DIY - Equip Arrived Settings Where DoI Start?

jameslv-nv wrote:Will see how it goes tonight. I've been adjusting and testing the settings today and after a couple of hours of not falling asleep I'm tired and ready for a real nap. LOL

I was close and felt mysef a couple of times but my mind would not allow it as I was really just trying it on for comfort and to test my air leaks.

Finally settled on starting with low of 8 and high of 12 for now. 14 seemed to make the unhappy face, leak detector, come on in a few positions but might not have had it tight enough.

Anyway..tonight will be my first official night. I'm not going to nap and figure I should be good and tired tonight.

Guess I should RESET the sleep info from my testing today or does that matter?

Thanks again for all your help!

You are doing fine. Good idea to play with it during the day and set it up and not wait until you are tired at bedtime. Also good to be doing it on a weekend assuming you do not have to go to work tomorrow.

Tomorrow you want to look at the details report and you can easily see the difference between today's testing and tonight's sleeping. No need to reset anything.

Did you get the software loaded?

roster wrote:Did you get the software loaded?

Yes. Unfortunately could not load on my laptop as it does not seem compatible with windows 7. Got a few errors so installed on one of my other pc's at home. Was hoping to load on my laptop so I could cozy up to the s9. LOL

Guess it does have the removable sd so not a problem really.

Well my first night went about as good as I thought it would and it was not good.

The positives are I never gasped for air even on my back WHEN I was able to "drift" off to sleep.

The negatives are I never really slept or was able to go into sleep. I would keep waking up. It went on for hours.

Yesterday I developed a major kink on my left side of neck and shoulder area. Unfortunately by bedtime I was already
extremely uncomfortable. Add to the fact I am and have always been a very restless sleeper, added a mask and a machine, and my night was not good.

Another positive note is my mask seems to fit very well and it's not all that uncomfortable really. I did not experience, from what I could tell any or many leaks regardless of what position I was tossing to.

My mind would not let go..i have a very active/busy mind at times anyway, but when I'd finally slip into sleep I'd WAKE UP..thinking about the machine and is it going to work etc.

I'm afraid to totally sleep on my back with the mask as I hate waking up and gasping for air. I anticipate it, even with the machine, so it's hard to let go and stop thinking about it but I know I'll have to experience some of that just so I can find the proper settings for me. One the reasons I decided to finally take action on my OSA is because of all the pain I get in my arms and shoulders from sleeping on them.

Today's a new day and tonight a better night. Hopefully can get this kink worked out so I can get comfortable.

It's very normal to not be able to sleep when you first start using the machine... very few people get used to it right away, and then there's the whole mind racing with thoughts about it that can be hard to turn off. One of the things that helped me when first adjusting to APAP was to turn on a fan in the room--the white noise helped me to not concentrate on the sound of my own breathing through the mask. The S9 is pretty quiet, but I'm sure you have noticed you can still hear yourself breathing some (and many have reported a slight whistle from the machine on exhale). If you are so inclined, an over-the-counter sleeping pill may help you get past the initial stage of adjustment.

Eventually, you will want to check the software to confirm what you think about not having many leaks... I have found that full face masks in particular can be deceiving. Also be sure that you have the right mask type selected on the machine--that will ensure the leak data is accurate (it computes expected leak for the mask type and pressure, so you should be aiming for 0 leak). That said, the most important thing right now is to get used to this and to be able to fall asleep and stay asleep with the mask on.

jmelby wrote: and then there's the whole mind racing with thoughts about it that can be hard to turn off. .

You hit the nail on the head when you said the above! That's exactly why I've not checked back in till now. I was so tired and run down when I got my machine, trying to absorb it all, worrying I would not get things set correctly, worrying..and worrying...THEN laying in bed for what seemed like forever trying to go to sleep THINKING...is this going to work, am I going to be able to breath, thinking about my terrible night over 8 years ago waking up gasping for air..etc.

I decided then and there the more I thought about, posted, read this forum, it was not going to help me sleep any better so I took a break.

GOOD NEWS IS..It helped! After a couple of nights, yes I have to admit I would take the mask off at times because I was so irritable and restless there was no way it would work. Last night I was very restless and the mask added to my frustration somewhat but it's not the main issue. I believe I'm dealing with a sciatic nerve issue so I've got some intense pain in my left leg thats making me very uncomfortable.

Ok, all in all I gotta say I feel more rested and not as lethargic as I've been for way to long. That said I still have a slight doubt, call it denial whatever LOL, that my apnea is not or has not been an issue because of my side and stomach sleeping.

