High AHIs-Feel Terrible-Machine Troubles

Hi - I have been having so much trouble lately - high AHIs and feeling terribly. I had requested to be added to the forum and saw where this might not happen for maybe months while they are working on things. I saw a post that I can't find now where Pugsy said there was a way to post questions and sleepyhead graphs without having to be added officially. Could someone please tell me how to do this? I'm not a tech expert, but I have gotten images into Imgur and think I can figure out how to post them to possibly get some help. Thanks so much!

Could anyone please help me? Why not responses?

While we wait for someone more knowledgeable than me to help with Sleepyhead, how about giving us a little info. What machine and mask are you using, what is your ahi (and break it down for us as centrals, obstructions, and hypopneas), how long have you been doing cpap?

Because this is a forum of other people with problems and advice re cpap... not a ''store' where you get (let alone demand) instant answers. See all the other threads? We are all trying to help each other and it takes time.

Here are links to using SH -

https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead

and

https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyheadshorganize

Guest5180 wrote:Could anyone please help me? Why not responses?

Aside from xxyzx most people don't sit on their computer waiting to post answers to a question. (Besides...it's a holiday and many people are out having fun). It would help if submitted your posts with the same ID, you posted as Guest 5180 and Guest 5154....easier to follow.

Sorry, I was not demanding an answer - just noticed there were a lot of views and no comments and wondering if I was doing something wrong.

I have gotten as far on Sleepyhead as putting some images on Imgur and I think making them large thumbnails. I think Pugsy said to put the codes in a post with a (dot) comment where the . goes, so someone would know they could not click on them to view? But I don't know exactly how to get the codes in the post.

Having trouble with AHIs from about 7 to 12 using 3 different machines - Dreamstation Auto, Autosense 10 for Her, and the old Autoset 9 - all set as APAP - usually have pressure settings set between 8-17 with some variations, and have tried pressure relief of none to 3.

Wondering if someone could look at the graphs and be able to tell where some problems are - don't know if you can tell from Sleepyhead if you are mouth breathing or ?

I think the images are, but I don't know if this will work.

https://imgur (dot) com/AiAZ2U8
https://imgur (dot) com/jRogznh
https://imgur (dot) com/CWvdJ27
https://imgur (dot) com/FOuN7gM

I wish I could find where Pugsy said how to do this when you are a guest, but these are the codes on the Imgur site.

Thanks for any help you can give me. I did not mean to upset Julie and LSAT. I am not able to have fun right now because of bad medical problems and messed up sleep.

None of your links work - check the info again on posting/linking.

The machine doesn't know if you mouth breathe, only if you have leaks, and all 3 machines are likely to use diff. algorithms so results won't be exactly the same, but still serviceable.

On Imgur it shows a longer url but basically the same codes - but they have a .png after
http://imgur (dot) com/AiAZ2U8 (dot) png ? (where you have to replace the (dot) with a .
I cannot copy and post it because I am a guest
A registered user can change the (dot) to a . and maybe access it somehow?

Sure wish we want-to-be-members could register - this is hard to work around when you are not a tech expert.

I have been using Auto CPAPs for over 10 years and have never gotten the AHIs below about 6. But they have been going up lately. Purchased an Airsense 10 for Her and had problems with 2 of them - first one brick overheated, and second one had bizarre pressure spikes starting about 4 hours into the night. Company suggested I try a Dreamstation Auto since I had liked the feel of the old Autoset 9. That's when everything got worse - it seems to have a very different algorithm that does not agree with me. To my uneducated eyes, the graphs for the Dreamstation look horrible, but maybe they are not as bad as they seem?

I am also going to have to give up my Breeze pillows mask which I have used for years as it has been discontinued. I have never been able to sleep with any others, but now don't have an option. The 4 graphs are all with the Breeze. It may be part of my problem - may not be able to seal well enough (turn a lot) and a sleep tech once told me he didn't think patients did well with the pillows on higher pressures (but I don't know if he was right).

Just for information if I can't get the graph links to work, the last day on the Dreamstation Auto
Pressure that day - 9 to 17
AHI 10.50
CA 4.13
Obstructive 4.36
Hypopnea 2.01
RERA 1.79
Flow Limitation .45
VS2 6.59
Breathing Not Detected .19%
Pressure
Minimum 8
Median 12.4
95% 16.6
Total Leaks
Minimum 19
Median 34
95% 44

The last link will help you use imgur.

https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead
https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead/shorganize
https://sleep.tnet.com/reference/tips/imgur

Guest5180 wrote:Sorry, I was not demanding an answer - just noticed there were a lot of views and no comments and wondering if I was doing something wrong.

