Dreamstation AHI # and General Help

[griz31]

I have a slightly different view than RobySue does.

for the first few nights, right at the beginning, I think that making significant changes is fine, especially if you're starting out with a default setting machine (typically 4-20), look at your data every day, and adjust till you've got the lower pressure in the ballpark, taking account of other issues you may have (dry mouth, bloating, etc).

when you're "in the ballpark" pressure wise, then I'm in complete agreement, make small changes, let things settle, because it's very true, you'll have better and worse days without any changes at all to the machine, the biggest variable in the whole equation is you, the squidgy, imprecise, funny shaped bag of water.

Thanks and I can see both sides. On one side I was prescribed these settings by my doctor after a sleep study and on the other this is the very beginning and that was only one night. I think seeing the data (and your help interpreting it) makes it relatively clear that adjustments should be made early on.

Thanks,
Jon

[palerider]

On one side I was prescribed these settings by my doctor after a sleep study

as to sleep studies... they may be "The GOLD Standard", but they are, in many ways, woefully inadequate if you think about it.

you're in an artificial environment, all wired up and less comfortable than normal.
it's *one night* and likely only part of that night. reading any titration report, you'll see that "oh, your good pressure was 12cm, you slept for 45 minutes at that pressure!"

it's a simple fact that sleep varies from night to night, you'll have better and worse days with the same exact settings. yet the "gold standard" is a small number of minutes tested on one night.... a brief photograph taken during the marathon run that is your sleep.

it's not surprising that sleep studies are somethings quite wrong, what's surprising is that they're ever right!

[AcedDublB]

I also have the DreamStation using the Auto BiPAP mode with IPAP pressure of 22.5

The last week my AHI is running from 7 - 20

I have tried at least 7 different masks trying to get a proper seal over past 6 months.

I just wasted $110 on a Quattro Air mask which was light and very comfortable but the Mask Fit % was very low.

I have gone back to my Amara View and also use the RemZzs liners but the Mask Fit % is only around 50-60%.

I am sleeping well, feel better but can't get AHI down to 5 or lower.

I never notice the leak so I am really baffled as to what to do next.

Last night my wife had a leg cramp and got out of bed and by rare coincidence she saw me stop breathing then heard the Auto BiPAP crank up the pressure and I apparently rolled over and carried on.

Any suggestions on where to go next, I am starting to wonder whether I will ever achieve the full therapy I obviously need.

[palerider]

I have tried at least 7 different masks trying to get a proper seal over past 6 months.

I just wasted $110 on a Quattro Air mask which was light and very comfortable but the Mask Fit % was very low.

I have gone back to my Amara View and also use the RemZzs liners but the Mask Fit % is only around 50-60%.

I am sleeping well, feel better but can't get AHI down to 5 or lower.

I never notice the leak so I am really baffled as to what to do next.

you've got to figure out why you can't get a good seal with masks... facial hair, hose leaks? something.

[AcedDublB]

Thank you pale rider.

No facial hair and I make sure to shave every day even though my whiskers are fairly fine.

When I do a Mask Fit test on the DreamStation which lasts 40 or 60 seconds I always get the check mark, meaning good.

I wear a cervical collar to try and keep chin closed and find it comfortable and useful.

I have zero issues with mask or pressures and I rarely wake up at night.

I do keep mask relatively snug, too loose and it starts to fart.

The hose seems 100%

I will post the a Sleepyhead data in next day or two.

Thank you for any assistance you can offer, I am stumped as what to do next.

[palerider]

I will post the a Sleepyhead data in next day or two.

Thank you for any assistance you can offer, I am stumped as what to do next.

there may be clues in the leak trace in the machine data.

[ala5081]

I have a problem and need help. I used Sleepyhead on my old S9 machine and it corrupted my data card according to the technicians when I went in for a visit. I have just gotten DreamStation and my AHI is running in the 40's. I changed it tonight to Auto to see if it will help. I would love to use Sleepyhead to see my data but I am on a 90 day trial to satisfy insurance company. Does anyone know what could have happened with my problem with Sleepyhead or possibly why my AHI's are running in the high 40's. Thanks in advance for any help.

[palerider]

I have a problem and need help. I used Sleepyhead on my old S9 machine and it corrupted my data card according to the technicians when I went in for a visit. I have just gotten DreamStation and my AHI is running in the 40's. I changed it tonight to Auto to see if it will help. I would love to use Sleepyhead to see my data but I am on a 90 day trial to satisfy insurance company. Does anyone know what could have happened with my problem with Sleepyhead or possibly why my AHI's are running in the high 40's. Thanks in advance for any help.

don't spew the same post all over the place, it's annoying.

[AcedDublB]

I will post the a Sleepyhead data in next day or two.

Thank you for any assistance you can offer, I am stumped as what to do next.

there may be clues in the leak trace in the machine data.

This may sound crazy but is it an option to close off 50% of the exhaust ports as it seems there is a considerable amount of air expelled through these ports, certainly more than small leaks.

[griz31]

as to sleep studies... they may be "The GOLD Standard", but they are, in many ways, woefully inadequate if you think about it.

you're in an artificial environment, all wired up and less comfortable than normal.
it's *one night* and likely only part of that night. reading any titration report, you'll see that "oh, your good pressure was 12cm, you slept for 45 minutes at that pressure!"

it's a simple fact that sleep varies from night to night, you'll have better and worse days with the same exact settings. yet the "gold standard" is a small number of minutes tested on one night.... a brief photograph taken during the marathon run that is your sleep.

it's not surprising that sleep studies are somethings quite wrong, what's surprising is that they're ever right!

That made me laugh. Hopefully I will continue to improve but that numbers have already gotten better. Thanks again for your help! (Sorry for the larger image, imgur was having problems and I couldnt copy the correct thumbnail bbcode)

[HoseCrusher]

I will post the a Sleepyhead data in next day or two.

Thank you for any assistance you can offer, I am stumped as what to do next.

there may be clues in the leak trace in the machine data.

This may sound crazy but is it an option to close off 50% of the exhaust ports as it seems there is a considerable amount of air expelled through these ports, certainly more than small leaks.

No one should alter their mask vents without doing extensive testing to determine the amount of change involved in the modification followed by CO2 monitoring to make sure you aren't re-breathing.

[AcedDublB]

Thank you regarding modifying exhaust ports.

I will post Sleepyhead results and ask for more guidance on trying to minimize leaks.

[ChicagoGranny]

I have a problem and need help.

I will post Sleepyhead results and ask for more guidance on trying to minimize leaks.

You two are hijacking Griz's nice thread where he is making some progress. Rude!

Start your own threads.

[palerider]

I will post the a Sleepyhead data in next day or two.

Thank you for any assistance you can offer, I am stumped as what to do next.

there may be clues in the leak trace in the machine data.

This may sound crazy but is it an option to close off 50% of the exhaust ports as it seems there is a considerable amount of air expelled through these ports, certainly more than small leaks.

unless you have a defective mask, the vent holes are carefully sized to vent a set amount of air @ a set pressure, there's a chart in the back of the mask booklet that shows the expected vent rate.

I don't ever advise blocking off vent holes.

[palerider]

Hopefully I will continue to improve but that numbers have already gotten better. Thanks again for your help! (Sorry for the larger image, imgur was having problems and I couldnt copy the correct thumbnail bbcode)

better too large than too small and unreadable

that's a big improvement, you may be able to do better.

if you're sleeping comfortably, I'd say raise the max higher, and see if the machine can tame some of the things where it wanted to go higher than 10.

and consider, after a couple nights, possibly going to 8 or 8.5 as the minimum.. you're much closer to where you need to be now than where you were.