Why Are These SH Graphs So Awful?

[DeeCPAP]

I uploaded two nights of statistics from more then 30 days ago. They look horrible. I just want to know why there were extreme numbers of obstructive apneas and at other times there no events. Since then, I reset my pressures so the graphs look better, but I want to know so I can make sure this doesn't happen again.

Both graphs are here: https://deedee3.imgbb.com/

[ajack]

I would say you need more minimum pressure and more maximum. I would try 7 and 14 and see where you land. In general, you want your minimum on the median number and the max 2cm above the 95% number, you are maxing out on 10

[DeeCPAP]

I would say you need more minimum pressure and more maximum. I would try 7 and 14 and see where you land. In general, you want your minimum on the median number and the max 2cm above the 95% number, you are maxing out on 10

Thanks. Ajack. The tech raised the maximum pressure from 5-8 to 5-10 a few months ago, but after getting advice here, I recently raised it to 8.2 to 11.6 It seems to be working better, but still not perfect. I forgot to wear the CPAP last night so I'm a bit suspicious about the new settings. Maybe I should try 7-14 instead.

Just as an aside, how do people survive so many events while sleeping. I think the reason for an increase in events is because I started wearing a chin strap. Strange that a tech would suggest a chin strap without mentioning changing What if a patient didn't have SH software and a website with people who help?! Sounds deadly!

[DeeCPAP]

P.S. I changed the EPR from 3 to 2. As I understand it, lowering this setting makes exhalation easier, if I'm correct.

[Uncle_Bob]

http://www.apneuvereniging.nl/forum/pdf ... manual.pdf

page 16-17 set your machine wide open to the to pressure in AUTO mode, you need no clinician to do this.

[Uncle_Bob]

P.S. I changed the EPR from 3 to 2. As I understand it, this setting makes exhalation easier if I'm correct.

No 3 makes it easier as it reduces exhalation pressure (EPR) by 3cm instead of 2cm.
But as others have suggested its looks like you need more inhalation pressure which may be more uncomfortable to you. So you may want to keep EPR at 3 and change your upper pressure to the max on your APAP and see how you go.

[DeeCPAP]

P.S. I changed the EPR from 3 to 2. As I understand it, this setting makes exhalation easier if I'm correct.

No 3 makes it easier as it reduces exhalation pressure (EPR) by 3cm instead of 2cm.
But as others have suggested its looks like you need more inhalation pressure which may be more uncomfortable to you. So you may want to keep EPR at 3 and change your upper pressure to the max on your APAP and see how you go.

Thanks for the Resmed page. I'll check it later. In the meantime, I changed it to 7.4 to 14 with the EPR at 3. (Under simulated sleep conditions - i.e. relaxing my throat to the max, I can't go lower than 7.4 without one "clog" in my throat that has to adjust itself with increasing pressure, but it corrects quickly.) I'll try it tonight with the chin strap, hopefully without the chin strap soon (I really dislike it).

I'll probably have some decent graphs tomorrow. Thanks, Uncle Bob and Ajack!

[DeeCPAP]

P.S. I changed the EPR from 3 to 2. As I understand it, this setting makes exhalation easier if I'm correct.

No 3 makes it easier as it reduces exhalation pressure (EPR) by 3cm instead of 2cm.
But as others have suggested its looks like you need more inhalation pressure which may be more uncomfortable to you. So you may want to keep EPR at 3 and change your upper pressure to the max on your APAP and see how you go.

Here's the new graph from last night (EPR was 3) and the rest of the info is on the SH graph here and if you click the graph it gets larger: https://ibb.co/i8mD3F

I slept 7 hours last night instead of the usual 5 or 6 because I wasn't "asphyxiating" in my sleep with so many obstructive apneas or leaks. What a HUGE relief! If any adjustments can be made to improve it, please let me know. TY!

[Pugsy]

Leave things alone at these current settings and see how things go.