I have gotten as far on Sleepyhead as putting some images on Imgur and I think making them large thumbnails. I think Pugsy said to put the codes in a post with a (dot) comment where the . goes, so someone would know they could not click on them to view? But I don't know exactly how to get the codes in the post.

Having trouble with AHIs from about 7 to 12 using 3 different machines - Dreamstation Auto, Autosense 10 for Her, and the old Autoset 9 - all set as APAP - usually have pressure settings set between 8-17 with some variations, and have tried pressure relief of none to 3.

Wondering if someone could look at the graphs and be able to tell where some problems are - don't know if you can tell from Sleepyhead if you are mouth breathing or ?

I think the images are, but I don't know if this will work.

https://imgur (dot) com/AiAZ2U8
https://imgur (dot) com/jRogznh
https://imgur (dot) com/CWvdJ27
https://imgur (dot) com/FOuN7gM

I wish I could find where Pugsy said how to do this when you are a guest, but these are the codes on the Imgur site.

Thanks for any help you can give me. I did not mean to upset Julie and LSAT. I am not able to have fun right now because of bad medical problems and messed up sleep.

I think these links work

https://imgur.com/AiAZ2U8
https://imgur.com/jRogznh
https://imgur.com/CWvdJ27
https://imgur.com/FOuN7gM

Let me see if I can convert these for everyone so they will have a working link to look at.
I just got home. Got a couple of irons in the fire I need to put out but I will be back in a little bit and look at these reports more closely and come up with my ideas.

Couple of questions in the meantime.
Do you take any medications of any kind and if so, what?
Do you find yourself waking often during the night? I see at least a couple of breaks in therapy on a couple of those reports and I just glanced at them. Why the wake ups...any idea? Mask fit, leaks, bed comfort, neighbors fighting...

https://imgur.com/AiAZ2U8

https://imgur.com/jRogznh

https://imgur.com/CWvdJ27

https://imgur.com/FOuN7gM

Julie wrote:None of your links work - check the info again on posting/linking.

They won't work because the forum software will not allow the full correct url address to be posted so that it will work.
Instead we have to fiddle with the address and make it a working address. Replacing the (dot) and making the spacing correct will make the links work.
Until a member is logged in...they can't post a working url address. They know how but the forum won't let them and they can't log in until their member request gets formal approval.

No major leaks so that is good.
Your pressure is too low so you are not controlling your OSA. Your minimum level is too low. I would set it to 15.
Once you get the pressure set so that your OSA is controlled, then you can see if you still have too many CA.

I also think that the minimum pressure isn't quite optimal but I don't know that I would go so far as making a big immediate leap to 15 cm minimum.

That's not going to be very comfortable in a big jump and sometimes when the minimum is more optimal the machine won't go so high and the max and the 90% numbers will actually come down. I have see it happen often. We first thought that based on the 90/95 % number a substantially higher pressure would be needed and come to find out with the minimum more optimal the machine never went so high.

I would increase 1 cm a night (3 or 4 nights and watch the results and get adjusted to the higher pressure) and then do another 1 cm increase...go slow. It's an easier adjustment and less likely to make sleeping more difficult.

I am thinking probably at least 13 minimum maybe a little more but I prefer to be cautious and go slow.
Up to you what you want to do.

Thank you for converting the graphs so they are readable.

The periodic wakeups are from my delightful cat that likes to walk over and scream in my ear every 2 hours for no reason whatsoever.
If I try to close the door, he beats on it like a gorilla and screams all night, and besides I do love the little maniac.
There have been a few nights where he was at the vet or in boarding, and my numbers were still basically the same....

Someone mentioned leaks weren't too bad - I don't know what is bad, but to me they seem sort of bad.

Also, I do spend 1-3 hours a night on the CPAP but actually awake and not able to sleep - does that make the AHI number actually lower than it really is?

I do take a fair amount of medicines, and I try to take most of them no later than 6 at night. The exception is the Klonopin - I only take 0.5 and am trying to wean off. In my sleep study from 5 years ago, they said I have severe leg movement problems and have tried Mirapex and others and the only thing I can tolerate is the Klonopin, but it gives me nightmares.

One thing I found scary was with the Dreamstation. It made me feel like I couldn't breathe and I would wake up about 6 in the morning gasping for breath and heart beating like crazy. One day even called 911 and went to ER - thought I was going to die. Just panic, but it feels weird to me even trying to sleep or any time - it has such a different and relaxed response to everything. I put it away and went back to the Autoset 9 until I decide what to do next.

Should I really be setting my minimum pressure to 15? That seems really high when half the night is under 13?

Anyway, thanks so much for any help. Wish I could have the beautiful, low AHI graphs that some have. Don't think I have ever had under a 5.