Lower pressure

[silvercarper]

My APAP was replaced a few weeks ago but since then I am not getting as good a sleep as before.
I have been waking up in the middle of the night, in the middle of a dream, with the pressure, sometimes , as low as 4.
The hospital has checked the data card and all seems ok but this new machine just seems to run at a lower pressure but its a APAP so this should not happen.
Any ideas

[James @ Intus]

The fact you dream is a good sign, it means you got there without any apnoeas. So seems the machine is doing its job. the APAP would in fact sit at its lower treshold if there's no apnoea events or other breathing anomalies it looks out for. So what you describe seems correct.

Having said that, some indeed find 4 too low for comfort. They feel it's not enough air. So you may wan to ask them to increase the lower threshold to say 6. It wouldn't have much effect probably on the outcome of the actual therapy but it might just avoid these 'alarm bells' ringing and waking you up.

[silvercarper]

In my case CPAP was stopping the nightmares I have suffered for 25 years or more To sleep without waking up in the night wondering what was real or imaginary has been the best benefit of CPAP ever believe me.

It does seem, though, that since my machine has been replaced with a new one that the nightmares have started to return.

The 7 day pressure on my previous machine was approx 13 but on this machine its 9.2 at present which seems a big difference.The starting pressure has already been set to 6 but this has had no effect.

I will contact my hospital again for advice but I am curious why 2 APAP,s can come up with varying pressure readings. After all APAP,s are normally used to get the pressure settings for a CPAP.

[James @ Intus]

Different makes have different algorithms. Some work preventatively, some don't as much. They can vary quite a bit indeed.

Did you get any stats on how many AHI was left?

[silvercarper]

Im on another machine, of the same make, so lets see what happens now.The only trouble is that i have gone down with snake flu ,

[silvercarper]

This machine is much better.
The 7 day pressure is settling down at 12.2 and no nightmares.
I think this proves that my previous machine was duff and I pity the next patient who has to use it. I dont think it was detecting Apneas

[silvercarper]

To continue my problems on this thread rather than hijacking the other.
The second replacement APAP is still giving me problems.
I think there could be compatabilty problems between the APAP and humidifier.
I will try running it for a week without the humidifier attached and see if I get my bounce back

[Tigers Fan]

As a last resort .......

Hi silvercarper

.................... we Brits read the instruction manual. Can you confirm the Apap and the humidifier are connected as per the instuctions? The two are designed to fit and work together so I do not understand how you can have compatibility problems.

I wonder who connected the APAP and the humidifier - you or the hospital/clinic?

TF

[silvercarper]

You dont think that a instruction manual was supplied with the Apap/ Humidifier. Dont be silly.
I have ordered some replacement seals for the humidifier to see if changing them helps and until they arrive I wont use the humidifier.
What I cant understand is that my problems started after my APAP was changed and even though its been changed again I still have problems.
My original APAP machine gave me months of problem free sleep but as the sticker said it was due for a service it was exchanged.BIG MISTAKE
" If it aint broke dont fix it"
After all these years I should have remembered that.

[James @ Intus]

Sorry about the posts being moderated, some setting problems here!

Your symptoms are strange indeed. There are many different settings in most APAPs so perhaps despite having a seemingly like for like replacement, the internal settings may be vastly different. Without knowing the previous unit's exact settings it's of course hard to pinpoint.

I hope they work it out promtply. Must be getting frustrating.

[silvercarper]

I have tried to get a new seal for the humidifier,to see if this helps, but I have been supplied the wrong ones.It appears that the seal I require is no longer available.
The hospital are no help as they said they don't support humidifiers which is rather strange as they supplied it in the first place.
The seal I require is for a Remstar humidifier with a R2b reservoir.

[threewheelweave]

Just an Idea?

Hi Silvercarper

Just an idea - telephone Papworth Sleep Clinc and ask to speak with their senior equipment maintenance technician - if anyone might have the spare part (even pre-used) he will and is extremely helpful.

I wanted a spare battery pack and supply lead for when I travel - he found one tested it and gave it to me for free! Top service!

Hope that this proves useful - cheers

TWW
UK

[Tigers Fan]

Which seal?

Which seal do you want, silvercarper?

The two air pipe connector seals are cheap enough at Respironics. The seal between the upper and lower part of the chamber is an integral part of the lower half - fitted in the factory and not replaceable.

You can, of course, pressure test your humidifier - with chamber vertical, thumb over the lower air connector and keep it there throughout, fill the chamber full of water and washing-up liquid to the level of the upper connector. Put your mouth over that connector, start blowing/apply air pressure, turn chamber to horizontal so the seal between the halves is immersed, keep blowing till you run out of patience or till the seal can be seen to be leaking. This test is best performed standing naked in the shower cubicle!! Or wear a mac, I suppose.

TF

[silvercarper]

TF

My humidifier is a older model, R2 , which just has a one piece seal with two rectangular ports.
I ordered them from Respironics but they supplied the R3 seals,which are circular, in error. It appears that the seal I want is no longer available.
How I wish I was under a proper sleep clinic with all the gear.

[Tigers Fan]

Who needs a proper sleep clinic with all the gear??

Faith, silvercarper! Have faith! Trust in The Power!!

The Power of The Forum!!!

I have alongside me on the computer table a Respironics plastic bag with the number 1003757 written large upon it. Just beneath that it says, "RP - M Series R2 Chamber Kit". Can you guess what is inside the plastic bag???

Many moons ago when I was new to CPAP I went on a Great Spare Gear Hunt for my rig. I just could not get my hands on the seal between the two halves of an M Series humidifier - until I got chatting to the Techies tucked away in their workshop at Respironics. "Ah! No!", they said, "You can't have one of those - but you can have a complete chamber of a design no longer used, the bottom half of which - complete with seal - is exactly the same as your chamber. We've only re-designed the top half." And lo! they sent me a complete chamber, R2 style with recangular ports, free of charge and free postage. A gift.

Now, you see that the Universe and the Forum work in mysterious ways and it seems I have what you want and I have no use for it except to delight you!

I'm guessing you don't want the top half of the R2, only the recangular seals - though you are just as welcome to the top half body. I need to keep the bottom half for my spare seal.

Anyway, there you have the story. You let me know which parts you need/want and PM me your address.

TF