Reason I say that is because my numbers are looking very good even from the start. I'm going off the machine readings only..i've not had time to load the info in the software on pc yet..just so busy.

Now..again I admit..some nights for various reasons..the mask comes off but the past several nights I"ve been much better at riding it out. One thing that's very hard to deal with is my itchy nose due to allergies. It's been damn windy here in Vegas basically since I got the machine. The biggest thing I hate is..waking up having to itch my nose...having to shut the machine off..take mask off...itch..and put it all back on again. LOL

So here's some machine stats.

period 1 week
days used 7/7
days >4hrs 5/7
avrg usage 5.2hrs
pressure 11.6
leak 0.0L/m
AHI 2.3
Total AI 1.7
Central AI 1.1
Run Hours 62.2

One of the first nights I actually slept completely thru and logged 8 hrs in one night my AHI was 2.1 if I recall.

My AHI has been good and low, lasts night I had 6.7 hrs with AHI of 2.3, and the highest AHI one night I think was 3.9 or something close. That night I recall I took mask off with machine still running and adjusted things, had itchy nose and what not. So that night the AHI was a bit high but other than that my numbers overall I believe are good.

Guess my numbers being so low early on is what leads me to think maybe my apnea is only severe or a real issue on my back. The night I was tested 8 years ago..i never had a chance nor could I side sleep with all the wires hooked up to me.

Still I can't stay asleep on my back for anything although I"m wanting to. I'm trying every night BUT I can say I do fall asleep that way and have not once woke up choking, or gasping for air. Before the machine I could not even fall asleep in my recliner without gasping for air several times within even a short time frame.

I have the machine mode on Autoset, max pressure 12.0, min pressure 8.6, strt pressure 6.0, EPR Full Time.

If you guys think I should load the software let me know. I"m curious so I'm sure I will likely next week.

Humidity set at 71 and seems to work ok for me. Before the machine I'd wake up with cotton mouth so bad and talk about dry..now it's not so bad. I've been using an over the counter decongestant spray to open my sinuses. It helps tremendously. I'll visit an allergy doc soon though.

So there's my update. Unless I encounter some real issue I"ll likely not check back or at least post for another week. This week is crazy busy but some very good things going on. Actually I think the machine is helping me a great deal feeling much more rested and I really need it right now.

Before I head off into hoseland I'd like to thank each of you for your encouragement and support. Had it not been for this forum It's very likely I'd not taken the much needed steps. I know the journey is just beginning however with all the great folks here I got started off in the right direction.

First, I think the software is a must, especially since you are doing it "DIY mode"

Then, it is not because you have such good results from the start that it means you don't have OSA even when sleeping on your side or stomach. It just means that you are one of the lucky ones for which CPAP treatment is really effective from the start! (AHI 108 in my study - and I slept on my side, as usual; down to 3.3 on the first two nights then 1.5 average since.)
Your pressure (11.6) is much closer to the maximum pressure (12) than to the lower (8.6). I therefore have a feeling that the machine increases the pressure because it detects events are going to happen.
So a diagnostic of severe OSA is absolutely possible but very effectively treated by your APAP. So keep up the good work and learn to sleep full nights confortably with your new bedside partner, and I'm sure you will soon feel the difference!!
And again, it is a good idea to get the software, you can post some results here, you will get good comments and advice from people here!

My AHI in my test was 126 I think and my AHI with CPAP is around 1.0 so don't take your low AHI with CPAP to mean anything other than that it is helping you.

To be honest I've not used the machine since about my last post.

#1. Air bubbles are coming up..almost like a very light belching but up on throat area. No taste like acid reflux or something just air ad it's damn annoying. Almost like hickups but not that intense. just air bubbles..but I"m not comfortable trying to sleep like that. Not just once but seems like every time I put mask on here come these damn air bubbles.

#2. Sinuses. I can't breath thru my nose at all for the most part. never really could but I feel like I'm going to suffocate wearing the mask with nose closed. I used over counter decongestant and it does work great BUT..continued use causes one to become dependent and I'm sure I was. I had to stop taking it.

So i've stopped the machine last week..considering the above..no being able to sleep and being restless I needed to be able to sleep. I visit doc this Wed and hope he can help get me some sinus help.

As far as the air bubbles..any ideas on the cause and how to stop it? I've tried some antacids but no help really.

Oh..regarding apnea and not thinking it was issue on my side. My girlfriend said I last night I had issues as she heard me stop breathing and got so worried I would not come out of it. That was on my side so it certainly seems there's no room for denial any longer.

I'll try the mask again tonight..maybe will get lucky with no air bubbles and will give the sinus saline kit another go.