Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Sibbs
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Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

Post by Sibbs » Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:21 pm

New CPAP user here. Over the last week or so I've been tinkering with my mask fit and am starting to be more comfortable and also get more reliable data. I'd love to share last night's data and get your thoughts if you're willing. Have noticed two patterns so far:

(1) I've noticed that while my mask is comfortable when I go to bed, I'm tending to wake up in the middle of the night with the feeling of having to work pretty hard against the mask to breathe, which makes it quite hard to fall back to sleep. I try a while, but end up taking my mask off as a result.

(2) Also, although I'm not aware of any arousals between when I fall asleep and wake up as in (1) above, and am able to fall back asleep after I take my mask off, I tend to wake up feeling non-refreshed and get tired later in the day. I'm much more refreshed when I don't use the machine so something still needs to get worked out (or I just need to get more acclimated…).

Happy to provide any other background information that would be helpful. Forgive any newbie oversights-- I'm trying to educate myself and him coming up to speed thanks to your help!

(Big thanks to Pugsy for helping me to tinker with my set up, find sleepyhead, and post these data. Note below that SleepyHead caught my afternoon test fit so I just highlighted the night's data.)

Image
Machine: Dreamstation auto BiPap
Machine: Phillips RemStar Auto with A-Flex (560P), min=9, max = 13
Mask: AirFit P10 nasal pillows

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palerider
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Re: Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

Post by palerider » Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:42 pm

turn off the calendar next time (hit the ^ by the date) it adds nothing and obscures valuable data.

your pressure is too low to keep your airway open.

don't take your mask off.

hit the ramp button and go back to sleep.

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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.

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Pugsy
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Re: Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

Post by Pugsy » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:18 pm

I agree with PR...your minimum pressure is too low. It's not able to do a good job at this current minimum of holding the airway open in the first place.. You are still having too man apnea events.
Not sure how much of an increase you need but probably around 8 or 9 minimum but I wouldn't do that in one big jump.
I would go up slowly (if it were me) and see how it goes...the adjustment will be easier on you and might not need as much as first impression lends itself to.

Taking the mask off and going back to sleep without it...bad, bad habit to start and you know about bad habits...easy to make and difficult to break. Try to avoid that slippery slope as much as you can.

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Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

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Sibbs
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Re: Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

Post by Sibbs » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:21 pm

palerider wrote: your pressure is too low to keep your airway open.

don't take your mask off.

hit the ramp button and go back to sleep.
Thanks for pressure feedback. I know I can change the pressure settings, but will doing that hurt my relationship with my sleep doc or is this commonly done?

I have a disability that makes it impossible to reach the ramp button without fully getting out of bed. And that's enough of an ordeal that by the time I do that I'm awake. My wife and I are trying to rig something with one of my assistive devices, but haven't yet been able to figure it out.
Machine: Dreamstation auto BiPap
Machine: Phillips RemStar Auto with A-Flex (560P), min=9, max = 13
Mask: AirFit P10 nasal pillows

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palerider
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Location: Dallas(ish).

Re: Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

Post by palerider » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:37 pm

Sibbs wrote:Thanks for pressure feedback. I know I can change the pressure settings, but will doing that hurt my relationship with my sleep doc or is this commonly done?

I have a disability that makes it impossible to reach the ramp button without fully getting out of bed. And that's enough of an ordeal that by the time I do that I'm awake. My wife and I are trying to rig something with one of my assistive devices, but haven't yet been able to figure it out.
changing your pressures is something that's fairly common on this board, after people are knowledgeable enough to want to take charge of their therapy and not be at the mercy of generally uncaring doctors. (there are good doctors out there, but unfortunately, they seem to be the exception, rather than the rule, (or maybe we just mainly hear about the bad ones)). it's *very* easy to do. (a couple of button pushes and knob twirls)

as to hitting the ramp button, you can set the machine for auto on and auto off, then take the mask off for about a minute and the machine will shut off, then you can put the mask back on and it will resume operating at the ramp pressure. perhaps you can move the machine closer to the bed?

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Mask: Bleep DreamPort CPAP Mask Solution
Additional Comments: S9 VPAP Auto
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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.

Sibbs
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Re: Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

Post by Sibbs » Sun Oct 19, 2014 3:06 pm

Incredible suggestion on auto-on/off. My apena is secondary to a connective tissue disease (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) and among other mobility challenges, I currently have bilateral frozen shoulders-- so while my machine is right next to the bed my t-rex arms can't bend to reach it.

