Or will I be able to sleep at night after looking at the data.
I started cpap in August with a Resmed CPAP. Doctors recommendation was 7cm. Sleep test results
at 7 & 8 were about the same. I wasn't happy with the results and decided to go with 7.8cm, raised
the start pressure to 6.4 and reduced the ramp time to 5 min. This was comfortable and in November
finally saw the doctor. I averaged 4.6AHI for that last month. Numbers each night were somewhat
consistent.
Got a 10 Autoset Jan 1 with APAP 6-10cm for two weeks. Pressures were in high 8's so a week later
I increased low pressure to 7.6cm. Pressure was now averaging in the high 9's. My card reader did
not work so did not have Sleepyhead data wt work with, just AHI. I had numbers under 1 and higher
than 11. I had never seen these wide swings before on just CPAP. I was still averaging lower numbers
of 2.7 AHI for the month.
I had been experiencing dry mouth problems for a couple months, even on CPAP, after coming back
from camp in November. I never even turned the humidifier on at camp and not a single problem. I had
gone through every problem there was setting up the humidifier. A week ago I woke up and noticed
that little air channels were forming between my gums and inner mouth working their way to the lips.
Even a concerted effort couldn't prevent this from happening. It was a eureka moment. Just lowering
the max pressure to 9.4 eliminated this problem. If my dock was happy with 7.6, this had to be a
lot better and it eliminated the dry mouth. I would gladly trade a better sleep experience for an
extra couple AHI. The high numbers when they happened got worse, going up to 17 last night.
I was finally able to read the SD card today in Sleepyhead. I'd pop up some data, but it goes all
over the place. There is no discernible pattern. Pie chart and graphs go all over the place. It
is a lot to look at the first time. My career has involved looking at data and I have tried not to
chnge settings too often without giving them time to average out. It just seems that going to APAP
would have given better results.
So which chart should I try to understand first?
AHI, chasing numbers
AHI, chasing numbers
_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack (All Cushions Included with Medium Frame) |
Additional Comments: Pressure setting 8, EPR 1 |
Seeing and believing are often both wrong. FOW
Re: AHI, chasing numbers
I think you're micro-managing the situation here too much. My guess...your pressure isn't high enough so you're on the edge of effective therapy. As such, sleeping position becomes more important, and that can certainly manifest as seemingly chaotic data. Why the consistency on the old machine? Hard to tell. Maybe the machines don't each produce exactly the same absolute pressures and the old one's actually a bit higher..that could do it. Maybe the range you have set straddles your true effective therapy pressure, and the auto is taking you back and forth across that threshold. Again, that means your base number is too low.
Here's what I'd do. Crank it up a coupe of points.... say to 10 or 11. Then, see how that goes. Keep doing that until get to consistency, and the lowest AHI you can get, but keep in mind it will change from night to night. I see .5 to 1 point differences at times..that's just how it rolls. At that point you'll know what pressure is truly the minimum required for every sleeping position. From there, you can try dropping down a little at a time to tweak it.
Here's what I'd do. Crank it up a coupe of points.... say to 10 or 11. Then, see how that goes. Keep doing that until get to consistency, and the lowest AHI you can get, but keep in mind it will change from night to night. I see .5 to 1 point differences at times..that's just how it rolls. At that point you'll know what pressure is truly the minimum required for every sleeping position. From there, you can try dropping down a little at a time to tweak it.
_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier |
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead software |
Re: AHI, chasing numbers
I would understand the AHI bar graphs and which category those events are in before I would go changing pressures based on an elevated AHI but no mention of what kind of events.
Make sure that what you want to fix with more pressure is fixable with more pressure.
If the AHI that is elevated is primarily Central...more pressure isn't going to fix things and could potentially make things worse.
Make sure that what you want to fix with more pressure is fixable with more pressure.
If the AHI that is elevated is primarily Central...more pressure isn't going to fix things and could potentially make things worse.
_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/ |
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.
If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.
If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.
Re: AHI, chasing numbers
Indeed..thansk Pugsy. I assumed they would take a look at the events to mask sure they're obstructive..but agreed, that's not a good assumption to make .Pugsy wrote:I would understand the AHI bar graphs and which category those events are in before I would go changing pressures based on an elevated AHI but no mention of what kind of events.
Make sure that what you want to fix with more pressure is fixable with more pressure.
If the AHI that is elevated is primarily Central...more pressure isn't going to fix things and could potentially make things worse.
_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier |
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead software |
Re: AHI, chasing numbers
You would be surprised at people just looking at the AHI and not bothering (or understanding) to learn what each category means and what to do. The think OMG AHI is high and I need more pressure and often it is that simple but it isn't always that simple.linuxman wrote:I assumed they would take a look at the events to mask sure they're obstructive..but agreed, that's not a good assumption to make .
Some time ago someone contacted me because "they kept increasing the pressure because the AHI was to high and the AHI is getting worse...not better"
They were up to 17 cm pressure and the AHI was indeed getting worse and worse....primarily central.
Once we looked at the breakdown into each event we figured out he was one of those people who had a line in terms of pressure where centrals were triggered and below the line the centrals weren't a big deal.
His line for pressure triggered centrals was 12 cm...as long as he stayed below that line his centrals weren't a big deal.
He didn't understand that you can't fix centrals with more minimum pressure on an apap machine.
So that's why I always mention "know the categories" when someone doesn't offer the AHI breakdown.
The guy I was talking about...ended up using 8 cm minimum and 12 max and his AHI never went over 3.0...and it was about half and half central and OA. He didn't have to spring the big bucks for ASV which was a good thing because he didn't have insurance.
I think LoBattery probably already knows this but just thought I would mention it in case he didn't or more importantly if some newbie came along and was reading this thread and thinking the same "OMG the AHI is too high and I need more pressure"....they might and they might not.
_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/ |
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.
If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.
If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.
Re: AHI, chasing numbers
looking back on the posters history makes that a rather unfounded assumption.linuxman wrote:Indeed..thansk Pugsy. I assumed they would take a look at the events to mask sure they're obstructive..but agreed, that's not a good assumption to make .Pugsy wrote:I would understand the AHI bar graphs and which category those events are in before I would go changing pressures based on an elevated AHI but no mention of what kind of events.
Make sure that what you want to fix with more pressure is fixable with more pressure.
If the AHI that is elevated is primarily Central...more pressure isn't going to fix things and could potentially make things worse.
Get OSCAR
Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.
Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.
Re: AHI, chasing numbers
wow! what a great,insightful and ON TOPIC answer!palerider wrote:looking back on the posters history makes that a rather unfounded assumption.linuxman wrote:Indeed..thansk Pugsy. I assumed they would take a look at the events to mask sure they're obstructive..but agreed, that's not a good assumption to make .Pugsy wrote:I would understand the AHI bar graphs and which category those events are in before I would go changing pressures based on an elevated AHI but no mention of what kind of events.
Make sure that what you want to fix with more pressure is fixable with more pressure.
If the AHI that is elevated is primarily Central...more pressure isn't going to fix things and could potentially make things worse.
_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
people say i'm self absorbed.
but that's enough about them.
Oscar-Win
https://www.apneaboard.com/OSCAR/OSCAR-1.5.1-Win64.exe
Oscar-Mac
https://www.apneaboard.com/OSCAR/OSCAR-1.5.1.dmg
but that's enough about them.
Oscar-Win
https://www.apneaboard.com/OSCAR/OSCAR-1.5.1-Win64.exe
Oscar-Mac
https://www.apneaboard.com/OSCAR/OSCAR-1.5.1.dmg