APAP Data

[sintpa]

Looking at the following data, I think the 90% pressure doesn't work for me. It appears that the machine chases an apnea and I remain at a high pressure which causes more apneas. It appears that the correct pressure for me is 10 which only resulted in an AHI of 1.8. Please help me interpret the APAP data. My first split sleep study resulted in a titration of 9. The second gave me a number of 11. My repeated APAP results look similar to the chart shown.



Thanks,
Sam

[KHENAULT]

How is your leak rate. I saw similar things, but it was caused by my leak rate skyrocketing once the pressure hit 12. If I tightened my mask enough to stop the leak, it was so tight that it was uncomfortable and I couldn't get to sleep. Look at the graphs starting on page 4 to see how your leak rate are affected by pressure.

What I ended up with was APAP with a range of 9.5 - 11.5. This has my AHI averaging 1.0.

[sintpa]

How is your leak rate. I saw similar things, but it was caused by my leak rate skyrocketing once the pressure hit 12. If I tightened my mask enough to stop the leak, it was so tight that it was uncomfortable and I couldn't get to sleep. Look at the graphs starting on page 4 to see how your leak rate are affected by pressure.

What I ended up with was APAP with a range of 9.5 - 11.5. This has my AHI averaging 1.0.

You may have a good point on the leak rate. The graph on page 4 of the Encore Pro report does show a jump up in the leak rate that may not be explainable by the increased pressure. I remember waking a number of times to adjust my mask. Towards the end of the evening where the pressure was highest there is the most variation in leak rate. Average Leak for the night was 30.78 which I don't think is too bad. I will try the mask tighter this evening and neck down the APAP range a bit from the current 7.5 - 13.

[KHENAULT]

In addition to dropping your upper pressure to reduce leaks, you should consider raising your lower pressure so that it's closer to your optimal pressure. That way the machine won't have to ramp up so much to catch up with your apneas. It will only raise pressure so fast, so the closer it is to an effective pressure, the quicker it get there.

[WNJ]

. . . It appears that the machine chases an apnea and I remain at a high pressure which causes more apneas. It appears that the correct pressure for me is 10 which only resulted in an AHI of 1.8. . . .

IMO, you’re probably reading the data backwards. The machine is at 10 because you’re having few sleep disordered breathing events. More events results in higher pressures.

But the ONLY way to know what your AHI would be at different pressures is to set your APAP in CPAP mode for a few nights at each fixed pressure, read the results, then change to a different pressure for a few nights, etc.

Otherwise you don’t know for sure whether it is the machine is responding to your events, or if your events are caused by the higher pressure.

Try setting your APAP at 10cm CPAP for a night or three. Then let us know the result.

Wayne

[ozij]

. . . It appears that the machine chases an apnea and I remain at a high pressure which causes more apneas. It appears that the correct pressure for me is 10 which only resulted in an AHI of 1.8. . . .

IMO, you’re probably reading the data backwards. The machine is at 10 because you’re having few sleep disordered breathing events. More events results in higher pressures.

But the ONLY way to know what your AHI would be at different pressures is to set your APAP in CPAP mode for a few nights at each fixed pressure, read the results, then change to a different pressure for a few nights, etc.

Otherwise you don’t know for sure whether it is the machine is responding to your events, or if your events are caused by the higher pressure.

Try setting your APAP at 10cm CPAP for a night or three. Then let us know the result.

Wayne

[sintpa]

. . . It appears that the machine chases an apnea and I remain at a high pressure which causes more apneas. It appears that the correct pressure for me is 10 which only resulted in an AHI of 1.8. . . .

IMO, you’re probably reading the data backwards. The machine is at 10 because you’re having few sleep disordered breathing events. More events results in higher pressures.

But the ONLY way to know what your AHI would be at different pressures is to set your APAP in CPAP mode for a few nights at each fixed pressure, read the results, then change to a different pressure for a few nights, etc.

Otherwise you don’t know for sure whether it is the machine is responding to your events, or if your events are caused by the higher pressure.

Try setting your APAP at 10cm CPAP for a night or three. Then let us know the result.

Wayne

[sintpa]

As suggested, I tried a straight CPAP last night at 10cm. I woke up pretty early with a lot of nasal congestion but felt like I had some decent sleep. The Encore Pro report is as follows:



Should I try CPAP = 10cm again this evening or something else. Does the leak rate graph look unusual?

Thanks,
Sam

[ozij]

It's good you feel more rested.

I would stick to 10 for a few more day, and try to control mask leaks and mouth leaks.

One change at a time makes things clearer, and you have to get used to sleeping like this.

We'll be smarte in a few days with more data.

O.

[sintpa]

It's good you feel more rested.

I would stick to 10 for a few more day, and try to control mask leaks and mouth leaks.

One change at a time makes things clearer, and you have to get used to sleeping like this.

We'll be smarte in a few days with more data.

O.

Will do. I have my mouth taped shut so that isn't an issue. It feels like the mask is making a pretty good seal. I will keep tweaking it as well.