The machine is still sending wireless compliance data to my DME so my insurance will pick up the tab. It may be that I wait out that 30-day period to change the pressure settings, but it's helpful to know what to do if I get fed up.

Seems like the sudden higher pressures (or perhaps the higher levels themselves) are what's waking me up.
Machine: Dreamstation auto BiPap
Machine: Phillips RemStar Auto with A-Flex (560P), min=9, max = 13
Mask: AirFit P10 nasal pillows

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palerider
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Location: Dallas(ish).

Re: Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

Post by palerider » Sun Oct 19, 2014 3:19 pm

Sibbs wrote:Incredible suggestion on auto-on/off. My apena is secondary to a connective tissue disease (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) and among other mobility challenges, I currently have bilateral frozen shoulders-- so while my machine is right next to the bed my t-rex arms can't bend to reach it.

The machine is still sending wireless compliance data to my DME so my insurance will pick up the tab. It may be that I wait out that 30-day period to change the pressure settings, but it's helpful to know what to do if I get fed up.

Seems like the sudden higher pressures (or perhaps the higher levels themselves) are what's waking me up.
the compliance data that they care about is only how many hours you've used the machine, insurance doesn't care if it's actually *working* and helping you, just that you've got it strapped to your face for so many hours.

it's entirely up to you as to whether you decide to modify things in hopes of sleeping better yourself, or with your doctors "approval" remember who's working for who there, though.

more info here on that subject: http://apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-press ... tup-manual

you're not getting sudden higher pressures, according to the chart, it's more likely that you're just waking up, for whatever reason, and your awake state isn't used to the pressure of the machine yet, so you have trouble exhaling. you'll see if you look at the screenshot you posted that you'd had higher pressures in the middle of the session.

you can also experiment with different aflex settings, turning it up, or down, from where it's set now may feel better to you.

can you get a small rolling table to put the machine on, and roll it down the side of the bed to where you might be able to reach better, then roll it out of the way when you want to get up? (just brainstorming here)

the PRS1 machines will auto start and stop, but they're not real responsive, so it takes a few breaths to get them started, and up to a minute for them to finally accept that you've taken the mask off.

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Mask: Bleep DreamPort CPAP Mask Solution
Additional Comments: S9 VPAP Auto
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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.

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Pugsy
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Re: Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

Post by Pugsy » Sun Oct 19, 2014 3:35 pm

Some docs get their panties all in a wad if we change something and others don't care.
They have already given you a machine that will go from 5 to 15...he/she might not even care if you set it to say 7 to start with since they are okay with it going to 15.
DMEs and that modem...that's for compliance hours usage. It's doubtful that they will even notice the pressure with the range especially if you just do a small change.

Increasing the minimum could also maybe help with those higher pressures maybe affecting your sleep quality.
Often when a more optimal minimum is used the maximum comes down so that it doesn't go so high.

Do use the auto on and auto off features on your machine. 60 seconds for the auto off feature (set to ON) with the mask off and it will turn off.
Auto On (set to On) will let the machine come on when it senses your breathing. If your respirations are a bit shallow the machine may take a few breaths to kick on but if you can make an effort at a stronger breath it helps speed it up.
For me it only takes maybe 2 breaths. The starting pressure also impacts the Auto On feature...a little more pressure helps it kick in faster.

If you feel better waiting to change the pressure...that's up to you. You could call up the doctor and say "Hey doc, I can't breathe so great at starting pressure of 5...I feel like I am suffocating...maybe I could increase it a little so that it moves more air?"

With your history...I would for sure go about any minimum pressure increases slowly. It will be easier on your body adjusting slowly.

_________________
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.

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Julie
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Re: Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

Post by Julie » Sun Oct 19, 2014 4:21 pm

And if you have trouble EXhaling, look for the EPR (exhale pressure relief) feature and turn it up on your machine.

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palerider
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Re: Your thoughts on a new APAP user's Sleepyhead data?

Post by palerider » Sun Oct 19, 2014 4:38 pm

Julie wrote:And if you have trouble EXhaling, look for the EPR (exhale pressure relief) feature and turn it up on your machine.
PRS1 machines don't have EPR.

_________________
Mask: Bleep DreamPort CPAP Mask Solution
Additional Comments: S9 VPAP Auto
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.