Finally: Results from my Data Card

I just got my data card reader and ResMed software, so I am taking a look at my first month of treatment. Here is the thread on my first 12 days.

I was having a difficult time finding the right pressure. I've left my machine at 11 to 17 for the past 2 weeks.

Here are two reports that show the problems I am having.

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=94ef ... b9a8902bda

Even though I control the leak rate, I still get similar results. My AI seems to be under control, but the HI is the problem. If you look at the AHI graph, I get these "ramp up" patterns that don't seem to be related to anything. Could the drop off be when I wake up? What is causing the ramping up?

Mentally, I am not as focused or awake as I was before starting CPAP. In other words, I feel better off of CPAP. I am not sure what is going on.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Tallen234 wrote:Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

You really need to have a look at getting your leakage numbers under much more control, before you can start reasonably trying to look for any other cause of the high HI scores.

Cheers,

Bill

Make sure that you have the correct mask type set on your machine.
If your mask is correct, then your leaks are way too high.
You should be seeing a leak close to 0.0
As an example, my 95% leak rate with a Quattro is mostly 0.0, with maybe a 0.1 one day a week.
My Max Leak rate is never above 0.2

Good Luck

Even when the leak numbers are under control, I still get very similar results, i.e. the ramping up of the AHI. It doesn't appear to be related to a leak event or an apnea. For example, look at the results from the 27th - leaks are under control, but the AHI has a regular "pattern".

Also, I am using the F&P 432 mask and I have the AutoSet II set to "standard". But when looking at the ResMed software, it appears that Standard is desginated as a standard nasal mask. Should I set the Autoset for a full mirage?

[I tried using the Resmed full face, but I had even more leak issues - I like the chin support of the F&P, especially with my goatee).

billbolton wrote:

Tallen234 wrote:Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

You really need to have a look at getting your leakage numbers under much more control, before you can start reasonably trying to look for any other cause of the high HI scores.

Cheers,

Bill

BTW the leak rate for the 431 at 11 is 30 LPM.

Tallen234 wrote:BTW the leak rate for the 431 at 11 is 30 LPM.

The reported leak rate from the ResMed machines already has a mask leak rate subtracted from it.
That is why any leak rate above 0.0 is not good assuming that you have the proper mask used as input.

This is different from the other manufactures. Others just report the total leak rate which includes the mask vent (or mask leak) rate.

I asked earlier whether I should enter the full face mirage or the "standard" option. From the software it appears that the standard is for a nasal mask. So, I am not sure what option I should choose.


Also, is there any explanation for the "ramp up" nature of the AHI's?

Tallen234 wrote:Also, is there any explanation for the "ramp up" nature of the AHI's?

NOT WHILE YOU HAVE SUCH LARGE LEAK NUMBERS

I can't say it any more plainly than that!

You can look at this site to find another mask with a similar vent rent profile as your 431: http://www.internetage.com/cpapinfo/leak-rates-1.html ... the closest appears to be the UMFF.

Bill's right about the leaks. If you have graphs that show a night without the massive leaks, that would be most beneficial.

As for the ramping up, it looks like at the beginning of each hour it just resets the counter to zero and then increases for each event. Each rise in that graph corresponds to one more event. Then it starts counting at zero again at the start of the hour. The max value for each hour is the total number of events for that hour. Look at Oct 28 at 4am: that peak means that between 3am and 4am you had a total of nearly 30 events. The graph on the following page (5) is more informative - it looks like you're having clusters of events at certain times.

What's more interesting is that your APAP mode is not responding to those hypopnea's.. you are on the minimum pressure the whole night. Maybe someone else can explain that.

BUT you still need to get your leaks under control!!!

From my first post:

Even though I control the leak rate, I still get similar results.

I've had nights where my leak rate was below .1 and had similar stair steps. The pressure and/or leak rates doesn't appear to affect this pattern.

billbolton wrote:

Tallen234 wrote:Also, is there any explanation for the "ramp up" nature of the AHI's?

NOT WHILE YOU HAVE SUCH LARGE LEAK NUMBERS

I can't say it any more plainly than that!

echo wrote: ..... it looks like at the beginning of each hour it just resets the counter to zero and then increases for each event.

This is exactly what my rescan v3.5 software does for the detailed graphing of AHI data. The AHI isn't "ramping" up and falling off; the graph is just plotting the cumulative events for each hour.

Ah! That explains it. Thanks!

Now, on to other questions. It seems like I don't have very many apnea events, but I have a lot of hypopneas. Is there any explanation for this? Is it just a question of severity?