My RemStar Series M AutoCPAP with A-flex.....

For about the past 5 days, my AutoCPAP machine seems to go to the max pressure that's set in the 'clinical' menu. The max pressure is '10' and the min pressure is '5'. After my sleep study, they said that I should use a pressure of '7'. For some reason, over the last 5 days, my AutoCPAP machine starts out at the min pressure of '5' (like it should) but then later it climbs to a pressure of '10' and stays there; even after I've been awake for 5 - 10 minutes.
(I've gotten a 'clinical' manual from online and have tried various settings.)

The other day, I went into the 'clinical' menu and set it for straight CPAP with a pressure of '7' without any A-flex or C-flex. I was at least able to sleep for about 4hrs that way.

Also, whenever I had the machine set to A-flex, it seemed to want to shorten my breathing times almost like it was trying to breath for me. I would be inhaling and then all of a sudden, the machine seemd to drop it's pressure making it hard to inhale any more. Am I just supposed to 'go with the flow' and breath the way that the machine appears to want me to?

Oh yea, one more thing; when the machine is 'running' at the pressure of '10', the inhalation seems to be much louder than when the pressure is at '7'. Should it be that much of a difference. I used a decibel app in my iPhone and it appeared that the dB at pressure of '7' was about 20 and the dB at pressure of '10' was about 40.

Hopefully all of this make sense to you and thanks for any info or suggestions that you may have.

Allen


Update: Today, when I was attempting to sleep with my Swift LT nasa pillow mask and the machine, I started the machine in the AutoCPAP mode without Aflex and no 'ramp up'. After about 5 minutes, the machine suddenly stopped for about 1 sec and the started back up again. Now it doesn't seem to 'max out' when it's running. I'll see what happens when I next sleep with it.

It sounds like you have a couple things going on and need to take them 1 at a time.

abinder wrote:After about 5 minutes, the machine suddenly stopped for about 1 sec and the started back up again.

This sounds like a loose power connection or power dip. There are 3 places where it can loose connection, check all three, esp. at the power brick, push it in snuggly.

The increasing pressure sounds like a leak. How are your leaks? No software? Look on the LCD. Each mask has a calibrated leak rate for a given pressure. So it's helpful to know the mask & pressures. Leaks will cause pressure to spiral UP. The higher the pressure the more noise it makes esp. when using one of the flexes, esp. on exhale. I think that is how it drops the pressure, by exhaling it.

I am certainly no expert but I am sympathetic. Know thru my own experiences that sometimes the machine seems to have a life of its own when there is a leakage however minimal it might be. You might want to check that out. Good luck!
Lindyjoy

(Depending on the circumstances)......The machine shutting off COULD be that the following setting is set to "ON". Suggest turning it "OFF".

-Auto Off Feature = Off (On/off)

Leaks and snores can affect the pressure changes.
Some of the Swift masks have been reported to be "noisy", in case that's where the noise is coming from.

And, without software to monitor the nightly data, you're "flying blind".
I'd suggest leaving it in CPAP mode with fixed pressures till you can establish how your therapy is working and which pressures serve you best. (or until you get the software)

Den

Hi there! I have the same machine. I dislike the Aflex setting, for the reasons you've described.

I use Cflex set at 3, and find that very comfortable and natural. You might try it. Cflex and Aflex feel very differently. There are 3 different settings for each one, for a total of 6 different settings you need to try, to decide which one feels best to you.

Definitely you want to turn off that "Auto Off" setting, and check every single electrical connection. If you continue to have problems, first try plugging it into a different power outlet, and see if that solves the problem. If not, then contact your DME and get the machine replaced.

Welcome to the board!!!!
Babette

Babette wrote:There are 3 different settings for each one, for a total of 6 different settings you need to try, to decide which one feels best to you.

Don't forget to try the 7th setting commonly ignored: Flex OFF

Oh now you're just being cranky. Yes, FLEX OFF is a choice, and it works for many people.

LOL,
Babs

Yup. Lately, I've just chosen to turn off the 'flex' options all together.

I've checked the electrical connections and everything seems okay. The 'funny' thing is, ever since it appears to turn itself off for about 1 sec, it hasn't gone up to the 'max' setting that's in the 'clinical' menu. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm............

I definitely have the 'Auto off' function turned off as well.

I'm thinking of trying to get in touch with Respironics about the 'bizarre' operation of my machine and see if they could offer any advice. (or will they get mad because I can get into the 'clinical' menu and understand it?)

The 'noise' definitely seems to be coming from the machine because the closer it get to the machine, the louder it gets.
(Hmmmmmmm.........wonder if placing a box over it with a couple of ventilation holes in it would decrease the noise much?)

Is there any way to 'upload' a sound file here? I've recorded the 'noise' and was wondering if it's the same type of noise that others are hearing.

Thanks to everyone for their input. It's greatly appreciated.

Allen

Oh yea, one more question; if I get the EncoreViewer software/card reader for it, will I be able to see the daily/nightly data for each day? (not just the 7day and 30day that shows up on the display)

I'd call your DME FIRST, and ask if they could swap machines for you. Make sure if they say YES, that you get EXACTLY THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, and then ask them to show you the blower hours on it, and certify that it's a brand new machine, not a re-manufactured one.

All Respironics will do is tell you to contact your DME.

Good luck!
Babs

thanks everyone for your help!!!

Allen

Babette wrote:All Respironics will do is tell you to contact your DME.
Good luck!
Babs

You will have to go thru the DME for ANY warranty. I do remember a post here claiming the same thing was resolved by replacing the power brick. Perhaps your DME will do that for you if they won't swap out the machine. Auto ON cannot be turned off but Auto OFF can. Good call Den.

I had problems with my unit last night too. I was using a bacteria filter AND the humidifier. When that filter gets waterlogged, air can barely move through it. You might check to see if you're getting a blast of air if you detach from the mask. I simply had a breathing circuit that was not working properly.

ractar28 wrote:I had problems with my unit last night too. I was using a bacteria filter AND the humidifier. When that filter gets waterlogged, air can barely move through it. You might check to see if you're getting a blast of air if you detach from the mask. I simply had a breathing circuit that was not working properly.

thanks for the suggestion.

I've checked all the pathways and there's nothing in the way that I can see and I definitely have a 'blast of air" when the mask is detached.

The really bizarre thing is that ever since that machine acted like it shut off/paused for about 1 second, it hasn't maxed out to the pressure that selected as the max in the 'clinicians' menu.

I wondering also if somehow the A-flex somehow confused the machine because I haven't been using it now.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the suggestions and thoughts.

Allen

We finally experimented with the settings and my husband definitely likes the Cflex setting better than Aflex so we changed from Aflex=3 to Cflex=2 and his breathing sounds better and pressures were much lower the last 2 nights. Thanks to all.