Howdy,
I apologize for the gaps in replies. I had spine fusion surgery in Q1 of this year and the 'recovery' has been more difficult than anticipated. This has taken up most of my attention and when I've had difficulty with the Aircurve I’ve just set it aside and used my old Respironics M-series bipap. (until very recently)
I will make another post in this thread with an update on the Aircurve but I wanted to make this post to thank all of you who have replied and helped me out. As I mentioned I’ve been on bipap since 1988 and figured I’d just see my doctor, purchase a new machine and then carry on. Just goes to show that it doesn’t matter how much experience you have, sometimes the learning curve is steep and getting comfortable with a new machine can take time. I find a bit of irony in the fact that I frequently advise New cpap users to view the process as more of a marathon than a sprint, as it sometimes takes a while to get used to the cpap and become compliant.
To be honest, I don’t really care for this (new to me) method of doctor-writes-prescription and sends it to the DME for machine issuance. And it’s up to the patient to bridge the gap if problems are found. My previous two machines were prescribed by my doctor and the machine and related equipment were recommended, test-fit, set-up and then supplied by the same doctor out of the same office. The doctor worked directly with the machine/equipment manufacturers and the sleep techs worked directly for him in his office. This means he was up-to-date on the latest machine and equipment offerings, and he oversaw the quality set-up, delivery, and follow-up with the patient.
I have talked with him about this issue and he agrees that the new method is disjointed and not necessarily in the patients best interest. He feels the vertically integrated business set-up he (and other physicians) had provided better overall quality to the patient. But I guess there was a Medicare law or something that disallows this type of practice these days. Anyway, enough whining about this, thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
Once again, I am deeply appreciative for the information this website and the membership provide. I appreciate that the website is structured as an educational resource and as such empowers people to take ownership of their sleep health. (Under the nobody cares as much as you do about your own health concept) I have made a donation and hopefully can do so again in the near future.
For all of you who take the time to reply to the many questions posted on this forum, don’t ever think that the information you provide is not appreciated.
And Mongo, I apologize for missing your question. I am not really into astrology per say, I just like sitting in my camp-chair and drinking beer while staring at the night sky during our camping trips.
Ok, here is the latest. When we left off last I had exchanged the Airsense for the Aircurve and the Aircurve was making a whistling noise, and in addition to that I could not get to sleep using the thing.
I took it back to the DME and ended up seeing a different tech than the one who initially set-up the machine.
This fellow turned the machine on and with no water in the reservoir it was not making any noise. He added water to the reservoir and then it was singing like a canary. He said he had not seen this problem before and while we were sitting there listening to the machine he reached over and squeezed the two halves of the reservoir together, and the noise stopped. The other tech mentioned he has come across two other Airsense/Aircurve machines that have had this problem. The tech I was working with gave me a new reservoir and that problem was solved.
The second issue I talked to him about was not being able to use the machine because it was not breathing for me. He found the ramp was turned on, and he turned it off (see Mongos post above). Also, in fairness the tech that did the initial set-up was following the prescription with regard to the ramp. The prescription called for a suggested ramp of 15 minutes.
I also talked to the second tech about how the pressure was set-up given the prescription was written as:
Bi-Level
IPAP: 14-20
EPAP: 7.5
With: cflex of 3
Given how the machine was set-up by the first tech, the numbers did not make sense to me in regards to what the prescription said vs how the machine was setup. And I think Mongo’s post above illustrates this as well.
So the second tech apparently changed some things but it still doesn’t seem to match the Prescription? Now the machine reads:
7.4 – 11.4
PS 4.0
When I asked the tech about this he pretty much gave me the brush-off and said you need less pressure when initially going to sleep and if/when more pressure is required the machine would go up to the higher number (allegedly into the range the prescription calls for).
Turning off the ramp at least gave me a chance at using the machine and I am able to get through the night but wake very frequently and feel terrible as compared to my old bipap.
I feel like I’m simply not able to breathe properly.
I’m going to send my doctor a letter with the current status and see what he says.
And I need to read the clinicians manual, get the software setup, and learn more about all this so I can set it up the way it should be, as right now it’s a very expensive modern medical device that’s not working as well for me as a decade’s old bipap.
I gave my old bipap to my wife as her bipap recently bit the dust. She has the same doctor and wants to go in to get a new machine issued this year but is waiting to see how this drama with the Aircurve plays out so she can make a good decision on the make/model of machine she wants.
One positive note is the auto off/on seems to be working well, at least with my old Adams circuit nasal pillows. It doesn’t work at all with the P10 I was issued and the DME says that’s normal because the P10 doesn’t flow enough air. This ironically is the same reason I have not been able to use the P10. (Yes, I’m trying to make my way through all the many posts on the P10)
There are other issues besides the pressure settings, like the mask, a high pitch motor whine that the DME says is normal with these machines and occasional rain-out.
I should probably post separate threads on these.
Thanks again for all your help.
Hmm, guess I screwed that up. I intended for these to be two different posts. Oh well.
