New CPAP and decreased air flow

I had a Resmed S8 Elite with the humidifier unit and during a storm we had a power surge and it fried the machine. My insurance replaced my unit with a Resmed S8 Elite II, and I have noticed a significant decrease in the air flow when using the humidifier with my new machine. Does anyone know why this would happen? My pressure setting is the same on the new machine as it was on the old machine. I know I can contact the company that supplied my machine, but was curious for answers for other users.

Thanks!

The II models have "EasyBreathe" which is suppose to make breathing feel more naturel. Could that be what you're expereincing?
Do you feel a difference in therapeutic results?
Do you know how to track you AHI? Do you see a difference there?
http://www.resmed.com/assets/documents/ ... ow_eng.pdf
O.

junebug63 wrote:I had a Resmed S8 Elite with the humidifier unit and during a storm we had a power surge and it fried the machine. My insurance replaced my unit with a Resmed S8 Elite II, and I have noticed a significant decrease in the air flow when using the humidifier with my new machine. Does anyone know why this would happen? My pressure setting is the same on the new machine as it was on the old machine. I know I can contact the company that supplied my machine, but was curious for answers for other users.

Thanks!

I notice you say "when using the humidifier". How does it work when not using the humidifier?

Perhaps an inspection of the humidifier unit will reveal something missing or not assembled correctly thus resulting in a massive air leak.

Good point, Paul. I missed that.

O.

A technician is going to come and inspect the unit and check the air flow using the humidifier, and not using the humidifier. The "Easy Breathe" feature may be the culprit, but when I do not use the humidifier, the air flow seems fine. However, I never used the other unit without the humidifier, so I have nothing to compare it to. When the tech comes, I am going to ask him if it is possible to allow me to choose (if there is a way I can do it as I see fit on a particular night) whether I want to use this feature. I am also to ask him to test the air flow with the humidifier on and the easy breath off.

Thanks for the advice.

I'm pretty sure that, unlike EPR, EasyBreathe cannot be turned off.

The link the ozij posted has a section that indicates you can customize the Easy Breathe/EPR feature to 1, 2, 3 or Off.

junebug63 wrote:The link the ozij posted has a section that indicates you can customize the Easy Breathe/EPR feature to 1, 2, 3 or Off.

They are shown together, but are not the same.
The EPR can be customized, to give more or less exhale relief (higher or lower expiratory pressure). Easybreathe however refers to the sharkfinned shape of the wave - that is not cusomizable.

O.

The technician is coming sometime today. I am going to ask him for access to change the EPR feature (not a one time thing, but something I can alter to suit my needs as I see fit). I would like access to the detailed menu, but don't know if I can get that. Would love to be able to change settings, and will ask for it, but don't know it I will get it.

At this point, I think the EPR and perhaps Easy Breathe may be the culprit in why I feel there is less air flow when using the humidifier as this feature was not on my old machine. Really wish the old one hadn't died as it worked very well for me.

Thanks again for your help and will keep you posted.

The tech came and the air flow is the same with, or without, the humidifier. He did give me access to use EPR, which was turned off. I have not found this to be a useful feature and still feel that I am getting less air flow than I had from my S8 Elite with the humidifier. Spoke with my ENT's office, and I would have to have another sleep study done if I felt I needed my pressure changed. Wish I had my old machine back (working, of course).

Thanks for the update, junebug.

junebug63 wrote:The tech came and the air flow is the same with, or without, the humidifier. He did give me access to use EPR, which was turned off. I have not found this to be a useful feature and still feel that I am getting less air flow than I had from my S8 Elite with the humidifier. Spoke with my ENT's office, and I would have to have another sleep study done if I felt I needed my pressure changed. Wish I had my old machine back (working, of course).

Wow, a new sleep study to adjust pressure a little? That seems a bit much. My doctor (a sleep doc/pulmonologist) will talk over the pressure setting with me and make appropriate changes.

How are you feeling after use? What is happening with AHI and such?

I am tired when I wake up during the week for work. On the weekends, I feel rested.