Not Under the Hill, just a little Over the Hill

nana · Post by **nana** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:54 pm

I am the only one who cares about my sleep, as well it should be.....except those who are on this forum. I will list what my monthly averages and weekly. I am kind of new to all this and keep thinking I want everything working smoothly before I take ownership of my machine soon. The sleep Doctor and RT don’t feel terribly curious about my ‘numbers’ and mainly depend upon ‘how are you feeling’? When I copied the information off the Elite and brought them to the office they looked at me as if I had two heads. I like the office and I guess I am thinking if I own the machine and then they discover I need something more I will be one upset person. I have a mask, Comfort Gel petite, that fits better than the UM standard. I am grateful for the RT for introducing me to that. When I made an appt to see her she said I should try an oximeter soon. I have made several calls and have been on the list since mid Feb. It must be a popular machine. I guess I just want some re-assurance or clarity concerning my numbers, as this seems to be the only place that gets excited about them. Yes, I do feel much better and not falling asleep at the computer. I also don’t want to be trying to fix something that isn’t broken. I average about 8-9 hours in bed and Motrin seems to be helping with the aches of inactivity during sleep without the past trips to the bathroom (thinking my kidneys were giving out..ha).
Weekly averages: Leaks, .32, AHI 10.6, AI 2.3, HI 8.5
Monthly averages: Leaks .38, AHI 10.4, AI 1.6, HI 8.5
Last nights: Leak .28 AHI 10.1 AI 1.6 HI 8.5
Thanks, nana

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:20 pm

nana,

What is your pressure setting?

Do you ever wake up with a dry mouth?

Best wishes,

Den

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:24 pm

Nana-
what is your pressure setting? If we know that we may be able to give more useful suggestions. For example, one component of your leak rate is your mask vent flow rate which is pressure dependent. I also notice that your HI (hypopneas) are a bit high. People on this board have observed that the Resmed machines will sometimes give higher HI's. I used to have a resmed machine but changed to a respironics bipap machine and I observed my HI's got lower. But raising my EPAP (lower) pressure from 7 to 8 really knocked them down.
Therefore, please let us know your pressure setting.

Maryb

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:26 pm

Hello and welcome onboard. As you read the board you will find two schools of thought. Those that live by the numbers and those who only resort to the numbers if we aren't feeling good. I happen to be from the second school. At first I got very obsessed with my numbers, but that was causing me more anxiety than it was worth. I fought to get my numbers down but was actually feeling more miserable.

The problem was tweaking my pressure and re-adjsuting my mask to make the right numbers pop up, often disturbed my sleep. So now I live with a few more leaks and sometimes I have great numbers, but more importantly I feel better.

So now I live by the rule of first assessing how I feel and if that isn't going right then I go back to the numbers to see what can improve. I would be more concerned if my doctor was asking more about my numbers than how I feel.

It is somewhat fun to become your own analyst so please indulge.

nana · Post by **nana** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:36 pm

Oh My
I forgot to tell you that I have a pressure of 13. I started treatment with 15 as was the magic number the sleep lab came up with and the RT lowered it over a month after starting cpap. Don't have a clue as to how she decided to lower it. Trial and error?
I am happy to see responses.
Nana

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:55 pm

Most will tell you that if you want better numbers (the HIs are high), then you can get rid of alot of the HIs by raising your pressure. And if you can stand the higher pressure, you might want to do that for a week to see how you feel.

But I agree with you and Mike, why mess with a good thing?

I live with my numbers on a low pressure, because a higher pressure hurts my ears.

I think you're doing okay.

nana · Post by **nana** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:02 pm

Wulfman wrote:nana,

What is your pressure setting?

Do you ever wake up with a dry mouth?

Best wishes,

Den

Den I am at 13 for pressure. I used to tape my mouth and now I think I have learned to not open it. On a rare night I have a dry mouth. Would my leak level be higher if I were mouth breathing? I looked back and with tape I was .16-.26 for leaks and at that time my pressure was at 15.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:10 pm

nana wrote:
Wulfman wrote:nana,

What is your pressure setting?

Do you ever wake up with a dry mouth?

Best wishes,

Den
Den I am at 13 for pressure. I used to tape my mouth and now I think I have learned to not open it. On a rare night I have a dry mouth. Would my leak level be higher if I were mouth breathing? I looked back and with tape I was .16-.26 for leaks and at that time my pressure was at 15.

Yes it would. You might try taping (or SOMETHING) and see if your numbers come down a bit (without changing your pressure for now).
The leakage MIGHT be affecting your AHI numbers, too.

If you're using a heated humidifier and seem to be going through a bit more water, that could be an indication of mouth leakage, too.

Best wishes,

Den

nana · Post by **nana** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:26 pm

Wulfman wrote:
nana wrote:
Wulfman wrote:nana,

What is your pressure setting?

Do you ever wake up with a dry mouth?

Best wishes,

Den
Den I am at 13 for pressure. I used to tape my mouth and now I think I have learned to not open it. On a rare night I have a dry mouth. Would my leak level be higher if I were mouth breathing? I looked back and with tape I was .16-.26 for leaks and at that time my pressure was at 15.

Yes it would. You might try taping (or SOMETHING) and see if your numbers come down a bit (without changing your pressure for now).
The leakage MIGHT be affecting your AHI numbers, too.

If you're using a heated humidifier and seem to be going through a bit more water, that could be an indication of mouth leakage, too.

Best wishes
Den
Thank you. I will give that a try. I do go through a lot of water it seems.
Nana

nana · Post by **nana** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:31 pm

Linda3032 wrote:Most will tell you that if you want better numbers (the HIs are high), then you can get rid of alot of the HIs by raising your pressure. And if you can stand the higher pressure, you might want to do that for a week to see how you feel.

But I agree with you and Mike, why mess with a good thing?

I live with my numbers on a low pressure, because a higher pressure hurts my ears.

I think you're doing okay.

Thank you Linda. I will try the tape first and then go back to the higher pressure, not both at the same time.
Everyone seems to be so helpful and I appreciate it. What you and Mike have said makes sense......not to look for trouble.
Nana