CPAPtalk.com

Hopefully this link is more readable.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91u ... authuser=0

The problem is this image is only 346 x 447 pixels. I can scale it up, but the resolution is shot. You seem to have a minimum pressure of 6.0 and maximum of 15. I suspect many of the flagged events correlate with periods of lower pressure. From that, I'd be inclined to start by increasing the minimum pressure 1 cm at a time to see if you can't address the flow limitations, Hypopneas and obstructive events. The chart lacks leak data, so hard to say if we're missing anything.

This is a single day, so the above suggestion is based on the assumption, this is typical, and you need to do the pressure/event correlations to see if this is correct, cause this resolution is pretty bad.

IrisofNY wrote:Thanks for everyone's help. Julie, I'm not sure how to post the data or enlarge it. Would appreciate any suggestions. My husband downloaded it for me. Can you see the data if you press "command and +" to enlarge on your imac?

you shrunk it down to the size of a postage stamp.

if anybody tried to enlarge it, it'd be a big wad of fuzz.
it's better to do a screenshot.. view/screenshot, and then upload that to imgur.com. post the link here.

I think I finally got it. Please share your observations with this newbie.

IrisofNY wrote:I think I finally got it. Please share your observations with this newbie.

again, better to do a screenshot of the daily tab, instead of a printout pdf file, more info on the screenshot

The larger image does help. I stand by my previous post. Check events against the pressure at which they occurred by zooming in on the daily graph to where you can see the events and pressure where they happen. It appears that you need to increase your minimum pressure to stay out of apnea and hypopnea. You can do this in increments of .5 - 1.0 until AHI reaches an acceptable level. You will generally need several nights of data to determine that a change in AHI is "real" and not just a night to night variation.

You did fine keeping the therapy in place in the most recent session above, but you need to keep that going all night every night.

Now at 20 days of CPAP.
The suggestion to lower the humidity (at 1, 0 was too dry) eliminated nasal congestion.
I'm still waiting for the heated tube to be delivered but wrapping a fleece scarf around the tube helps. The wisp mask is working out - I'm no longer a mouth breather and don't wake up with a sore throat or swollen uvula. I've increased the minimum pressure - started at 5, now 7.5. My AHI's have come down to 1-3 (from 58 sleep study).
Would like feedback on my SH data and also have a few questions.
1. Would the heated tube still be helpful or should I cancel the order?
2. The expiration relief is on 3. Should I lower that before increasing min pressure?
3. I'm more comfortable sleeping supine but trying to sleep on my side which has me changing positions throughout the night and waking with neck, shoulder and hip aches.
Should I continue to find ways to get comfortable on my side or accept I'm a back sleeper?
4. I had 1 incredible day of "euphoria" the first week when I felt like a superhero, my vocabulary tripled and brain functioned incredibly but since then, tired again. How do I get that back?

1. Would the heated tube still be helpful or should I cancel the order?
2. The expiration relief is on 3. Should I lower that before increasing min pressure?
3. I'm more comfortable sleeping supine but trying to sleep on my side which has me changing positions throughout the night and waking with neck, shoulder and hip aches.
Should I continue to find ways to get comfortable on my side or accept I'm a back sleeper?
4. I had 1 incredible day of "euphoria" the first week when I felt like a superhero, my vocabulary tripled and brain functioned incredibly but since then, tired again. How do I get that back?

1. Keep the heated tube coming. It's very nice and prevents a snoot-full of water sometimes.

2. I find RERA, Hypopnea and other disruptive sleep occurrences increased with higher Flex/EPR settings. Try a night with AFlex at 1 and see how it goes. Exhale relief can take you out of therapeutic range when you are at relatively low minimum pressure settings. We're all different, so this is a comfort setting you can change without much consequences, and potentially significant benefit. Most of the events you're logging suggest higher minimum pressure would help. Reducing Flex is one way to do that, although the pressure relief with A-Flex is not a noticeable as Resmed's EPR. You may end up doing both, and I do recommend setting your minimum pressure to 8.0 at this point.

3. Me too. There are members here who think we consort with the devil by laying on our backs, but it's how I sleep. I probably keep higher pressure settings as a consequence. I am a back sleeper due to arthritis in my hips that makes prolonged side-sleeping painful. Positional apnea is common, and the solution is sometimes a little more pressure to compensate. You are still at relatively low pressures.

