.

Configuration
CPAP ResMed S8 Escape System.
Integrated ResMed HumidAire 3i.
Attached to FlexiFit 431 Full Face Mask.
Pressure 10
Ramp = none

Background Statement
I can feel the pressure nasally and orally.  Relaxation of related muscles can cause cheeks to puff out with air at first.  Comfortable.  Aware of only very slight mask leaks related to rebreather valve and exhaled air escape.  I fall asleep within minutes and sleep about three hours before wakened.

Complaint
At awakening all pressure seems to have disappeared.  There is a steady airflow, however, no pressure as described above is felt.  The pressure display LCD is still at 10 and there is no ramping indication.

Why do I not feel any air pressure in excess of a steady flow?  ResMed Tech Support cannot answer the question and suggests I return the unit.  Turn the unit off for several minutes and perceived pressure resumes at a normal rate.

Should I return it?


_________________
Success Nourishes Hope

Hi Anhelo!
The rule on all these things is, follow the manufacturers' recommendations.  If they say send it back, you gotta send it back.  Personally, whenever I have an issue with CPAP/BiPAP equipment, I pull it out.  Much too risky to take a chance.  This one might be overheating.
sleepydave

Just out of curiosity,does it feel hot to the touch when you awake? Have you changed/cleaned the filter? Does it make grinding type noises?

Again, don't risk it, return it....


_________________
My Kinda town Chicago is



Nothing in life is guaranteed, not even taxes -- you have to make money to get money back

........  thanks .. it's going back (swapped) tomorrow.  

It is not hot to the touch and did not vibrate or grind.  It's still fresh out of the box and only used four or five times, which is why I didn't consider the filter.  It sounds brand new.  In fact, I thought it might have been programmed to "back down" but no it's not.  Then I thought maybe I got used to it and did not feel the pressure.  But the next round of usage proved me wrong.


_________________
Success Nourishes Hope

Can you still feel airflow out the vents holes in your mask? Do you feel/hear the air flow if you lift your mask up? If its just that you are not feeling the pressure on your face, in your nose & mouth that is just a simple case a accomodation. Same reason you don't notice how loud the TV as you turn it off but the next time you turn it on it seems like it is blastinly loud. Your body has gotten use to the stimulus and considers it normal- imagine if you noticed every little sound in your bed room...the ticking clock, the car 3 blocks away, the street light outside your window, your spouses breathing, the hum of the air condititioner, etc...would you be able to concentrate let alone sleep? It sounds like you might be new to using xPAPs...as hard as it is to believe you will get to a point were you don't even notice the mini-huricaine when you put your mask on at some point. Just about everyone goes through the panic of either 'my machine is broken' or 'I forgot to turn it on' the first time they don't feel the pressure...a quick wave of your hand in front of the exhalation vents is the best way to tell if its on and air is getting to you

christine wrote:

Can you still feel airflow out the vents holes in your mask?

Yes to that and to everything else you said.  It's scheduled for pick-up tomorrow but I'll test it within the frame-work of your comments tonight allowing for the "getting used to" factor.  I hope I can "keep my head together" in the middle of the night instead of tossing it across the room!


_________________
Success Nourishes Hope

If it does turn out to be accomodation that's a good thing- you are getting use to xPAP and moving up in the ranks of hose heads. After 2 years particpating in various sleep forums I've seen a lot of post similar to yours or the other common new hose head issue of thinking the exhualation vents are a major leak that need to be stopped.

I had a similar problem with a gastric suction pump- the first DME company I was using gave me this really loud machine...imagine a noisey shop air compresser running next to your bed each night and you get the picture. I switched to a different DME and the suction machine they gave me was so quiet we thought it wasn't working. 15-20 minutes of testing with no sign of life other then the light going on and off (intermintant suction) then as my mom was going to get the phone to call the DME just as I noticed it drawing water up the tube. We still joke about how we never thought the noise from the other one could be a plus but at least we knew when it was on and working.  

You've got one of the new 'baby CPAPs', don't you? I saw one at my DME and I still say it looks like it was designed by someone from Matel....it would make a really cute suitcase for Barbie if they use pink instead of blue accents...

christine wrote:

You've got one of the new 'baby CPAPs', don't you? I saw one at my DME and I still say it looks like it was designed by someone from Matel....it would make a really cute suitcase for Barbie if they use pink instead of blue accents...

You are right about the design concept and the “baby CPAPâ€�.  When I saw the blue bag I made a comment about the marketing technique.  The colors, the shape of the device with rounded corners, the designer shape and finally the integration of the humidifier.  All designed to remove the intimidation impact and to present a pleasing image.  So where’s the little DVD player?

I stuck it out last night even though it still felt like the pressure dropped.  I felt fine this morning.  The only problem I had was it felt like the chin portion of the full-face mask was slipping up off of the edge of my chin.  It gave the impression of an anchor slipping.  I guess I need to adjust the head crown strap so it’s a little looser.  Making the head crown looser will drop the entire head set so all the other straps will have to be adjusted.  This should allow the mask to come to rest under the cusp of my chin.  Here we go again.  Anyway, I think the leak caused by the chin slip may be the culprit reducing the apparent pressure.

                                            

Be thankful for its cuteness and petiete size...I'm on BiPAP ST and my machine is 4 times as big as your and needs a seperate humidifier. I can't complain much since the first machine my lab loaned me free of change (and considering one months rental on a BiPAP ST is $600+ was very kind of them) weighed over 30 pounds and makes mine current machine look small.

I've never had to deal with a full face masks...heck I can't even get air to come out through my mouth with pressure on. There are some really knownledgable people if you ask around who can give you pointers on full face masks.

Thanks for your comments and tips.  I deliberately chose the full-face mask because I thought I might end up there anyway.  I didn’t want to get used to something with a different feel to it.  Besides, I know I breath through my mouth at night and can’t imagine taping it shut while I try to sleep in a new environment.

I think I’ll take your advice and stand by for comments on full-face mask techniques from the folks here.  This is what I use ….  
    
              

Comments, suggestions, stories of successes and tales of harrowing experiences are breathlessly welcomed!


.

I use the same mask and when I saw your initial post, it rang a bell with me also. When I first put it on, it puffs my cheeks and I can feel the pressure, but after a while, it doesn't seem to be pressurized anymore. I've just convinced myself that it is working fine and it is in my head. I wish there was something I could plug the hose into to check the pressure it is outputting after I have had it on for several hours to see that it is in fact the same pressure.

Dear Amigo Anhelo,

I agree with Christine on this one.  I too notice an apparent decrease in pressure when everything seems to be running fine and, for me, I am sure I've just gotten use to the feel.  BTW are you using a chin strap with your FF mask?  If so, do you really need to do that since a FF mask usually takes care of a chin strap need?

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.