Amazing what a little more minimum pressure will do in more ways than one.

[DeeCPAP]

Leave things alone at these current settings and see how things go.

Amazing what a little more minimum pressure will do in more ways than one.

Pugsy, I REALLY owe you a lot (and Ajack and Uncle Bob). Yes, I'll keep the settings as they are. With minimum pressure increased, I slept 7 hours last night. I've averaged 6 hours for a LONG time. Amazing that working so hard to breathe in your sleep cuts down the hours you sleep!

I didn't know what was wrong because everything felt "off" and my docs didn't know my machine wasn't set properly. My life has been a living hell and I fell through the cracks. When docs tell you "nothing's wrong with you", they think you're lying or nuts and/or you start thinking you're nuts, but you KNOW you're suffering. What a horror!

[ajack]

" I can't go lower than 7.4 without one "clog" in my throat that has to adjust itself with increasing pressure"

although your median pressure says that your minimum is about right, it's only a guide. I had clog on exhale and my machine didn't adjust to and I kept raising the min pressure till it stopped and then gave it a bit more. You could set the minimum to 8, when you are asleep the muscles relax more, but as you know there has been a big improvement.

[DeeCPAP]

" I can't go lower than 7.4 without one "clog" in my throat that has to adjust itself with increasing pressure"

although your median pressure says that your minimum is about right, it's only a guide. I had clog on exhale and my machine didn't adjust to and I kept raising the min pressure till it stopped and then gave it a bit more. You could set the minimum to 8, when you are asleep the muscles relax more, but as you know there has been a big improvement.

Thanks. The increase in the minimum isn't just an improvement, it's a miracle. I took a nap today for the first time in what seems like forever and averaging six hours a night is definitely sleep deprivation. I suspect I didn't nap because of fear, on an unconscious level, but I did try. It probably felt more like torture than a nap because it was hard work struggling to breathe. No wonder I tore the gear off my head in my sleep when I wore a chin strap; I was suffocating when I couldn't open my mouth to breathe.

The last time I saw the tech, he told me I was a candidate for the Inspire implant because I couldn't use the CPAP effectively. Oh, HELL no! Never being able to get an MRI in the future because you have an implant, is much more dangerous, imo. Plus, there's no guarantee the implant will work.

[ajack]

do you want our group paypal number

my sleep specialist had initial high hopes for the Inspire implant, but now thinks it's a flop. getting zapped is also arousing you from sleep.

[Pugsy]

The last time I saw the tech, he told me I was a candidate for the Inspire implant because I couldn't use the CPAP effectively.

The tech was giving up on you prematurely and not listening to you. Apparently thought that all that was needed was more max when it was more minimum you needed. Didn't stop to think about better holding the airway open to start with might be better than trying to fix something after the fact.

[DeeCPAP]

The last time I saw the tech, he told me I was a candidate for the Inspire implant because I couldn't use the CPAP effectively.

The tech was giving up on you prematurely and not listening to you. Apparently thought that all that was needed was more max when it was more minimum you needed. Didn't stop to think about better holding the airway open to start with might be better than trying to fix something after the fact.

Correct. The tech didn't follow through. In fact, I just found out that my gear has been leaking for years. I was recently told I should get another sleep study, but the hospital where it's done is too far away, so I decided to do it myself since it's only a matter of adjusting the setting. The leaks have probably been going on for years. I'm on my second CPAP machine and I'm due another in August. The help from this website (and to you, specifically, Pugsy) is priceless! I think I'll be able to get some decent sleep when all these variables (headgear, pressures, etc.) are fixed.

P.S. I was told the doc only keeps 2 days worth of data when he checks the machine. The doc or tech was very surprised when I emailed them the SleepyHead data -- they wanted to know where I got it from. This morning I woke up with lots of whooshing from the cushion and the frame had probably slipped because I was wearing a 3 inch thick elastic headband. I'll read last night's SleepyHead data and upload it, but I suspect a lot of leaking.