HELP: Initial CPAP Results

[LakeGuy85]

Hello everyone, this is my second post, I already posted my initial home sleep study results which gave me a an AHI of 16.3 due to a high # of hypopneas while sleeping on my back. I have nasal congestion so we decided to start on a full-face mask. Anyway, I started CPAP 2 nights ago, equipment in signature. My AHI doesn't seem to be going down that much, what should I do next? Nothing and ride it out more nights, maybe it will improve? Change masks? Somehow change the machine settings? I can't see much in the machine settings, but I believe my provider has me on 5-20 Auto that starts on 5 with a 20 minute ramp period. I think the night #1 "numbers" only look better because I was wearing the machine awake more than actual sleeping

Night #1:
Experience: Struggled to fall asleep, but finally slept from like 2:00AM to 8:00AM.
Duration: 7:36 HRS
AHI: 8.2 (1 Total Clear Airway Apnea, 1 total obstructive apnea, 55 Hypopneas)
90% Pressure: 5.8 cmH2O

Night #2:
Experience: Was able to fall asleep better/OK, and slept from 11:30-4:00AM without waking. Oddly, when I woke at 4:00AM I felt very rested and like I didn't need to go back to sleep? I was initially excited this meant the machine was working, but because it was so early I laid back down and slept from 4:30AM to 8:00AM. When I woke at 8:00AM I was actually more tired, it was pretty much like a normal morning before CPAP?
Duration: 8:35 HRS
AHI: 11.9 (5 TCAA, 1 TOA, 84 Hypopneas)
90% Pressure: 7.0cmH2O

[LSAT]

What are your Minimum and maximum pressure settings? If they are 5/20..increase your minimum to 7 and see what happens after a couple days.

[LakeGuy85]

What are your Minimum and maximum pressure settings? If they are 5/20..increase your minimum to 7 and see what happens after a couple days.

Thanks. Does anyone know how to adjust the minimum pressure in a Dreamstation Auto CPAP? I have looked in the settings and can't find anything?

[Pugsy]

Go here and request the clinical/provider manual for your machine.
https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual
Instructions on how to get it via email are about 2/3 down the page.
I know the short cut instructions are also on this page but I strongly urge people to go ahead and get the full provider manual and read it because there's a lot more really useful information in that manual.

[ChicagoGranny]

I already posted my initial home sleep study results which gave me a an AHI of 16.3 due to a high # of hypopneas while sleeping on my back.

Please stick to one thread starting with this one. This allows members to see your history without searching for multiple threads.

Once your therapy is optimized, you can make new posts for unrelated issues that may arise (for example, dealing with insurance).

Welcome!

[LakeGuy85]

Go here and request the clinical/provider manual for your machine.
https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual
Instructions on how to get it via email are about 2/3 down the page.
I know the short cut instructions are also on this page but I strongly urge people to go ahead and get the full provider manual and read it because there's a lot more really useful information in that manual.

Thanks! Do you agree I should try and increase the pressure settings or wait a couple more nights?

[Pugsy]

I wouldn't wait to increase the minimum.
I would need to see the detailed software report to really have a good idea what to increase it to ....I don't like to make guesses when detailed information is available but 7 cm is certainly a good choice and not a big jump and you should be able to manage it easily enough.

Hyponea count is high...they usually respond quite nicely to just a little more minimum.

[LakeGuy85]

I wouldn't wait to increase the minimum.
I would need to see the detailed software report to really have a good idea what to increase it to ....I don't like to make guesses when detailed information is available but 7 cm is certainly a good choice and not a big jump and you should be able to manage it easily enough.

Hyponea count is high...they usually respond quite nicely to just a little more minimum.

I found the instructions on changing the Dreamstation settings, but I came across this EZStart feature (attached) and I do see the EZStart icon on the bottom left of the device when it's in use. Think maybe I should wait and let EZStart increase the pressure or go ahead and bump it anyway?

[Pugsy]

Do NOT use EZStart.
It delays adequate treatment....it uses 4 cm all night and then maybe will increase it to 5 all night...then maybe 6 all night.
It's useless. It does NOT allow the machine to do any auto adjusting at all. You get a fixed pressure only all night long.

Use the ramp feature if you need to start lower for comfort so that you will eventually get up to the pressure you need.
Or better yet...turn on Flex exhale relief and use it for comfort. Play with the settings and use the one that feels more natural to you.

[LakeGuy85]

Per the advice of several, I'm going to try and keep all my questions in this single thread. Disabling EZ Start (thanks Pugsy) and setting pressure to 7-20 has dropped my AHI from 12 after the first two nights on EZ Start to 4.7 and 5.5 the 3rd and 4th nights. Still a ways to go, but at least it's improving. My issue now is the Dreamwear full face mask, when I turn my head sideways on the pillow it's affecting the air pressures because this mask has the air tube up top and runs air down the sides of your head. I think my sleep could be a lot better if I try a mask that allows me to sleep more freely on my side vs always having to lay on my back. Any recommendations? Is it too early for me to start changing masks after only 4 nights?

[ChicagoGranny]

My issue now is the Dreamwear full face mask, when I turn my head sideways on the pillow it's affecting the air pressures because this mask has the air tube up top and runs air down the sides of your head.

The manufacturer reports if one side is completely collapsed, the other side has sufficient flow/pressure to keep the CPAP system delivering appropriate therapy.

I use the same mask and sometimes sleep on my sides for hours at a time without problems.

[ryanfunk77]

I went without an OSA diagnosis for 8 years and had a huge sleep deficit. I've been on CPAP treatment for 7 months now and I feel about 80% better. I've had numerous issues with keeping masks on due to congestion (I had a history of it prior to therapy), but with a full face mask now I'm finally getting more consistent treatment and things are improving at a faster rate. Do not stop therapy. Keep looking for ways to make therapy work for you. Two days of therapy will not be enough for you to notice any difference in your fatigue/symptoms. I started feeling slightly better after about one month of treatment. My symptoms were fatigue, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and migraines, all of which are now mostly gone. I still get fatigue when I don't get a good night on the machine, but it is nowhere near as severe as before and doesn't bring on 2 hour migraines.