Newbe Needs Help!

Hi Folks!

Am a newbe who have been on the system for 4 nights now. Basically getting used to the device and the operation. I use a full mask and have a fairly significant pressure setting of 17cm.

I am using a Respironics System One with the humidity tank. As far as I can tell I am only in the CPAP mode (not the auto mode as verified in the hidden menu), and I sometimes use the ramp but finding that it's better for me to start out full so I can adjust the mask properly.

I have noticed a couple things and wanted to know if this is normal or not.

1. In the morning, the pressure I "feel" in the mask seems much lower than the 17cm I start at. Again, I am NOT in the auto mode, but I swear, the pressure is lower than the starting nighttime pressure by 50% or 75% as measured by my face which is subjective but I am typically very objective (if this makes any sense now...). I have very sensitive eyes, and until I can get to the bathroom to rinse my eyes, I can't see enough to read the pressure. I have downloaded the data and using Sleepyhead, I do not see any change in the pressure data.

2. In the morning the pollen and foam filters have come out of the device. This has happened EVERY night, and I can't reproduce the effects manually. Since I sleep through the occurrence, I am baffled!

I appreciate the help!

Cheers!
Rick

Hi - it is normal to feel that your pressure's gone down when you wake up - but it is a subjective thing and does not mean the machine's not working or anything's wrong... don't forget you were being blasted with a high pressure all night, though someone else did speculate that some machines might be programmed to purposely lower their pressure slightly when you're about the awaken and if that is true, your machine could be one of them.

Either your filters were put in wrong to begin with (and you're just following what you've seen from the start) or else the high pressure is somehow affecting them... but if not is there anything at all - even a curious cat, that could possibly be interfering?

Welcome, Rick.
The air flow is just another thing you get used to--and you've already seen how quickly.
I wake up and have to check my exhaust vents to make sure my machine is running--it feels like it is off.
I would keep a bottle of artificial tears handy by the bed. Never put tap water in your eyes; please.
Others with the same machine will be able to tell you how to make your filters obey.

The filters popping out of their resting place is a known issue for some people.
Take a skinny rubber band and slide it around the machine so that it will keep the filters in place.
The popping out seems to happen to some people and not others and maybe from exhale pressure/cough or bad luck. If your white fine filter has a tab on it..cut the tab off.

And yes, we do get accustomed to the pressure as the night wears on.
When we first turn the machine on it feels like a hurricane but my morning it feels like a gentle breeze.
In time when you first put the mask on you won't feel like it is a hurricane.. it will still seem more breezy than it does when you wake up though. It is common and it is normal what you are feeling. The pressure doesn't change but it sure feels like it does.

You have the white filter in first with the mesh side facing inward and the grey foam one on the outside, right? I've never heard of them popping out on their own. Since that is the machine's air intake, they should be pulled IN...

RandyJ wrote:I've never heard of them popping out on their own.

I have heard of it. Respironics even knows about it. It was extremely common when they used the white fine filter with the tab...so then they came up with the no tab filter.
Doesn't happen to everyone. Has happened to me once. Some discussion in the past that if one coughs forcefully with full face mask that the back pressure causes the filters to pop out. It is just a rather pitiful design...but it was the same with the prior models.

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies.

On the Filter Issue, I think I am coughing during the night, and the back pressure is what is kicking off the filters (and if it's the "cat" we have other issues in our pet free home <wink>). I will give the rubberband approach a try.

On the pressure, I suspect it's as many suggest that I am getting used to the flow. It's probably like a lot of things, we notice the changes, and not the accustomed!

Rick

RIck..I have the same machine and it is definitely a sorry design by Respronics. It has happened to me once or twice. I don't visually check my machine daily, so it cold have laid on the floor for 3-4 days before my cleaning day.
The rubber band is a good suggestion.
You would think that when a company that is dealing with providing a patient with clean air to their lungs that they could come up with something better then what is provided for with the Respronics XPAPs.