problems with machine after 2 years

[andypandy]

Have battled with Remstar auto for over 2 years and still hate the thing.
I get a cough every so often which lasts for a couple of weeks then disappears until the next time. Have been checked by doctor who says lungs ok. My nose streams, again every so often, but is getting more frequent, and occasionally it's so bad I run a temperature. I am sick to death of myself and am disappointed because it was supposed to give me a better night's sleep and feel less tired during the day. I could count on one hand over the past 2 years that I've had a decent sleep. In winter and sometimes in summer it's even worse because the hose fills up with water and I wake up with fluid in my mouth.
Trouble is we live in France and it's so hard to communicate with the guy who comes every six months to check the card. Get nowhere with the specialist who recommended it in the first place.
Is there anyone out there who may have experienced any of these problems and can help please?
There's a possibility I can change the machine but to which one?

[symmit]

Hi- sorry to hear of your problems.

Firstly, it's possible that build up of mould or other nasties could be causing your cough - make sure you're cleaning the equipment well, especially the water chamber and the hose. I use milton (as used for sterilising baby's things) every few weeks or if anything has any kind of odour to it.

Secondly, the water in the hose is either from overfilling the water chamber or from condensation, if the latter then try turning down the humidifer control, or get a heated hose.

If you were changing machine I'd recommend the F&P Icon (which I use) but to be fair they're not hugely different!

I notice you're using an auto - are the pressures still set wide open if so you may need to adjust it!

[Barely Awake]

I had the CPAP version of your machine for five years prior to my upgrade to a System One auto a year ago. Albeit I had a few teething problems with the water chamber leaking on the old machine (down to me as it turned out not the chamber) I found the machine itself wholly reliable providing I regularly changed the filters and kept the dark one free in-between by a weekly maintenance routine. I had dispensed with the white filter, but started replacing them when I noticed that crops coming into flower, oil seed rape in particular, was giving me a sore throat. In addition I did a daily mask and hose wash. I also used a hose cover back then to counter rain-out (condensation in the hose/mask) but am now migrating to a heated hose as folk on here keep saying it solves the problem.
It may also be worth your while reviewing anything you have changed when the cough started/got worse such as washing powders, shampoo, air fresheners, sprays of any kind - a friend with a long term cough was not on CPAP, went to the doctor they could find nothing wrong, but his partner in the same period started to become poorly gradually then quite ill but with no cough: it turned out that both had an allergic reaction to the same thing.

Hope things pick up for you soon!

[dravidio]

I would recommend the DeVilbiss Sleep Cube and you can check your progress online using the codes the machine generates. I presume you are happy with the mask you use....

[andypandy]

problems after 2 years

Thanks for your input. I have done all the necessary cleaning etc. and have a insulator over the hose but if when the company make their next visit I have a prescription for a new machine which should take care of that problem. I guess my nose is the problem! and the machine doesn't do me any favours. As I am on medication that does not allow me to have any operation (sounds radical but true) a nose job is not the answer and besides which my local doctor said it is not always successful I am so fed up with a dripping nose and would so love to enjoy a decent night's sleep which has eluded me for years now through not being able to breathe through the nose.
It was bad before I suffered with sleep apnoea but a damn sight worse now.
I guess at still very active but tired 74 year old I am beginning to wonder "is that all there is"
Wish I'd had my adenois out when I was a kid. May have saved me a lot of grief