New User Saying Hi, but also some questions

New member here, looking for some advice and guidance. Maybe even some support down the road. 47 Year old Male from Omaha NE. Recently diagnosed with apneas after a home study that unexpectedly showed Central Apneas with no contributing factors. But the sleep study at the hospital was a straight to cpap at which time at 14 pressure I was at 0 apneas. So although it showed a problem it was all wrong on cause I guess. At any rate, been doing this for 10 days now. I have the following report and was curious if this was good? I have woke up nearly every night with extremely dry mouth and am fairly certain I unconsciously open my mouth. For the most part during the day I am a nose breather, but I must be opening mouth. Are the rates in the report concerning or what are your experienced opinions. Thanks for all your help!
Scott

Device Metrics
Date Apnea Hypopnea Index CPAP Device Data Median Leak (L/Min) Therapy Hours (Hrs)
Oct 10, 2014
0.80
Yes
0.00
6.13
Oct 11, 2014
0.30
Yes
0.00
5.78
Oct 12, 2014
0.40
Yes
7.20
7.25
Oct 13, 2014
0.10
Yes
2.40
6.88
Oct 14, 2014
0.10
Yes
12.00
5.80
Oct 15, 2014
0.10
Yes
3.60
6.87
Oct 16, 2014
0.30
Yes
4.80
6.23
Oct 17, 2014
0.00
Yes
4.80
6.83
Oct 18, 2014
0.10
Yes
2.40
6.25
Oct 19, 2014
0.30
Yes
6.00
6.20
Oct 20, 2014
0.00
Yes
9.60
6.08

Average
0.23
4.80
6.39

Welcome to the forum.
When you have time could you please register at the forum so you can add your equipment to your profile...see how I have mine.
wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile

Your data looks okay on the surface. It would really be helpful if we knew exactly which machine you are using as leak numbers can vary between brands.
Looks like probably a Resmed leak number to me.
Also what software or where did you come up with these numbers?

Dry mouth usually means some mouth breathing but it doesn't take a lot of mouth breathing to dry out the mouth.
Without known which machine it's kinda hard to tell for sure but if it's a ResMed machine that median number may not be giving a true picture of what is going on in terms of leak. It take a lot of leak to elevate the median leak number off of 0.0.

I had a really, really bad leaky night the other night...worst I have ever had and spent 35% of the night in large leak well over 24 L/min (ResMed large leak number we want to stay below) and my median leak number was only 13.8.
So we need more information to be able to advise about how bad the mouth breathing might actually be.

Check the links in my signature line for the tutorial on understanding Sleepyhead data...I talk about acceptable leaks there with some picture examples.

If leaks are massive and prolonged then we don't know if we can trust the AHI data. Really big leaks that are prolonged can cause the machine to miss sensing apnea events and thus the AHI might be false low.
It all depends on how big the leak is and how long it lasts.

Pugsy wrote:Welcome to the forum.
When you have time could you please register at the forum so you can add your equipment to your profile...see how I have mine.
wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile

Your data looks okay on the surface. It would really be helpful if we knew exactly which machine you are using as leak numbers can vary between brands.
Looks like probably a Resmed leak number to me.
Also what software or where did you come up with these numbers?

Dry mouth usually means some mouth breathing but it doesn't take a lot of mouth breathing to dry out the mouth.
Without known which machine it's kinda hard to tell for sure but if it's a ResMed machine that median number may not be giving a true picture of what is going on in terms of leak. It take a lot of leak to elevate the median leak number off of 0.0.

I had a really, really bad leaky night the other night...worst I have ever had and spent 35% of the night in large leak well over 24 L/min (ResMed large leak number we want to stay below) and my median leak number was only 13.8.
So we need more information to be able to advise about how bad the mouth breathing might actually be.

Check the links in my signature line for the tutorial on understanding Sleepyhead data...I talk about acceptable leaks there with some picture examples.

If leaks are massive and prolonged then we don't know if we can trust the AHI data. Really big leaks that are prolonged can cause the machine to miss sensing apnea events and thus the AHI might be false low.
It all depends on how big the leak is and how long it lasts.

I updated my profile. I have a ResMed AirSense 10 Elite I think. It has the heated air hose and built in humidifier. The Device is uploading its data via cell signal to U-Sleep powered by Umbian. They have 3 pages of Device Metrics along with compliance numbers for both insurance and usage. It seems to be good based on the home study results, and the sleep study at hospital. I am a stomach sleeper and having a hard time getting used to not doing that. I tried sleeping on my back since I have the CPAP and I dont feel as suffocated that way, but a lifetime of habit on sleeping is tough to overcome.

Hi, you need to try not back sleeping as it provokes the most apneas. I'm a stomach sleeper and there are various ways to do it without dislodging the mask, especially the full face one I think you should try if you mouth breathe when asleep, as you're losing therapy air that way. The problem with exhaling can be dealt with by setting the exhalation relief feature to whichever one suits you after trying them out. You can try something like a Pap Pillow (Google it) and see if that allows you to sleep on your side, or in the 'falcon' position. I happen to have done something a bit radical, but wouldn't expect others to do it - and that is to cut a 3" wide x 4" deep and l0" long trench in my memory foam mattress with an electric knife from the head towards my feet and it lets my mask dip in diagonally (I rounded edges with scissors), sort of halfway to a massage table opening.

Ah...now I know why the data provided looked a bit weird and also tells us what the AirSense is transmitting.
I knew it would be limited.

Anyway...go to the links in my signature line and read up on SleepyHead software. It will work with your machine just fine.
There's more detailed data available..especially in the leak department. Also read up on the SleepyHead tutorial ...link is also in my signature line.

You don't HAVE to sleep on your back (and like Julie says we really shouldn't if we can help it) with a properly fitted mask and maybe some help from a different bed pillow. You should be able to sleep in any position that you want to sleep in.
Besides...with back sleeping the mouth is much more likely to drop open.
I woke up on my stomach this morning...was quite peaceful sleeping that way. It can be done....might take a little bit of compromising but you don't have to sleep on your back at all if you don't want to or have to...and the cpap mask doesn't constitute "have to".