New--General Questions

[Dontlovecpap]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to cpap, tonight is my 10th night. I've been reading everything I can get my hands on to learn more about my condition, but I have a couple of questions that I haven't been able to find an answer to. For reference, I am using the Resmed Autosense 10.

My first question is about how the pressure works. I am set at 8-20. When the pressure goes above 11, I tend to wake up because it bothers my nasal passages. I'm wondering why, when I take the mask off, does the pressure not go down? I would assume that if I'm not wearing the mask, the pressure would go back down to the minimum, because an obstruction is no longer occurring. I want to put the mask back on but end up falling back to sleep without the mask while waiting for it to adjust its pressure.

Also, is the time on Oscar correct? I could've sworn I went to bed earlier last night. Still trying to figure out how to read the graphs, but it'll take some time...

I appreciate any help you can give me.

[Pugsy]

Also, is the time on Oscar correct?

It is reporting whatever time your machine has timed stamped the files UNLESS you have chosen the wrong time in the time zone selection process during profile set up.

Now it is entirely possible that the clock on the machine itself is not set correctly and thus your times shown might be off.
Did you know there is a clock on the machine that you can set to your local time?
Explained in the manual.
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/ResMed ... %20her.pdf

I'm wondering why, when I take the mask off, does the pressure not go down?

It will eventually go back down to the starting pressure but it takes its own sweet time doing it. Doesn't reduce in the blink of an eye. It can take several minutes and those are VERY long several minutes.

Instead of waiting.. either turn the machine off manually or use the SmartStart feature (turn it on) so the machine turns itself off after about 10 seconds if the mask is removed. Explained in the manual as well.

[palerider]

When the pressure goes above 11, I tend to wake up because it bothers my nasal passages.

More likely, you wake up because your pressure is too low, causing you to have breathing disturbances (which is what causes the pressure to increase) then you blame waking up on the pressure that's trying to get high enough to hold your airways open.

[Miss Emerita]

It’d be great if you could post an Oscar chart so we can see in more detail what’s going on. Please include the left panel and stack your graphs like so:

Events
Flow rate
Pressure
Leaks
Flow limitations
Snores.

No need to include any other graphs for now.

[Dontlovecpap]

Also, is the time on Oscar correct?

It is reporting whatever time your machine has timed stamped the files UNLESS you have chosen the wrong time in the time zone selection process during profile set up.

Now it is entirely possible that the clock on the machine itself is not set correctly and thus your times shown might be off.
Did you know there is a clock on the machine that you can set to your local time?
Explained in the manual.
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/ResMed ... %20her.pdf

Turned out the machine had the wrong time. Thank you for helping me fix it.

I'm wondering why, when I take the mask off, does the pressure not go down?

It will eventually go back down to the starting pressure but it takes its own sweet time doing it. Doesn't reduce in the blink of an eye. It can take several minutes and those are VERY long several minutes.

Instead of waiting.. either turn the machine off manually or use the SmartStart feature (turn it on) so the machine turns itself off after about 10 seconds if the mask is removed. Explained in the manual as well.

Ah, makes sense. I will turn it off when that happens, I'm not a fan of SmartStart. Thanks so much for your help!

[Dontlovecpap]

More likely, you wake up because your pressure is too low, causing you to have breathing disturbances (which is what causes the pressure to increase) then you blame waking up on the pressure that's trying to get high enough to hold your airways open.

I've been bumping up the pressure very slowly, in search of my optimal numbers. I'm currently at a minimum pressure of 8, and wanted to stay there for at least three days so I can get a better picture. I will post Oscar results soon. Thank you for your help.

'

[Dontlovecpap]

It’d be great if you could post an Oscar chart so we can see in more detail what’s going on. Please include the left panel and stack your graphs like so:

Events
Flow rate
Pressure
Leaks
Flow limitations
Snores.

No need to include any other graphs for now.

Thanks Miss Emerita, I will post the Oscar charts tomorrow. I really appreciate everyone's help, I've been reading a lot trying to learn as much as I can so I don't sound like a dolt

[GrumpyHere]

Please post questions specific to your therapy in one single thread - this one.
So that the experts don't have to hunt down other threads to know your history.
Or have to answer in multiple threads.

The easy way to set the OSCAR (v1.2) graphs in the preferred order and format:

1. Go to View menu - Reset Graphs - Standard

2. In View menu, turn on Sidebar

3. Again in View Menu turn off Daily Calendar and Pie Chart

4. Set Graph Height in File/Preferences/Appearance
(The default should be 180.)

On my setup, when set to 80, I get really squished up graphs.

At 192, the 5 graphs ( event flags, flow rate, pressure, leak, flow limit) are nicely spaced out.

At 160 I also get snores as the bottom graph.

5. Reset Graph Heights in View menu. This step may not be always necessary.

[zonker]

Thanks Miss Emerita, I will post the Oscar charts tomorrow. I really appreciate everyone's help, I've been reading a lot trying to learn as much as I can so I don't sound like a dolt

hey! i've been here six years and i PRIDE myself on sounding like a dolt.

[Okie bipap]

hey! i've been here six years and i PRIDE myself on sounding like a dolt.

Better a dolt than a troll.

[zonker]

hey! i've been here six years and i PRIDE myself on sounding like a dolt.

Better a dolt than a troll.

[Okie bipap]

Some of the trolls we have seen on this forum have certainly been dolts.

[Dontlovecpap]

Hi all--

I am now two months into cpap and still struggling. I can't use the nasal pillows. Even though I use Ayr Saline nasal gel, the pressure of the machine causes pain in my nasal passages that often wakes me up. Bumping the humidity to the max of 7 didn't help much. A few weeks ago my doc ordered a ffm, and I really like it when it's not leaking. The biggest problem I have with it is that my nose constantly itches at night from allergies so I reach under to scratch, then end up with leaking and have to sit up and adjust the mask. This happens numerous times during the night.

Since starting cpap, I have continued to feel worse and worse, to the point where I haven't been able to do anything during the day other than cook dinner. So my doc ordered an overnight O2 test and the results were an average O2 of 87, 70% of the time I was asleep. So supplemental oxygen was ordered which I haven't been able to use yet because of issues with delivery and with the equipment. I should have a new machine tomorrow, but at $100 a month, I want to make sure I really do need it and I'm hoping someone could look over my Oscar charts and let me know if anything jumps out. I do live at high altitude--5280 if that helps.

I have attached the charts for the last three nights and would greatly appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks! (crossing fingers I've done the charts correctly)

[zonker]

Hi all--

sorry, no help here. i'm bumping this so others might see it.

good luck!

[palerider]

a ffm, and I really like it when it's not leaking.

Get a mask liner, padacheek.com makes the best ones.

The biggest problem I have with it is that my nose constantly itches at night from allergies so I reach under to scratch,

More likely, the air in the FFM is blowing around your nose hair, and your reflexes think there's a bug in there, so it itches so you'll scratch. Trim your nose hair.