Time to adapt

Hi All -

Does you body ever fully adjust and stabilize? How long (on average) does it typically take for someone to get to regular or good numbers or do you ever?

I was diagnosed in mid October with an AHI of approximately 50 and have been very diligent about compliance (I'm a bit of a go-getter). And since the start have been very easily able to sleep 6+ hours with the mask. I'm on an Auto CPAP Philips Respironics DreamStation (which seems to be a pretty nice machine - extremely quiet seemingly tons of features). The mask is a ResMed AirFit F10 which seems to work ok - but slips around a bit. I bought a full-face mask as well to see how that would work - and its not too bad but is a little like scuba diving.

So - I've been using the machine for about 50 days now. For the first 20 or so days the sleeps docs did not have a minimum pressure set (just ramp from 5 or so) which seemed to not allow me to get to consistent number (very variable above 7 and has high as 20). With a change of a minimum pressure of 10 I immediately got to lower numbers for almost 2 weeks 5 and below. Very happy thought I had gotten this figured out and was good to go.

Now the numbers have crept back up again 8, 5, 12 and are variable. I know there is no silver bullet and you have to try things to get there.

So this leads to me wonder - how long does it take to get your body to adapt?

I want to say this community is such a great thing. I've been reading the back posts to learn all I can.

Thanks for any and all replies

Best

Have you downloaded Sleepyhead. It allows you to look at your data and see exactly what is going on with your therapy.
You can also post screenshots of the data and people on here can advise you on how to adjust your pressure to improve the results you get.

Cardsfan wrote:Have you downloaded Sleepyhead. It allows you to look at your data and see exactly what is going on with your therapy.
You can also post screenshots of the data and people on here can advise you on how to adjust your pressure to improve the results you get.

I don't believe Sleepyhead is available to DreamStation users

Your body IS adapting and so is your mind. You are probably sleeping deeply for the first time in years and that may be triggering the events.

What is your 90% pressure? What is your pressure range set to?

the last 30 days avg 13.8
last nite it was 15
preasure range is set between 10 - 20

you are a borderline for a Bipap/vpap machine ....they are often prescribed when your pressure is above 15.... when is the next Dr. apt. ?

In the meantime you could raise the lower pressure a little to 11 or12 and see if you sleep better.

and to answer the first question .. Yes most of us do adapt .. after a time .. It has take me about a year to get everything right for me, right mask , cervical collar, right pillow, correct machine setting.

They had ordered a BPAP for me - but since the #'s had gone down so well initially we held off. I'll give my doc a call and see what they have to say - I think the machine had already arrived so they could swap the one out I have.

I did get the Encore Pro 2 software up and running today - works relatively well - the reporting is a little more complicated. Also would have been better if I had set the time-zone in the default company to my timezone since the data loaded is a little off at least until it is recalculate

MNKNIGHT wrote:They had ordered a BPAP for me - but since the #'s had gone down so well initially we held off. I'll give my doc a call and see what they have to say - I think the machine had already arrived so they could swap the one out I have.

I did get the Encore Pro 2 software up and running today - works relatively well - the reporting is a little more complicated. Also would have been better if I had set the time-zone in the default company to my timezone since the data loaded is a little off at least until it is recalculate

I too have a new DreamStation.

Where does one obtain the Encore software and is it at a cost or subscription?

and to answer the first question .. Yes most of us do adapt .. after a time .. It has take me about a year to get everything right for me, right mask , cervical collar, right pillow, correct machine setting.[/quote]

Thank you for posting this info, most of us want a quick solution, me included, but it appears that a quick fix is not physically possible.

MNKNIGHT wrote:They had ordered a BPAP for me - but since the #'s had gone down so well initially we held off. I'll give my doc a call and see what they have to say - I think the machine had already arrived so they could swap the one out I have.

I did get the Encore Pro 2 software up and running today - works relatively well - the reporting is a little more complicated. Also would have been better if I had set the time-zone in the default company to my timezone since the data loaded is a little off at least until it is recalculate

After changing the time zone in the office tab it will adjust the previously imported data.

AcedDublB wrote:

MNKNIGHT wrote:They had ordered a BPAP for me - but since the #'s had gone down so well initially we held off. I'll give my doc a call and see what they have to say - I think the machine had already arrived so they could swap the one out I have.

I did get the Encore Pro 2 software up and running today - works relatively well - the reporting is a little more complicated. Also would have been better if I had set the time-zone in the default company to my timezone since the data loaded is a little off at least until it is recalculate

I too have a new DreamStation.

Where does one obtain the Encore software and is it at a cost or subscription?

You can find how to get it here. http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/index.php

link for encore :

http://www.sleepfiles.com/temp3c/EP2.17 ... 64-bit.exe

Just a comment - when I was using silicone cushion masks, I found my leak rate went up once the fusion was a bit dirty but was better controlled if I washed every three days. Also, somehow my skin reacts with the silicone and I needed to replace the cushion part about every three weeks to a month. So - you haven't said what you are dining about parts and cleaning, but it is POSSIBLE that cushion management is an issue. Also, the headgear does slowly stretch and needs replacing from time to time. (BTW, the fabric Sleepweaver Advance has far fewer leaks for me but needs washing every other day and the headgear is less sturdy - ya win some, ya lose some.)

Thanks for all the info - very helpful.

Wanted to pass on I was able to install Encore Pro on a Windows Laptop (looks like it only runs on Windows) and read my data card last Sunday. I did forget to set the timezone for the DME which caused my data to be in London time (for the first time I loaded data)- I think it resynchronizes. Anyhow, the software is not bad and it does keep a large amount of detail.

Over the last few days my numbers have been dropping - I'm guessing based on 2 things: 1) I am dropping weight - put myself on a very strict diet (I need to fit better into some clothes in January for a kick off meeting) and 2) my stress levels are lower now that the year end portion of my job is completed). Based on my avg pressure I am going to still consider the BPAP - will do some reading on that to understand why or why not that be a good option

I am also rotating masks on occasion (I have 2 - face mask in my profile and a full face in case my nose gets red). The mask rotation does not seem to change my numbers.

I did order a dreamwear mask to try it out - when i did the original sleep study they let me try it on - was very nice...Just need to figure out how to unlock the setting for the mask - that seems to have been locked completely down by the DME

MNKNIGHT wrote:Just need to figure out how to unlock the setting for the mask - that seems to have been locked completely down by the DME

The mask setting on the Respironics machine is for the Resistance Setting which isn't all that critical but it is easy to unlock that setting by going to the clinical setup menu and changing the Mask Resistance setting to "Patient" I think the wording is. Then the patient has access and can the setting.
Do you have the clinical manual for your machine that explains how to get to the clinical menu setup area to make the changes?
If not, you can request it here.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual
Just follow the instructions down near the bottom of the page for requesting via email the manual.
The manual they will send is a combo manual...has multiple models explained but how to get to the setup menu are is the same on all models.