CPAPtalk.com

DMEbait wrote:Hello, all.
I am now on my second M Series BiPap, and continue to have the same problem with the unit shutting itself off repeatedly during the night. I too wear a full face mask. As if this weren't bothersome enough, the unit beeps repeatedly and I get a "blue light special" until I disconnect the power from the unit and start over. Anyway, it's annoying-- for the cost of these machines (or DME rental, of course...) you'd think they'd do a better job engineering these things. While my DME has given me a another new machine, I'm frustrated that I am stil lhaving this problem. I'll try the auto-off setting and see if that improves the situation. (If anyone has something else to share on this, please do. Thanks!

FYI.
The pattern of the beeps and lights indicates what kind of problem it is.

Den

Last night my new Factory refurbed unit shut down and flashed the lights when my mask came part way off my face. I haven't had a problem with the unit since I got it. I have also been not sleeping through the night again.
I can't believe this it only happening to a few of us.

I believe that I found the problem with my setup. I changed out the main unit, power brick, shorten hose and humidifiers. Which is everything! So I decided to use the unit without the humidifier and I had no problems since then. I will call the DME provider tomorrow to replace my humidifier. This will be three humidifiers that went bad. What happens during the night is I will lift the mask to make an adjustment and the air flow will stop plus the humidifier light will blink indicating a lost of communication between the two units. Maybe with a high pressure setting and the humidifier in the circuit, it's not getting enough amps from the power brick.

It's back to my HMO's Sleep Lab tomorrow to see if I can change out the Auto BIPAP M Series for a ResMed machine (their rendition of a bipap). Four weeks ago I came home with my first machine. It was prescribed for me to try to combat my aerophagia (gas). I thought it had...but NOT. What it does is just push the gas further down my system and doesn't allow me to belch it out at night. The machine seemed to work OK but I kept getting a little "burp" between the inhale and exhale. Then the machine cut out twice one night. But the real corker was when I came into the room and the machine turned itself on. I called Apria and was told that there was no way the machine could turn itself on unless there was pressure. While I was talking to the guy it turned itself on again, whereby he told me to come in and exchange it. The second machine seemed to be working fine (still burps, however) until earlier this week. I woke up with headaches and lots of yawns two mornings in a row. To see if it was a machine-related problem I went back to my old CPAP. Lots of gas but better sleep.

Apparently the ResMed version has a better ramp up/down for inhale/exhale and doesn't produce the sudden change in pressures (which causes the "burp").

So to respond to a previous writer, NO, you aren't alone in having a poorly operating machine and it's possible this is a far bigger problem. They had some serious problems a while back with the humidifiers. Seems there were shorts in the wires. If any of you have experienced the lights flickering on and off when you move the power cords or the machines (after checking to be sure everything is securely plugged in), run, don't walk back to your provider and insist on having the humidifier, if not the whole package replaced. I am wondering if the manufacturers aren't putting out this equipment too quickly without thorough quality control.

Well, my new factory refurbed until has been acting up again. My card was recording but not recording correctly. Some nights it would record correctly others it would say I only ran the machine for an hour when I know it was on for eight hours.
When I adjust my mask the machine shuts down and sometimes will restart by using the button other times I have to unplug the unit.
I went in today and they talked to the manufacturer who had them check for and figured I had water in the motor. Well they want to up my pressure to see if my events go down. last week they had me do a pulse ox overnight and said my 02 levels were good to disreguard the machine. Now they say the machine says my numbers are bad and increased the pressure. But they still haven't figured out why the machine is shutting down. I will give them to Monday and tell them I want a brand new machine from the factory and if I have any further problems with that one that I want a different manufacturer.

Oh when I was in there today they told me there was another guy in an hour before me complaining of the same thing. They didn't believe him either.

another option Gerry... is if they can get you a classic/non-M series/tank Auto Bipap.

I have used the machine two nights now with the pressure increased from 20/16 to 21/17. My AHi has dropped in half I am down to about 7 or 8.

I have not had a problem since I had a pressure change. The machine has worked flawlessly.