Proud, but no proof

[TWW]

I've been at this for 6 weeks, trying to build the habits necessary to stay on the mask all night. Many mornings I have awakened to find the mask hung up beside me, with no clue how or when I put it there. Typical total overnight mask time around 2 hours. Never a "compliant" night, apparently defined by Respironics as a 4+ hour session.

Starting this past week I have been recording my display stats in a spreadsheet and then zeroing out the display, on a daily basis. No card reader/SW yet.

So last night I get to bed, read, do a PDA Sudoku, get sleepy, put on the mask, turn on the machine, and get to sleep around 12:30 or 1.

This morning, I wake up at 5:30, and for the first time ever, the mask has been on for the "whole" (albeit "short") night.

Almost giddy with pride, I look at the display to see how my numbers were for my Longest Session Yet.

Therapy hours: 4.1 (Yay!)
Blower hours: 4.1
Total Sessions: 1 (Yay!)

All other statistics: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,....

Boo! Or maybe, Boo-hoo!

Looks like my first official session was also my first Lost Data night.

[roster]

.......Looks like my first official session was also my first Lost Data night.

Your data is most likely not lost (unless you already cleared the display).

The machine has a built-in delay in downloading the data to the display. I think the delay is one or two hours. It is programmed this way to allow a restroom break and return to bed without starting a new session.

If you haven't already cleared the display, go back two hours after you last ran the blower and check again.

BTW, congratulations. You seem to have the determination that will make the therapy successful.

[shambharwani]

The newer Respironics machines - the PR Series are programmed to display the data after 12 noon GMT. However in the provider setup menu there is an option to adjust the GMT offset to your time-zone or the time at which you want it to dump data to the display.

[TWW]

Your data is most likely not lost (unless you already cleared the display).

The machine has a built-in delay in downloading the data to the display. I think the delay is one or two hours. It is programmed this way to allow a restroom break and return to bed without starting a new session.

You're absolutely right -- the numbers were there when I looked again at 9:30. Thanks!

[TWW]

The newer Respironics machines - the PR Series are programmed to display the data after 12 noon GMT. However in the provider setup menu there is an option to adjust the GMT offset to your time-zone or the time at which you want it to dump data to the display.

Cool. Unfortunately, not so for the M Series.

[Gerryk]

What were your numbers from last night now that your machine is showing them?

[TWW]

What were your numbers from last night now that your machine is showing them?

Code: Select all

              | Therapy | 90% Pressure   | System  |
Date          | Hours   |   In     Ex    | Leak    | AHI
--------------+---------+----------------+---------+-----
Tue, Nov 17   |   3.3   |   12     10    | 32.8    |  0.8
Thu, Nov 19   |   1.6   |   14     11    | 34.5    | 17.1
Fri, Nov 20   |   4.1   |   11.5    9    | 32.7    |  6.5

Note: Dates are for the morning I read the numbers, not the night I went to bed. Wednesday (actually Tuesday night) is missing because I fell asleep before putting on the mask.

[Muse-Inc]

Congrats Tom! Great improvement! How do you feel...besides justificably proud?

[TWW]

How do you feel...besides justificably proud?

Not terribly energetic yet, although I didn't have to take a nap this afternoon.

Assuming this becomes a baseline, the next milestone will be to make it through an entire night on the machine.

[jweeks]

Assuming this becomes a baseline, the next milestone will be to make it through an entire night on the machine.

Hi,

It did take me a long time to get to the point where I could sleep for 6 or 7 hours. Part of the issue is that your body has learned to wake up all the time, and now you need to re-learn how to sleep.

I am concerned a bit about the high AHI numbers that you have seen so far. This might settle down a bit as you get more time on the mask. Your body is also still adjusting to this. Your lungs are working a little harder with the pressure, and you have to build up a little strength and flexibility in your chest when you first get started. It could be that you are still having some events that causing you to wake up, or wake up enough so that you take off your mask. If the AHI numbers do not come down after 10 days or 2 weeks, then it is time to go back to your sleep doctor and have them look at your data download, or get the software so you can post your graphs. Auto machines can cause some funny effects, and sometimes subtle tweaks can make big differences.

Sorry that there doesn't seem to be any magic here--I think you are just going to have to find a way to get through a week or two in order to let your body adjust, let your brain figure out how to sleep again, and build up enough of a baseline to get some data that can be used to figure out what is happening.

-john-

[TWW]

I didn't get to sleep until 2 AM, but:

I slept the whole night with the mask!

The numbers are a tad better as well, especially considering that my sleep study peaked at something like 72 apneas per hour.

Code: Select all

              | Therapy | 90% Pressure   | System  |
Date          | Hours   |   In     Ex    | Leak    | AHI
--------------+---------+----------------+---------+-----
Tue, Nov 17   |   3.3   |   12     10    | 32.8    |  0.8
Thu, Nov 19   |   1.6   |   14     11    | 34.5    | 17.1
Fri, Nov 20   |   4.1   |   11.5    9    | 32.7    |  6.5
Sat, Nov 21   |   5.7   |   13.5    9.0  | 33.1    |  3.4

As one fellow's sig warns, "One night does not make a trend," but I am still mighty happy about this.

[jweeks]

As one fellow's sig warns, "One night does not make a trend," but I am still mighty happy about this.

Hi,

That is true, but I sure like where this one looks like it is going. Just like in golf, 3.4 over par is a pretty good score.

-john-

[Gerryk]

You said you are feeling better but no proof. I would say the proof is that you feel better. To hell with numbers if you feel better you feel better thats all that matters. Once you are more comfortable with the machine your doc may adjust it to improve the numbers and you may feel even better. Don't think your going to go from having OSA foggy minded and crabby to putting a mask on and feel like your 20 years younger. You will feel a difference. One day it will hit you how much better you actually feel. I have been treated successfully now for a while and I still have crabby days but that's another story.

Gerry

[GaryG]

TWW, that's great progress!!! Keeping the mask on longer last night. Keep trying, don't give up. There are many here who can give you pointers on settings, etc, so hang in there...