DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
alexchetty
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Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2013 11:10 pm
Location: Cape Town

DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by alexchetty » Thu Oct 03, 2013 1:11 am

Hi,
I've been on the CPAP machine for about 20days now, but i still feel tired and light headed. Could you please assist me?

Last 90 Days Last 30 Days Last 7 Days Last Day
% Days of at least 4 hours (not continuous) in a 24 hour period 95% 86% 100%
Day Count 21 7 1
Days at least 4 hours 20 6 1
95th Percentile Pressure 12.0 11.5 11.0
90th Percentile Pressure 11.5 11.5 11.0
AHI 7.0 5.5 5.5
Pressure Plateau Time 0% 0% 0%
High Leak Flow Time 0% 0% 0%
NRI 2.50 1.75 1.00
EPI 31 31 31
SmartCode DXM1-FFC9-V35W 3EC1-FF97-VQ50 FVNF-F9D-VG5M

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Mask: Zzz-Mask Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Current Pressure: Lower pressure 7.0 - Upper Pressure 17

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49er
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Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:18 am

Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by 49er » Thu Oct 03, 2013 1:30 am

alexchetty wrote:Hi,
I've been on the CPAP machine for about 20days now, but i still feel tired and light headed. Could you please assist me?

Last 90 Days Last 30 Days Last 7 Days Last Day
% Days of at least 4 hours (not continuous) in a 24 hour period 95% 86% 100%
Day Count 21 7 1
Days at least 4 hours 20 6 1
95th Percentile Pressure 12.0 11.5 11.0
90th Percentile Pressure 11.5 11.5 11.0
AHI 7.0 5.5 5.5
Pressure Plateau Time 0% 0% 0%
High Leak Flow Time 0% 0% 0%
NRI 2.50 1.75 1.00
EPI 31 31 31
SmartCode DXM1-FFC9-V35W 3EC1-FF97-VQ50 FVNF-F9D-VG5M
Hi Alex,

What is your pressure range right now?

It looks like since your AHI is still outside the ideal <5 standard, you might need to have your minimum pressure raised.

49er

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Hawthorne
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Location: London Ontario -Canada

Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by Hawthorne » Thu Oct 03, 2013 11:30 am

What are your pressure settings (min & max)?

Have you downloaded "Sleepyhead"? It's free software and will give you a little more info about what is happening.

_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments:  Backups- FX Nano masks. Backup machine- Airmini auto travel cpap

alexchetty
Posts: 94
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2013 11:10 pm
Location: Cape Town

Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by alexchetty » Thu Oct 03, 2013 1:03 pm

Don't you need a smartlink attachment to use Sleepyhead software?

_________________
Mask: Zzz-Mask Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Current Pressure: Lower pressure 7.0 - Upper Pressure 17

alexchetty
Posts: 94
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2013 11:10 pm
Location: Cape Town

Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by alexchetty » Thu Oct 03, 2013 1:04 pm

pressure is 5 - 20

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Mask: Zzz-Mask Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Current Pressure: Lower pressure 7.0 - Upper Pressure 17

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49er
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Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by 49er » Thu Oct 03, 2013 1:27 pm

alexchetty wrote:pressure is 5 - 20
Hi Alexchetty,

Yes, you do need the smartlink attachment to use sleepyhead software.

And your pressure of 5-20 is too wide of an open range. You might want to raise the minimum pressure to 6, look at your data for a week and then reevaluate to see if you need another increase. The idea is to go slow with pressure changes to give your body time to adapt to them.

Many people prefer to consult with their doctor before changing the pressure and other people are willing to do it on their own. To get the necessary manual that would let you do it on your own, go to http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual.

49er

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Hawthorne
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Location: London Ontario -Canada

Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by Hawthorne » Thu Oct 03, 2013 1:55 pm

Your minimum pressure is way too low. Most people feel like they are suffocating with that low a minimum pressure. That would certainly account for you feeling tired and light headed. You say your 90% and 95 % are 11 to 12.

You should have your minimum set at 9 cm at least - possibly 10 or 10.5 would be better, in my opinion.

You may not want to go right up to 9 or 10 immediately, although you can do that, so you can go up 0.5 cm at a time. Move it up and leave it for several days before moving it up again. A minimum pressure of 10 cm is not very high. It is, in fact, average.

Are you using ramp? You shouldn't be with a minimum setting of 5. I doubt you will need it even at 10 cm.

_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments:  Backups- FX Nano masks. Backup machine- Airmini auto travel cpap

alexchetty
Posts: 94
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2013 11:10 pm
Location: Cape Town

Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by alexchetty » Sun Oct 06, 2013 12:54 am

So 3 days ago, I move my lower pressure up from 5.0 to 6.5! I still haven't noticed any change in my results. any suggestions?

Last Day (02October2013)
95th Percentile Pressure 11.0
90th Percentile Pressure 11.0
AHI 5.5
Pressure Plateau Time 0%
High Leak Flow Time 0%
NRI 1.00
EPI 31

YesterDay (05October2013)
95th Percentile Pressure 12.0
90th Percentile Pressure 12.0
AHI 5.5
Pressure Plateau Time 0%
High Leak Flow Time 0%
NRI 0.75
EPI 31

_________________
Mask: Zzz-Mask Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Current Pressure: Lower pressure 7.0 - Upper Pressure 17

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49er
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Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by 49er » Sun Oct 06, 2013 2:33 am

HI Alexchetty,

Maybe try moving the lower pressure to 7.5 or 8.