4. Keep trying. It comes and goes for me too. You've made great improvements, and most of your "events" seem related to lower pressure or exhale pressure relief. I'd like to see the snores and flow limitations cleaned up, but you're on the right track.

Hi All,
I am new to CPAP and am so grateful to have found this group. My Dad died from severe sleep apnea and I think I've had it my whole life. My sleep study AHI was 58 and the last 3 nights were bet 5-6. My 3 nights with the machine (PR system one autopap with heated humidifier series 60) weren't as tough as I expected - actually used it for over 9 hrs each night. I have been somewhat of a mouth breather but wanted to avoid a FFM because of claustrophobia and sensitive skin. The DME gave me a nasal wisp mask, the only mask without forehead straps that she had.
I have a few questions I hope people can help me with.
1. The first is that I am so much more exhausted since Cpap, having trouble getting out of bed and falling asleep during the day which I've never done before. Any predictions when this exhaustion might stop?
2. I'm having trouble falling asleep: feel like I'm not getting enough air, getting stuffy, hate the smell of the mask and need to yawn which causes the air leaking out of my mouth.
3. Also having trouble falling back to sleep with surge of cold air into my nose and then mouth. I set the humidifier to 3 last night (from 2) and a lot of moisture was in the mask but not the hose. My bedroom is cool at night - 64 degrees and I was wondering if I should get the heated tube instead of what I have.
4. I downloaded sleepyhead but there isn't any data on the SD card other than hours used, 90% pressure and AHI. I'd really like to see what is going on during the night to maximize treatment and comfort.
I would appreciate any help or suggestions from you guys. I need this to be successful and get my energy back.
Thanks!

Hi, Iris - I am a newbie, too.

I've always been a mouth breather, but all of a sudden with my full face mask, I find it pretty easy to breathe through my nose all night. I don't have claustrophobia, though. As long as I can see around the FFM, and have a hose holder to keep it off me, I'm o.k. I tried nasal pillows, and the tiny straps were cool, but my nose was WAY too stuffy to use them.

1. Exhaustion is probably from many causes, all previously mentioned here by the veterans. I remember my first few nights, pulling my headgear off and on all night, and switching to others because of pain, leaks, or pressure issues. I think as long as you have ruled out any other medical causes for your exhaustion, it will just be a learning curve for you to get used to the equipment, and how to manage your OSA. I'm looking for the same magic as my DH had.. his first night on APAP was amazing... no snoring, no RLS, no gasping for breath, and in the morning he arose early, had lots of energy, and stayed awake all day! We're all different, though.

2. I'm just the opposite of you... I use the ramp feature to lessen the pressure as I am falling asleep. And I kind of like the smell of the masks! Weird, I know.

3. My room is at 65 degrees, and I have my humidifier set on 2. When I wore my nasal mask, I would wake up with it full of water, but the hose would be dry. I wrapped my hose in some foam insulated tape (still lets me wash and dry it) and use a Full Face Mask now, so no more "rainout" I think they call it.

4. I tried to use the software that came with my machine (SleepMapper) and it was kind of useless. I couldn't see any data at all, even though I'd downloaded their software to my computer. So after coming here, I downloaded SleepyHead, and sheesh! So much info! I am getting ready to post my first screen shot. I, too, need to learn how to do that. (BTW, if you want just basic data, you can use the "Info" setting on your machine. It's the same big button you use to turn the machine on, only with it off, you turn the dial to "Info", and can scroll down through several options. Doesn't come close to SleepyHead, though.)

Take a look at the pinned posts at the beginning of this forum. There are some very good tutorials there. I just have to read them!

[img][img]http://i.imgur.com/1TubCVul.png[/img][/img]

I've been using CPAP 1.5 months now. Thanks to forum suggestions, things are easier and I've made some good changes - got heated tube, lowered humidity to 1, EPR at 2, increased minimum pressure to 8.5, use nasal pillows and got AHI to under 2 most days.
I had 1 awesome high energy, no brain fog day but am still fatigued and wake up several times a night due to headgear slipping, mask leaks and noises and hose issues. I've been using the Nuance gel pillows but switching to the P10 tonight. Hopefully this will be The One.
A few questions.
1. Should i change my settings?
2. Should I be concerned about 1-2 minutes of periodic breathing a few times a week?
3. Does CPAP flag events as hypopneas or clear airway events when you adjust a mask, blow your nose or change sleep positions?
4. Anyone know how to correct dates in change of prescription settings?
Would welcome comments on my SH reports.
Thanks,
Iris