New user of Airsense machine on NHS

[Zorro]

I have recently started using the Airsense machine & as i expected am having a few problems :-

1. I wake up regularly with a dry mouth, akin to being stuffed with cotton wool , despite using the humidifier at max humiidity.
2. I seem to not get enough air before falling asleep & so begin to panic preventing sleep - ramp is set to 10 mins
3. When I get up during the night to urinate, I turn off the machine to avoid waking my partner then turn it back on when returning to bed so does this start the ramp again?

Also does the machine have just an 'off/on' function to the switch on the top?.

I am not finding any proper support from the NHS department that gave it to me as I would have expected a practical fitting when I was given it rather than an instruction plus support for follow up issues is not very responsive & patchy.

[Kelly @ Intus]

Good Morning,

Thank you for your post. Let me see if I can help you.

If you have a humidifier attached to the Airsense10 machine then this should moistens the air and make therapy more comfortable. You can set the Humidity Level to Off or between 1 and 8, where 1 is the lowest humidity setting and 8 is the highest humidity setting.,
Can you confirm yours is set on 8. Does the water in the chamber reduce over night?
Can I kindly ask what mask you are using?

Do you have an Airsense10 auto CPAP machine or the airsense10 elite which is a fix pressure?
If you have an auto CPAP machine then the default settings are 4-20cmh20. So if you pop your mask on and then turn the machine on, the pressure will start at 4cmh20 and stay at this pressure until you fall asleep. Once asleep the pressure will increase and decrease,
If you have a fixed pressure machine set at a specific pressure with a ramp. Then it will take the ramp set time to increase the pressure from 4cmh20 to your prescribed pressure.
Please note that the with the mask on and the machine on or off. you will still be able to breathe safely with your mask on as it is vented and has an Anti asphyxia valve. I would suggest sitting with the mask and machine on for 20 minutes during the day so you can get used to the low pressure and are comfortable with so that when you go to bed you feel better and less panicky about the situation. It does take time to get used to using this equipment.

If your machine is an auto then it will work as per my comments above each time you pop the mask on and turn the machine on,
If your machine is a fixed pressure and the rap period is set then this will automatically enable each time you start your machine up.

I hope the above information helps you. If you would like any further help then you can reply to me on here or email our customer service team at [email protected] and we will help you as much as you can.

Kelly

[Zorro]

Hi Kelly - my machine is set to 8 & the water does reduce. It is an full face mask Quattro & the kit is the Airsense 10 Autoset.

I have also noticed water collecting in the pipe & during the night it makes a strange noise which is difficult to describe but sounds similar to the noise my Dyson upright hoover makes when I stretch out the collapsible pipe used for the attachments. At this point I have to stop using it as it keeps me awake.

So although I am using it for half the night, my mouth gets so dry & the noise keeps me awake.

[Kelly @ Intus]

Good Morning,

Thank you for your post.

It sounds like you have a fixed pressure machine set at the prescribed pressure of 8cmh20.

What setting is your humidifier on? The water in the tube is condensation from the warm air from the humidifier hitting a cold tube and turning into condensation.

Do you have a heated tube as this would stop the condensation in your tube? - https://www.cpap.co.uk/product/resme...e-heated-tube/

Alternatively you can try a hose fleece with a standard tube - https://www.cpap.co.uk/product/respl...p-hose-fleece/

We need to get the humidification settings right for you and this will reduce the dry mouth.

Kelly

[Zorro]

Thank you for your post.


Setting on humidifier is 5

Don't have a heated tube as far as I can see as it's just a clear plastic pipe unlike the one in the link you sent me.There is an option on MY OPTIONS saying START WARMUP??


We need to get the humidification settings right for you and this will reduce the dry mouth. - agreed but I have tried a few settings but get that strange creaking noise which wakes me up. The dry mouth is only a problem if I wake up, then I have a sip of water.

I have waited over a week now for a calll back from the NHS for help so it can't be that important that I am still getting 20 incidents per hour?

