just got my machine

lyss · Post by **lyss** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:03 pm

I just got back from the office. My machine is a REMstar PRO M Series. Its small, and quiet etc. I told her my concerns about my sleep study and being told I couldn't sleep on my stomach. The woman who performed my sleep study also told me that my mask would probably be the same as the one I used that night. I was horrified. I looked like Darth Vader's Mistress. The woman (her name was Victoria) who set me up with my machine however said that she hears that all of the time and set me up with something that fits so I can sleep on my stomach, nose pillows! To be frank, I was extremely pleased. She was very nice, I am really clear on everything. Also, my machine is set on 6 which she tells me is low.

I'm babbling, but I'm really tired. I only have one real concern. She told me that it needed to go into a grounded outlet. My uncle, who is an electrician, is coming over on Monday to see to that (my house is like 60 years old.) . My question is, is it going to hurt anything to set it up for the next few nights. We don't usually have freak power surges or anything, and in the summer time I plug my air conditioner in there. I want to use it, but not if I'm going to fry in my sleep or kill the machine.

AND lastly. How do you cat lovers (I have 4 little monsters) keep the cats off?

Any help or info would be great, and I hope you all have a really good night!

Edit: also, my machine is two pronged plug in. and it is the machine that appears on this page: http://mseries.respironics.com/

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Rabid1 · Post by **Rabid1** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:20 pm

Welcome to the board!

Don't fret at all about the grounded outlet. I bet all your other electrical appliances work just fine, don't they? So will your CPAP. It is however, a good idea to ensure your outlets are properly grounded. This is a safety issue to avoid accidental electrical shocks. Your CPAP will be fine, and, I hope, so will you.

Don't worry,

Rick

lyss · Post by **lyss** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:37 pm

Thanks so much! Thats what I was thinking but I wanted to get a few outside opinions before I took the maiden voyage. I worried less about my computer when I was plugging it in! Even so, my uncle is coming over on Monday to take a look at my outlets and help me with that.

I guess I'm just kind of excited to feel better.

Thanks!

Lyss

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:38 pm

Welcome.

It sounds like you are off to a good start. I hope you have a decent nights sleep - the first few nights can be the worst.

There are so many "little" things that can happen. So don't be alarmed, stick around, and ask any and all questions. Some of the things to look for:
1. Rainout (condensation collecting in your mask and giving you a bath).
2. Mask leaks. (we can give you tips to help make the mask work for you.)
3. Sore nostrils (use Ayr or any ointment to protect your nose).

Further into your therapy, ask about a smart card reader and software.

The 4 little monsters will probably want to use the hose as a scratching post. I would put it on a shelf every day - or close the bedroom door.

Again, welcome. And don't be afraid to ask questions.

pedroski · Post by **pedroski** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:39 pm

Hi Lyss,

Like Rick said all the other appliances in your house are working ok, and you have plastic and rubber touching you, it's not like you'll be holding the machine itself all night. If you are worried you could put a powerboard with one of those fast tripping circuit breakers in between the wall and the flow generator.

You'll be fine, enjoy your machine, you've got a good one.

Peter

UltraApple · Post by **UltraApple** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:45 pm

Well I'm no expert (But I do calibrate biomedical electrical safety analyzers) so take my advice with a grain of salt and always follow the manufactures instructions. So I took a look at the quick start manual and the main manual and did not find anything stating a grounded outlet is required. All pictures indicate a simple two pronged polarized plug. A polarized plug is a plug with one prong that is wider than the other to only allow you to plug it in one way. Did not see anything about grounding.

So in short I do not see the need for a grounded outlet. However if your questioning the safety of the outlets and they lack a ground plug it can't hurt to have them changed out for safety's sake.

lyss · Post by **lyss** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:57 pm

I hope I have a good enough nights sleep as well. It would be the first in a long time.

I have heard of all three, but its good to know about the ointment.

My machine has a smart card, but I don't know enough about that right now. I was told that it could be used to notify my doctor of my progress.

Oh my cats. I haven't even taken it out of the bag yet. One of them is currently sitting on top of it like "Well, come on then. Open the toy." Here is to hoping they leave it be. It would bother me more to kick them out of my room that it would them.

Thanks so much for the warm welcome, and I hope to use this board for all of my questions. I figure its true that the only stupid question is the one never asked.

You have a good nights sleep too!

Linda3032 wrote:Welcome.

It sounds like you are off to a good start...

lyss · Post by **lyss** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:00 am

Thanks so much. I really do feel better about using my machine now.

I'm also glad to hear its a good one! I had no idea, I'm really new to this.

pedroski wrote:Hi Lyss,

Like Rick said all the other appliances in your house are working ok, and you have plastic and rubber touching you, it's not like you'll be holding the machine itself all night. If you are worried you could put a powerboard with one of those fast tripping circuit breakers in between the wall and the flow generator.

You'll be fine, enjoy your machine, you've got a good one.

Peter

lyss · Post by **lyss** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:02 am

My user manual also did not say anything about grounding, but the person who set me up made sure I was told so. I'm thinking it has to do with general safety and maybe older policies regarding machines that do need grounded outlets? A blanket policy I guess.

Thanks!

UltraApple wrote:Well I'm no expert (But I do calibrate biomedical electrical safety analyzers) so take my advice with a grain of salt and always follow the manufactures instructions. So I took a look at the quick start manual and the main manual and did not find anything stating a grounded outlet is required. All pictures indicate a simple two pronged polarized plug. A polarized plug is a plug with one prong that is wider than the other to only allow you to plug it in one way. Did not see anything about grounding.

So in short I do not see the need for a grounded outlet. However if your questioning the safety of the outlets and they lack a ground plug it can't hurt to have them changed out for safety's sake.

jackr · Post by **jackr** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:44 am

I have mine pluged into an UPC Battery Backup/ surge protector. We get a lot of lightening strikes and surges that have fried a lot of my electrical equipment in the past.

Also if the power blinks off momenterily I wont lose power.

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:54 am

From what I've read, it's far more important to have a grounded plug for your computer....than it is for your cpap machine.

Computers use the safety ground as part of the circuits that allow your computer to talk to printers, monitors, modems, etc. It's what they call a "reference ground".

Gerald

Bearded_One · Post by **Bearded_One** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:57 am

Does your CPAP power cord even have a grounding plug? The CPAP power cords that I have seen have no ground.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:22 am

If the power to your house is pretty stable, I would recommend a GOOD surge protector (NOT just an outlet strip). The surge protector will be a 3-pronged plug, but if your uncle is going to wire you for a grounding plug, you'll be fine.

I don't think Victoria knows what she's talking about, since none of the PAP machines have 3-pronged plugs.

Best wishes,

Den

JimW · Post by **JimW** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:31 pm

FWIW - the ground on 3-prong outlets is there primarily as an extra safety measure. The ground and the white wire in the outlet both attach to the same bar at the breaker panel or fuse box in a 120 volt circuit.

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:25 pm

lyss, I have my machine plugged into a surge protector.

This way I do not have to worry about electrical surges and damaging my equipment. My husband also has his machine plugged into one.

Our house is an 1890's house.

just got my machine

just got my machine

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