Long time lurker, first couple of posts...

I have a question about my CPAP. It is a Repironics REMSTAR Pro 2 with humidifier. It is about two years old and has 2000 hours of use on it.  On a lark, I took it with me to my new local supplier when I was ordering a new hose and asked it they'd check it for calibration.  It had been changed to a setting of 7 by the manager of my sleep lab about a year ago (long story). I had begun to have more than the normal trouble going to sleep with it.  He hooked it to a manometer guage and it was way off. He even got out an older second guage and verified it.  The tech had to set my machine to 6 in order to get it to output at about 9 (the actual prescription). When I brought it in set to 7 it was actually running at about 12!

So a couple of questions.

It is out of warranty and I hate to have to buy a new one out of pocket. I'm trying to figure out how unusual this is and how likely it is just running high or if it is likely jumping around and I wouldn't even know it. I assume CPAPs are supposed to run at very constant rates.

I had taken it on a plane for the first time about six months ago. CPAPs are supposed to withstand pressurization on planes, right?

I suppose I could rig up a similar guage to test it myself. Any ideas about suppliers?

Thanks

Bismark wrote:

I had taken it on a plane for the first time about six months ago. CPAPs are supposed to withstand pressurization on planes, right?

Yes, regulations and red tape aside, a CPAP machine will work fine on an airplane.  Most of the nicer ones will adjust pressure automatically based on the altitude (or perceived altitude), just as it would it you moved from Florida to Denver.  Basic machines have an altitude adjustment in the menus.

Bismark wrote:

I suppose I could rig up a similar guage to test it myself. Any ideas about suppliers?

Just do a google shopping search for "cpap manometer"...cheap ones can be had for under $10.  There are also many pages on the internet with instructions on how to build your own.  All you need is a hose and water.