49er
alexchetty wrote:So 3 days ago, I move my lower pressure up from 5.0 to 6.5! I still haven't noticed any change in my results. any suggestions?

Last Day (02October2013)
95th Percentile Pressure 11.0
90th Percentile Pressure 11.0
AHI 5.5
Pressure Plateau Time 0%
High Leak Flow Time 0%
NRI 1.00
EPI 31

YesterDay (05October2013)
95th Percentile Pressure 12.0
90th Percentile Pressure 12.0
AHI 5.5
Pressure Plateau Time 0%
High Leak Flow Time 0%
NRI 0.75
EPI 31

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Julie
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Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by Julie » Sun Oct 06, 2013 3:49 am

If you're getting 95% percentile pressures of 12 routinely, I'd move my lower setting to at least 8 right now - it's not high enough to be dangerous in any sense at all and still doesn't reach the 12 mark, but at least the machine won't have to take so long to address events at that number when they occur. I don't think you need to wait a week at each little increment if making that kind of change at that level, to see if things improve... there is such a thing as being too conservative, especially in light of what the machine's telling you.

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Hawthorne
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Location: London Ontario -Canada

Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by Hawthorne » Sun Oct 06, 2013 4:29 am

You should raise your lower pressure again. Julie suggests to 8 cm. I think that is a good move at this point. Try that for 3 days again and see how things are. As I said, 10 cm is not very high and you will probably be moving it to 10 next. The maximum pressure does not need to be changed at this point.

Your numbers are changing just a bit but you said you were feeling tired and light headed on cpap. Has that changed with the move to minimum 6.5?

Your minimum pressure is still too low, in my opinion.

_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments:  Backups- FX Nano masks. Backup machine- Airmini auto travel cpap

alexchetty
Posts: 94
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2013 11:10 pm
Location: Cape Town

Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by alexchetty » Mon Oct 07, 2013 1:22 am

06October2013
95th Percentile Pressure 13.0
90th Percentile Pressure 12.5
AHI 7.5
Pressure Plateau Time 0%
High Leak Flow Time 1%
NRI 0.5
EPI 21

--Pressure at low 6.5 - high 20
--Note: AHI has increased

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Mask: Zzz-Mask Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Current Pressure: Lower pressure 7.0 - Upper Pressure 17

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Hawthorne
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Location: London Ontario -Canada

Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by Hawthorne » Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:06 am

Do you still feel tired and light headed?

6.5 is still too low for a minimum. Get it up to 8 at least. You may have to go higher than that - 10 cm as a minimum.

_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments:  Backups- FX Nano masks. Backup machine- Airmini auto travel cpap

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49er
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Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by 49er » Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:14 am

alexchetty wrote:06October2013
95th Percentile Pressure 13.0
90th Percentile Pressure 12.5
AHI 7.5
Pressure Plateau Time 0%
High Leak Flow Time 1%
NRI 0.5
EPI 21

--Pressure at low 6.5 - high 20
--Note: AHI has increased
Hi alexchetty,

The temporary increase may be a fluke. Unfortunately, without sleepyhead software, it is hard to evaluate.

How are you feeling since increasing the pressure? Better, same, or worse.

49er

Madbear
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Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 6:48 am

Re: DevilBliss DV54 AutoAdjust CPAP -Help

Post by Madbear » Mon Oct 07, 2013 6:21 am

I had a very difficult time trying to self titrate on this machine without the Smartlink software. I started with the default pressure range expecting it to just settle out at my ideal pressure and off I would go. Unfortunately I then spent several weeks experimenting with different pressures until I swapped it over to CPAP mode and honed in from there. I found that in APAP mode the machine would seem to chase events and plateau at higher pressures but with higher AHI readings. The higher pressure - higher AHI did not always include higher NRI events and I was actually going to post a question here about whether anyone had experienced pressure induced obstructive events (as apposed to centrals) but it seemed crazy.

In the end I settled on a pressure around 8 and went back to APAP mode with a range of 6.5 to 9.5. My AHI was then fairly consistent but I couldnt get it under 5. I decided I needed the Smartlink module to really see what was going on but as I am outside the US the cost of the module & software was going to be about $200 with postage which seemed like a lot for data which did not include flow rates (I think). So I convinced myself I needed a full data machine & purchased a gently used S9. I set it up with the same settings as the Devilbiss and to my astonishment my first night on the S9 gave me an AHI of 0.2! In five months my lowest AHI on the Devilbiss was 5.0 and in four weeks on the S9 my highest AHI has been 2.2. The only real difference is that I have been using the heated climateline tubing on the S9 but it is hard to imagine that this causes such a difference.

I must say I do not feel any better (or worse) with the lower AHI readings so my suspicion is that it is different reporting but I cant say for sure. I intend to play around a bit more - I am a scientist and I am enjoying experimenting on myself!

Hopefully this long story has given you some additional thoughts on the Devilbiss but I thought I would let you know that you are not alone in trying to figure this one out. I am still very new to this and far from an expert but from my experience I found the Devilbiss to operate better for me using a narrow pressure range. My only other comment would be that your EPI seems very high which may be affecting your treatment so you could try some tape over your lips to stop any mouth leaks.

Good luck.