Newbie to CPAP machine

[discobandit]

First i would like to thank this community for offering me so much information about OSA and CPAP machine, which i eventually decided to purchase the RESMED Airsense 10 Autoset. Months ago when i was diagnosed with OSA with AHI 49, i almost couldnt understand what the doctor was talking about. But after reading up this forum, i gain quite a fair bit for knowledge and moved on with the CPAP therapy.

For the first month, i was using Autoset 9 which was on rental by the hospital, and bought a swift fx nasal pillow from the hospital which cost me almost USD 210. But I was also offered an option to purchase that machine at about USD 2000. And yes, these machines are ridiculously expensive in my country (Singapore). Thank god that i found this forum and read about it, thus i bought my Airsense from a US online store which help me save quite a fair bit of money.

For a start on this therapy was really uncomfortable during sleep but I have been faithfully using it and my AHI reading has been around 3 to 5. And i feel much fresher in the day and more focus on my job.

Recently i have downloaded Sleepyhead and hoping to find out more about if the pressure setting given by the doctor is the most appropriate one. I have been struggling to ready the sleepyhead analysis but i seriously couldn't determine how well this has been working me and my sleep.
Currently, this is my setting:

Machine: Airsense 10 Autoset (without humidifier)
Mode: APAP
Mask Type: Swift FX Nasal Pillow
CPAP Pressure: 6-20 (cmH2O)
ERP: Full time
ERP Level: 3 cmH2O

I had screenshot one of the nights reading from sleepyhead and i really hope some kind soul to be able to help me if my current pressure is appropriate.

I would sincerely appreciate anyone who can help me... Many thanks!

[LSAT]

I don't think you are doing too bad, but you don't show if leaks are a problem. I think you could lower your AHI by increasing your minimum pressure from 4 to at least 8...or maybe 9

[C/O_Guy]

I was told when I got my air sense 10 that if your under 5 your doing good I went from a 23 to a average of 2.3 buy the air sense with a pressure of 12 but everyone therapy is different I feel so much better to since on the cpap hope you do well but were you stand now isn't a bad reading

[OkyDoky]

I agree with LSAT. I think a minimum pressure of 8 or 9 will help. You could start with 8 and watch it for a few days, but will probably need a minimum of 9.
I have some tips to help with your screenshots for next time, so we can see the most useful information.

On the left side turn off the calendar by clicking on the triangle by the date.
Also the pie chart doesn't give us very much info so you can turn it off by going to File - Preferences -Appearance - Uncheck Show event break down pie chart
That allows us to see the machine details on the left.

The graphs that are usually helpful are:
1. Event Flags
2. Flow Rate
3. Pressure (not mask pressure)
4. Leak
5. Flow Limit (only with Resmed machine)
Put your graph in that order by grabbing, by the labels, with your mouse and dragging it where you want it.
Now grab the line between the graphs and resize them until you get them in one screenshot.

Take a screen shot after you organize your graphs.
F10 will close the right sidebar ( or click file - view - uncheck right side bar).
F11 ( or click file - view - check fullscreen toggle) on your keyboard before you take your screenshot and it makes it full screen with no ID info.
Take a screenshot by pushing F12 or under View - click on Screenshot
Screenshots are found on my computer under Documents - SleepyHeadData-Testing - Screenshots

Then at Imgur you have to sign up for an account then sign in. upload your pic.
Click on the triangle by your ID in the upper right corner and a menu will drop down.
Choose Images this will take you to a screen with your uploaded images on it. Click on the image you want.
Click on Large thumbnail then copy the Linked BB code into your reply. Here is an uploaded screenshot for example.

[C/O_Guy]

anyone able to help me under stand these charts here is my charts..

http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/andre ... slideshow/

[palerider]

I was told when I got my air sense 10 that if your under 5 your doing good I went from a 23 to a average of 2.3 buy the air sense with a pressure of 12 but everyone therapy is different I feel so much better to since on the cpap hope you do well but were you stand now isn't a bad reading

"good" as far as the doctors are concerned, fairly bad as far as we're concerned.

an AHI of 5 is like being waked up, on average, every 12 minutes all night long.

