In December of 2009 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and subsequently was prescribed for a Respironics BiPAP Plus M Series with Bi-Flex. The first couple of months went without incedent but lately at night, particularly when I am rolling over in bed, the machine will shut off with a steady beep... beep.. alarm, in which case I have to completely pull power on the machine and plug back in to reset (none of the buttons work when this happens). If that doesn't happen, it will shut off, then give a puff of air, give another puff, then turn back on, or it will do the same thing only with two fast beep alarms. In the second case, I have to un-plug it and plug it back in again to get it to start normal pressure again. Needless to say this is interrupting a good night's sleep, which is what I was hoping this system would bring. Does anyone know what is going on here?

Thanks in advance.

Hi Calicojack42...Welcome to the ASAA Forums!

I have the same machine...switched from a CPAP to this machine in 08' (??) ... I had a similar problem...on mine, it was the transformer thingy (sorry lack of proper terms). I also read on here several others with the same issue. My DME said that Respironics fixed the issue by changing the power cord design/set up. I have not had an issue with the replaced unit.

Call your DME ASAP...it is under warranty..or at least should be. When they switch it out..make sure the new machine has No Blower Hours on it (used if it does)...you can search the web to find how to access the blower hours..or make the DME show you.

Tami

Mrs Rip Van Winkle

Thanks so much for your advice. My wife calls me a typical stubborn male, so chances are I would have just put up with it. I'll give my DME this afternoon!

OOOPs, I don't have the same exact machine..mine is a Bi PAP Auto M-series. Same set up though..just different functions (BTW..get them to upgrade you to one like mine....more features..price through insurance is the same )

(Sounds like your wife and I would get along )

Tami

My BiPAP Auto M did the same thing. I called the DME and went in, they had a replacement ready for me because of the warranty. My problems happened within 30 days I think, though. Give them a call!

I sleep so heavy that I did not even realize it was happening until my husband frantically woke me one night freaking out that I was snoring and having apneas..and the machine was not running.

I swear, before I started therapy he would sit awake almost all night telling me to breathe, waking me close to tears(probably was in tears but not wanting to show it) to tell me I stopped breathing. Once on therapy he finally had a full nights sleep for the first time since we were married (about 24 years prior).

If your DME does not fix the problem call Respironics Customer Service directly.

I have had good luck dealing with Phillips-Respironics directly when the DME balked about a replacement.

FYI - had some similiar symptoms on a Respironics Remstar CPAP I was testing for use on 12-V batteries under drained conditions.

Turned out using the CPAP on drained batteries may have fried a PC board in the flow control. Also.. the there is a flow control sensor just inside CPAP or BiPAP near the humidification chamber. If you have moved the CPAP with water in the chamber or gotten water into the machine the flow sensors on older machines are VERY sensitive to water damage.

The newest (this years models) have better moisture protection.

Truck drivers on CPAP - especially team drivers where one driver is sleeping in the truck while the other drivers have lots of issues with water damage to their CPAP.

I've had this problem as well. It seems to be a filter thing for me. I have to switch out the black filter every 3 days or I'll get the Service Required message and no air. Its really a downer when it happens :(

Very interesting. I have been removing and cleaning the filter once a week, so maybe I need to think about cleaning it more often. In either case, my DME is looking at it this morning, so when its all said and done, I'll post the results here. Thanks to all who took the time to read and reply to my post!

After explaining the issues to my DME they decided to replace the unit outright with a Respironics System One, which they tell me is a significant upgrade over my current hardware. Thanks to all for the advice!