[Kelly @ Intus]

Good Morning,

Thank you for your reply.

If the humidifier is set at 5 do you still get a dry mouth?

I would suggest contacting the NHS trust that gave you your CPAP machine to see if they would be able to provide you with a heated hose. If not, then I would suggest buying one as this should stop the strange noise in your tube from the condensation.

The target AHI (sleep apnoea events per hour) with a CPAP machine is 5 and under. If your score AHI score is 20 events per hour then either the machine is not giving you enough pressure to meet your requirements. Try calling the NHS to see if the can review your data to see what is going on.

Kelly

[Zorro]

Hi Kelly - I have set the machine to max on the humidity and still get a dry mouth. The heated hose may not be needed now as the seasons have changed and the bedroom is warmer so no condensation issue even with max humidity in the pipe.

The latest AHI score is 36.8 so still too high as my overall score was 91. I think you are right that I need more pressure but my NHS clinic are still not returning my calls after over a week. I called again today & they said call back next Wednesday if they don't get back to me. I think they are the only ones who can help with pressure.

[Kelly @ Intus]

Good Afternoon,

I would keep calling the hospital and explain you are on a fixed pressure machine and your AHI is 36.8 and should be 5 or under with a CPAP machine.

So either you

1. have the wrong type of mask on (which you have a full face mask), so this is not the case.
2. Have poor mask fit so the pressure is not dealing with your sleep apnoea events and leaking out of your mask
3. The prescribed pressure setting is not meeting your requirements and needs to be changed, which only you NHS hospital can do.

Please let me know how you get on and if we can be of any further assistance.

Kelly

[Zorro]

Good Afternoon,

I would keep calling the hospital and explain you are on a fixed pressure machine and your AHI is 36.8 and should be 5 or under with a CPAP machine.

So either you

1. have the wrong type of mask on (which you have a full face mask), so this is not the case.
2. Have poor mask fit so the pressure is not dealing with your sleep apnoea events and leaking out of your mask
3. The prescribed pressure setting is not meeting your requirements and needs to be changed, which only you NHS hospital can do.

Please let me know how you get on and if we can be of any further assistance.

Kelly

Thanks Kelly - I will have to go visit them again in person to get help as they are not responsive. The mask fit is perfect according to the report & as you say is a full face one. The pressure is set at 4 according to the display so this is probably the root cause. Thanks for the help I'll get back to them and try again.

[Kelly @ Intus]

Good Morning,

Thank you for your reply.

Please do let me know how you get on.

Kelly

[Zorro]

Good Morning,

Thank you for your reply.

Please do let me know how you get on.

Kelly

I finally managed to get a callback from a clinician & he agreed that I needed some help as the AHI level wasn't as it should be so the air pressure may need increasing..

He told me that the machine had to learn what I needed so could take some time to adjust. I have never been told that before.

He adjusted the ramp time to 5 mins

He ordered me a heated pipe to help with the condensation noise problem.

Finally he said I may need a further adjustment to "12.5 cm of water required" - whatever that means.

It was better Friday with a AHI score of 22.8 so coming down. (5/5)

Back up to 40+ last night. (7/5)

Back down to 18 last night (8/5)

[Kelly @ Intus]

Good Morning,

Thank you for your reply.

Please give the new prescribe pressure of 12cmh20 a while for you to adjust to. Keep an eye on your AHI level and if this does not improve then please go back to the NHS.

Kelly

[Zorro]

Good Morning,

Thank you for your reply.

Please give the new prescribe pressure of 12cmh20 a while for you to adjust to. Keep an eye on your AHI level and if this does not improve then please go back to the NHS.

Kelly

Thanks Kelly - I will take your advice. Any idea what might come next if this doesn't improve?

[Kelly @ Intus]

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your post.

The pressure sounds to be the main issue, so I would get this sorted first and then if needs be address any mask leaks.

Kelly

[Zorro]

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your post.

The pressure sounds to be the main issue, so I would get this sorted first and then if needs be address any mask leaks.

Kelly

OK I will do thanks