Cpap NOT RECORDING USE -with USAGE!

Help! i am using my Cpap (faithfully) Since 3 wks. into therapy -started april 2007. The past 2 wks I have Suddenly developed increasing Hypertension-angina-and generally tired/not feeling right-I had discussed this with my medical doctor. He suggested a eval for depression and the dr there sent me to have my Cpap machine tested at the local-supply shoppe. They looked my machine over-and simply-said "you are not using it enough". I am using it every night. I wake up with it on/and may face obviously shows its been on it-all night. I received two more nose -pieces and used it another 3 nights and still feel poorly. Took the thing back and they again are saying it is showing-very tiny amount of use-for the past 6 wks.
I am able to have a new-sleep study paid for w/ insurance however-was told -'even if" my insurance will pay for the new-study; they "won't pay for a new machine". I have gained 40 lbs since the 1st study . could this be a issue i should follow up or should i just wait til Spring and feel bad. I'm only in my 40's and used to feel-so -much better with my Cpap.

Welcome to the board.

Please sign up for an ID on the board, and fill in your equipment profile. That will help us figure out what equipment you've got and how to help you. There's a link at the bottom of this post for how to fill in your equipment profile.

Hi and welcome.

If you register and show your equipment (under the User Control Panal) then we will be able th help you better.
What brand of machine do you use? what is your pressure settings What type of mask are you using? these are all important things we need to know to help.

Hi RK,
Where you took the machine...was that a repair facility or just the supplier?
DME facilities have a well earned bad rep. They tend to be in it for the money and customer service comes...third or forth or even last.

Do you think there's a correlation between how you feel and your machine not recording. Like perhaps the machine isn't providing good therapy and your body is responding?

If it weren't blowing proper pressure...I'd think you would notice. If it shut off in your sleep, you would wake up.

So it seems possible that your machine data writer is bad or that the SD or smart card is bad. Something along those lines.

Anything else going on in your life that could account for your other issues? Stress? New Job? Alcohol use? Just helping you think through this...

Welcome and I hope we can help you work your way through this and get back on track...
Jamis

Thank You! Had it back to Breathing Care (supplier) twice this week; again today. Replaced the mask-doubled checked it was fitting correctly-they added a outer device/with a card in it and told me to bring it back next week; Friday. They said it recorded half a nights use last night-and that it started at Midnight/though was on aprox 2 hrs prior. Not really feeling too comfortable with things still. I def. feel my health symptoms came about-perhaps due to its faulty -or-improper fitting mask (?); though since getting it-after the (breaking in period) I LOVED having Energy! I felt wonderful actually. I do need to get the weight back down-and they made a comment Said "10 lbs" can make a difference. So, not sure (how) exactly they checked the machine out-they said they "hooked it up" and "it checked out working correctly". The whole-time took less than 15 minutes. Not sure where else to take it/ would def. like to "know for sure" its working properly-without a whole-new sleep study. Its a REMstarPLUS M series by Respironics model 1051158 serial H002977354. I was pretty blown away when they initially said "non compliance" for usage; as I use it and haven't stopped. for all the answers will work to get more specifics in place- thanks All! APPRECIATED IT!

you may have a large leak issue - your machine had no good data to know even with that extra piece added on

which mask?

rklewis2 wrote:Thank You!......... Its a REMstarPLUS M series by Respironics model 1051158 serial H002977354. I was pretty blown away when they initially said "non compliance" for usage; as I use it and haven't stopped. for all the answers will work to get more specifics in place- thanks All! APPRECIATED IT!

Your machine is what is known as a brick meaning it only shows compliance data ( basicly how many hours a night you used it). I would take it back and demand a PR System One REMstar Pro CPAP Machine or something simular, you can go to CPAP.com and read up on different machines. You want something that will break down your therapy, show you fi your mask is leaking, how many apneas, Hypopneas and centrals (if any) you are having.
I also suggest spending some time here and read, visit the CPAP wiki (the light bulb above).

not only did you get a brick... you got an OLD brick... it's an old model... you should have gotten a PR S1 (Phillips Respironics System One) PRO with CFLEX +

Take it back and get it replaced.

cflame1 wrote:not only did you get a brick... you got an OLD brick... it's an old model... you should have gotten a PR S1 (Phillips Respironics System One) PRO with CFLEX +

Take it back and get it replaced.

He got his machine in 2007, so they didn't give him an obsolete machine when he got it. They did screw him by giving him a plus instead of a Pro or Auto M series. He's probably not going to get them to replace a 4 year old machine for free.

Once again, please sign up for an ID and fill in the equipment in your profile.

If I am understanding you correctly you have two issues:

1] your CPAP therapy is no longer providing restful, refreshing sleep

and

2] your CPAP is not reporting all the hours you are using it

1] you say you've gained 40 lbs since your last sleep study and initiation of CPAP therapy and that you are encountering hypertension, angina, fatigue and just not feeling right. That is a pretty strong indication that you in all likelihood need a pressure adjustment. Given it has been 4 years and 40 lbs it would be a GOOD idea to have a new in-lab sleep study.

2] since your local DME provider doesnt want to be bothered I would call or e-mail PR (Philips Respironics) and tell them that your PAP is no longer reporting all the hours you are using it, that it is messing up your compliance data badly. In all likelihood they will tell you to return it to them for repair. It will have to be sent in for repair thru your local DME provider so be sure to tell PR that you've already had it in to your provider and what transpired: i.e. 15 minutes and nothing wrong w/it except you aren't using it enough despite you have used it faithfully all night every night for the last 4 years. Your insurance may well prefer to replace it w/a new CPAP rather than pay for repairs depending on the cost of repair.

When a sensor failed on my machine it no longer recorded my hours of use accurately. It could no longer "sense" the resistance of my breathing so it didn't know whether I was wearing the mask or just had the blower on. Therefore recorded no usage at all. Auto on and cflex also didn't work at that point. I didn't notice any change in the pressure produced but I didn't think to test that either.

Mine was also a Remstar Plus M but all CPAPs have sensors inside. I think your machine may be broken. I also think slinky may be right that you have two different issues going on.

I agree w/Slinky that you should ask for new sleep study; it is probable that your current settings don't do the job if you've gained 40 lbs.

However, on a 2007 machine that is not recording compliance, this may not be a big problem as I imagine you are no longer paying for a 4 yr old machine so there is no need for compliance reporting. Or is there?

But, Randy, if the PAP is not reporting compliance accurately you can't rely on ANY of its data for any degree of accuracy. And THAT IS a concern. You want that data to back up how you are feeling, not having the data make a liar out of you.