. and that is the machine I have now.....

So, ok.. here we are several months later.. Nov. I have been trying for at least a month already to get this machine replaced, as it has started doing the exact same thing that the old machine did... shutting off every few seconds. I don't have the issue at night, when I put the headgear on and tighten it down so tight that it almost bruises my face. It's only when I lay the mask down to eat, or take it off my face for even a few seconds, that it shuts off... ERROR ..please close the H5i flip lid, attach tube and press any key. But the humidifier door is not open! Checked and double checked.

I've been troubleshooting and this is what I've tried thus far:
Cleaned everything.. filter, machine, hoses, water reservoir etc...
Made sure the electrical 'brick' was not close enough to interfere (3-4 ft away).
Checked settings for ramp, auto/on/off, etc..
Checked rubber seal on humidifier and between the two machines...
Made sure the humidifier lid is closed.

I really need to be able to fix this. I can't send it in, because I can't breathe without it. My supplier has given up after several different machines did not work correctly. ( I think the tech is setting all the machines wrong.. in fact I caught her once and corrected her while she was here... My settings are 17/10 and she had it set at 9/4 or some such.. it was not blowing hard enough, so I asked her to change it.. she was frustrated when I pointed out that the settings were wrong. The company even tried to pawn off a used machine on me. When I told her .. I know it's the same one you brought the other day because it has the 'same scuff mark in the same place'.. her jaw dropped and she insisted it was a new machine.)...

So how can I fix this shutting off every few seconds, when I lay the mask down.. it's taking up a good deal of my life to sit here and reset this machine every two-3 seconds. Even after I have typed a few words.. I pick it back up to breath and it's off Please, any advice, suggestions, comments, ideas.. all are welcome..

Sorry for the long post, but it was necessary to put the problem in context for you.

[Pugsy]

I've been troubleshooting and this is what I've tried thus far:
Cleaned everything.. filter, machine, hoses, water reservoir etc...
Made sure the electrical 'brick' was not close enough to interfere (3-4 ft away).
Checked settings for ramp, auto/on/off, etc..
Checked rubber seal on humidifier and between the two machines...
Made sure the humidifier lid is closed.

Go into the clinical setup menu and check the setting for "SmartStart" if it is set to "ON"...turn it OFF.
If it is already set to OFF...I have no idea what is happening.
SmartStart being set to on tells the machine to turn itself off when no breathing is detected after just a few seconds...like when you lay the mask down briefly.

Though you should be able to put the mask back on and push the on button to start it immediately...perhaps with the deconstructed mask during the day it isn't able to sense things properly.
Turning SmartStart off...you will have to push the start button manually each time you want the machine to start up but it shouldn't turn itself off any more.

[HerdingDogRescuer]

Am curious to learn how you got the graphs. Did you download the Smart Card or is that from the DME? I have an S9 as well and would like to see my data. Can you share please?

[Pugsy]

Am curious to learn how you got the graphs. Did you download the Smart Card or is that from the DME? I have an S9 as well and would like to see my data. Can you share please?

Who were you talking to? bbf??
SleepyHead software was used. Check out the links in my signature for download link as well as install hints...suggest you read that first.