Data help please?

[bobkat13]

I am confused about something and hope that the experts here will be able to help me. My presssure is 14. Below are my "numbers" for the last couple of weeks (FFM the last 3 nights is full face mask - ResMed Ultra Mirage)

Date Leak AHI A1 H1
4/13/2009 0.6 9.9 1.5 8.4
4/14/2009 0.22 6.4 0.3 6.1
4/15/2009 0.22 5.3 0.9 4.4
4/16/2009 0.64 9.1 1.7 7.4
4/17/2009 no data waited until after 12
4/18/2009 0.08 5.6 0.5 5.1
4/19/2009 0.42 8.5 0.6 7.9
4/20/2009 0.1 5.2 0.4 4.8
4/21/2009 0.06 5.4 0.2 5.2
4/22/2009 0.24 4.9 0.6 4.3
4/23/2009 0.52 7.3 0.8 6.5
4/24/2009 0.28 9.3 0.7 8.6 FFM
4/25/2009 0.58 8.5 1.2 7.3 FFM
4/26/2009 0.7 12 1.6 10.4 FFM

Here's my question: My sleep study lasted for 238 minutes (let's call that 4 hours) of sleep. I had 46 respiratory events (18 obstructive and 28 partial obstructive). If I'm understanding things correctly, that means I had 18 AI and 28 HI during four hours, which would put my AI per hour during the first sleep study at 4.5 and my HI at 7.0. Looking at my data, I can see that my AI is much improved during CPAP treatment, but not my HI. Did I read somewhere on here to automatically subtract 5.0 HI from any ResMed data you get?

Also, why did the sleep lab say that, using a pressure of 14.0, they got my AI to 0.0 and I've NEVER gotten that at home?

I like my nasal mask, but my first attempt at mouth taping didn't go so well.......tape slid down so that my lower lip was well taped, but not connected to my upper lip. I'll try that again - right now I'm trying to break in my second FFM.

Another question: how horrible are my leak numbers?

[jules]

I suspect your leak rate is "pretty horrible".

What mask is in the menu on your machine?

[bobkat13]

Ultra is what it says....I'm presuming it means Resmed Ultra, since that's the Resmed one that looks the closest to my nasal mask.

[jules]

Assuming the mask in the menu's flow rate is close to the mask you are using then lets look at that last night.

You reported a leak rate of 0.7. You multiply that by 60 and you get 42. This means your machine was putting out air 42 l/min in excess of what your mask called for at least 5 % of the night. (Ultra Mirage at 14 has a flow rate of 44 so you were twice that - 42 + 44 for you). You want that number (your 0.7) to be close to zero.

Until you get that leak number down, there is no point looking at the other numbers.

[Wulfman]

Ultra is what it says....I'm presuming it means Resmed Ultra, since that's the Resmed one that looks the closest to my nasal mask.

What mask ARE you using?
You've mentioned a full face mask and now a nasal mask......

Here are the mask selection options.
If you're wearing an Ultra Mirage Full Face mask, you should select "Mirage Full"

Den


The S8 mask selections are:
Mirage
Mirage Full
Swift
Activa
Ultra
Standard


.

[bobkat13]

ruh roh didn't change the mask setting on my CPAP when I changed masks

OK......forget about the data for the last 3 nights since it's meaningless. Sorry. Still wonder about the other night's data. "Ultra" picture on Resmed site looks a lot like the nasal mask that I do use, so I think the data is good for all except the last 3 nights.

[Wulfman]

Are you using EPR? (Easybreathe or whatever it's called now)
If so, what setting?


Den

[bobkat13]

I'm not using it - machine is set to EPR = 0. I don't use any ramping, either - no "issues" with my pressure setting at all!