[palerider]

anyone able to help me under stand these charts here is my charts..

http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/andre ... slideshow/

read the first post in the announcements section, and please stop hijacking other peoples threads.

[palerider]

I agree with LSAT. I think a minimum pressure of 8 or 9 will help. You could start with 8 and watch it for a few days, but will probably need a minimum of 9.
I have some tips to help with your screenshots for next time, so we can see the most useful information.

+1

[OkyDoky]

anyone able to help me under stand these charts here is my charts..

http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/andre ... slideshow/

Here is a link to help you organize, take a screenshot and post. It is 3 pages so at the bottom of each page click on the next. Following these instructions and the ones I gave above will give us the most helpful info. https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead/shorganize

Also, please start your own thread so we don't get this poster's thread derailed and we have all your history in one place.

[C/O_Guy]

oky I have a thread started with some of my charts

[discobandit]

Thank you all for your valuable comments and especially to OkyDoky for your kind advice. Deeply appreciate that!
I shall try to adjust to min pressure of 9 for my next sleep. and will keep you posted on the progress.

Like what my doctor told me as well, anything below 5 should be consider 'normal'. But i am thinking, since i will be on this therapy for a long time or rather as long as i will be sleeping, i hope i can be on the right track. Not exactly to hit zero or anything, but at least i am on the right direction and making full use of this therapy.
Doctor did suggest me to do a CT scan and will review if an operation is required. As i have been reading quite a bit about OSA, i am quite reluctant on that idea. I still strongly believe that CPAP therapy is the most effective choice to go with.

Last by not least, i apologise for the image uploaded on my first post (that's the first time i am doing that). Here's the repost of the images, I manage to follow OkyDoky kind advice and hopefully this is OK now. This is the reading for 2 nights before.





Once again, i thank you all for your time and valuable comments. )

[palerider]

Like what my doctor told me as well, anything below 5 should be consider 'normal'. But i am thinking, since i will be on this therapy for a long time or rather as long as i will be sleeping, i hope i can be on the right track. ...
Last by not least, i apologise for the image uploaded on my first post (that's the first time i am doing that). Here's the repost of the images, I manage to follow OkyDoky kind advice and hopefully this is OK now. This is the reading for 2 nights before.)

the new images are great.

I'd definitely second (third... agree with) the recommendations of raising the minimum pressure to 9... 4 is far too low.

your doctor may be happy with anything under 5, but that's really not very good... I'm not happy till I'm under 1.5 or so. if my AHI is much above that, I feel worse the next day than when it's lower that 1.5 remember, an AHI of 5, (good in the doctors eyes) is like having someone poke you with a stick every 12 minutes.... ALL NIGHT LONG (on average )

[discobandit]

Thank you Palerider , I will adjust to have the min pressure to 9 and max at 20 tonight. Will posted the reading the next day.

So far, i had never gotten anything lesser than 3. Though i feel better the next day but i will still yawn the first thing when i wake up.
Hence, I would love to know how it feel the next day when i have a sleep under 1.5.

The sleep technician that previously was handling my case wasn't knowledgable in the sense that she is likely to rely on the final AHI (which is below 5 benchmark) and determine to me that it is OK to continue without further changes to it. But i think otherwise.

Keep you guys posted. This forum is really such a wonderful place for newbie like me. and with so many kind people here...
Thank you all!!!

[palerider]

This forum is really such a wonderful place for newbie like me. and with so many kind people here...
Thank you all!!!

I don't know if anybody would accuse me of being kind, but I DO try to be helpful

[discobandit]

This forum is really such a wonderful place for newbie like me. and with so many kind people here...
Thank you all!!!

I don't know if anybody would accuse me of being kind, but I DO try to be helpful

That's already awesome!