Adjusting For Weight Loss

[owleyes]

Great. Does this mean it could lead to me having less pressure against my face. Better comfort? Or better sleep? Is that done by ultimately lowering the higher number?

[Pugsy]

Great. Does this mean it could lead to me having less pressure against my face. Better comfort? Is that done by ultimately lowering the higher number?

Your minimum number is your most critical setting number. Your maximum (higher) number isn't even being reached. It doesn't really matter what it is if it's not being reached.

[owleyes]

Ah, so a lower minimum will put less pressure on me, and make it easier to sleep.

Going from 15 to 10 seems pretty substantial.

I'll try that tonight.

[zonker]

I've been on cpap for almost 6 years. My weight was in the mid 170s, which is about 25 more that normal. I'm now 25 pounds lighter (not a huge difference, I know). But I'm wondering if my cpap needs may have changed. My machine is set to 15lbs, which I think is the max. I'm hoping a lower setting might be called for now. Can the Sleepyhead report show anything? I looked and didn't see anything, but frankly, I really don't know what to look for.

Thanks!

okay, so now we are starting to look at your charts and see what is going on. that made me want to go back to the above, your original post.

i'm wondering; are you having a higher ahi after the weight loss? lower? or just the same?

other than that, i can't see a real pressing need to change you pressures.

or am i missing something?

[ChicagoGranny]

other than that, i can't see a real pressing need to change you pressures.

or am i missing something?

Yes. She said in the first post "hoping for a lower pressure". A lower pressure may be more comfortable.

[owleyes]

Bingo!

Going maskless would be ideal, but 1/3 lower pressure would be a great improvement.

[ChicagoGranny]

Move to the Protestant side.

[owleyes]

[ChicagoGranny]

Me luvs typoes.

[owleyes]

Me luvs typoes.

No me. Not when they're mine But I have my moments. I recently found this on a forum I follow for traveling artists. And added a suggestion.

ARTIST: "I would much rather be in my studio, then go to someone's dinner party after they purchased my art".

ME: "I hate to break the bad news, but if you don't change the THEN to THAN, you're going to end up at a dinner party you don't want to be at".

[owleyes]

Okay, so I changed my minimum pressure from 15 to 12 on Friday night and felt great on Saturday. Then I lowered it to 10 last night, and I felt worse than I have in a long time. I guess that means that 12 is a good number for me. But I don't understand why... how that works.

My AHI was higher than usual, but not by a whole lot.

Does last night's performance chart show anything?

Thanks.

[ChicagoGranny]

I would take the minimum back to 12.0. Or, you could leave it at 10.0 and turn off Flex.

It seems you need more pressure.

This is trial and error - change a setting, look at OSCAR the next day. It's good that you are checking how you feel the next day. Do you remember many awakenings the last night?

[owleyes]

I switched it back to 12 last night. Unfortunately I woke up far too early, unable to go back to sleep, but that's been happening lately, not related to cpap. I feel much better than yesterday, despite the shortened sleep. So I guess 12 is the right number. It's more comfortable than 15, so I'm happy about that.

Here's last night's report. The AHI is a bit higher than average, but that seems to happen sometimes when I don't sleep as long. I'm not sure why.

What is Flex?

[Dog Slobber]

Comfort is important, and if it feels better on 12, that's a priority.

But, you are you are making decisions based on single nights.

Simply put, there is too much variance and other influences that contribute to your AHI other than pressure.

This should be evident, If you go back to your very first graph. Your AHI swings show huge variance swinging from 1 to 6 regularly. What's also apparent is poor sleep sessions, inconsistant start and end times, short sessions, gaps. Are you taking your mask off?

You're experiencing pretty good comfort at 12. Leave it there a bit, and concentrate on good sleep hygiene. Then consider some gradual optimizations.

[ChicagoGranny]

Unfortunately I woke up far too early, unable to go back to sleep, but that's been happening lately, not related to cpap.

As you know, sleep is not all about CPAP ------------------->

Good Sleep for CPAPers

- Practice good sleep hygiene (Google it and read several sources; ignore extreme advice.)
- Eat a good diet
- Have a regular, moderate exercise program
- Try to avoid daytime naps
- Practice total abstinence of caffeine including sources like chocolate (sigh)
- Review all medicines, vitamins and supplements you are taking to make sure none are interfering with sleep
- Use the bedroom for sleeping (and sex) only, and make sure the bedroom and bed are comfortable.
- Learn to appropriately handle emotional stress in your life
- Do not listen to your breathing or the sound of the machine as you are falling asleep. (Some people, including me, actually find listening to their breathing and the sound of the machine to be relaxing.)
- Distract your mind by thinking of a pleasant, relaxing activity that you enjoy.
- If you are awakening at night, do not be too concerned. It is actually a normal part of sleep. (It does become a problem though for people who, when they awaken, become frustrated and have difficulty returning to sleep.)
- Use CPAP software, such as the free OSCAR (or the free SleepyHead), to make sure your therapy is optimized
- If you still don't feel or sleep well, make sure you have regular medical checkups to confirm there are no other medical problems

This is a checklist. Some of the things you already do. Some are easy and can be done right away. Others you can work at over time.

CG