First Encore data...help please.

[RipVanWinkleWannabe]

Just got my software and taking a look at the last 3 nights. My numbers are below. Getting a lot of leaks, apparently, but my AHI is still under 5, which I've read is good. I like my mask, it's comfortable, so I hate to switch. May just need to play with the straps and see what happens. I'm a stomach sleeper, so I'm sure it's going to be tough for me to get through the night leak-free.

Can you guys help me make heads/tails of the rest of the numbers? Am I doing ok? Not ok?

Thanks!

[ozij]

Do you see all those bars above the leak line? Than means your leaks are out of bound - higher than the machine can ever compensate for you're not really getting therapy under those conditions -- and the machine's measurements aren't reliable either when the leaks are that bad..

Just concentrate on having far better control of your leaks. Things were getting better for that last night -- but that's still not good enough.

O.

[RipVanWinkleWannabe]

One other thing...

what's the link for the program that deletes data from the encore card? i'd like a clean slate.

[Hawthorne]

You do need to work on those leaks. Your other data is just unreliable with leaks like that!

To erase ( format ) your card, go to http://www.mycpap.org. From that site download
MyCpap Card utility.

This is a free utility and will erase your smart card.

You will probably run into the "missing data" glitch with the M Series machines. There will be no "Detailed Data" page for 1,2 or 3 days and then it will be back. It depends upon how long your night's are (6,7 8+ hours), but the card only holds so many sessions without the missing data thing happening.

To avoid that, I use this little utility to erase my card every 7 sessions. I do it on a Sunday morning. I have not missed any detailed data since I started doing this over a year ago. Some will have to erase the card more often if their sleep sessions are longer.

[RipVanWinkleWannabe]

Is it basically a strap/headgear issue with the leaks? Any recommendations? It seems like it's plenty tight when I go to sleep.

I'm beyond bummed right now. So proud of myself for wearing that damned thing religiously, only to find out it's not doing me a lick of good.

[jdm2857]

Put the mask on during the day. Turn the pressure on, lie down and move around to the various positions you assume during sleep. See what the mask does and where it leaks. Try adjusting the mask.

Then post back with more specifics of where the mask is leaking, what is causing the leaks, and what you tried.

I have never used the Quattro, but it gets good mentions here. Someone familiar with it is sure to post back to you.

[Hawthorne]

jeff gives you good advice! Try that. It is usually the heagear straps being too loose or too tight (more often too tight) that cause large leaks such as you have.

Were you fitted properly for the mask size? If a mask is too big or too small it will also leak badly.

It's trial and error with masks! Lots of trial and error!

[DBoone]

It's trial and error with masks! Lots of trial and error!

Lots and lots and lots.... Just keep with it!

[ozij]

RipWannabee,
With leaks that high you may be having a faulty connection - or even hole in one of the tubes.

You're rightly proud of yourself for wearing the mask so long -- its not easy, and you did it. Not managing to keep it from leaking is a question of luck: does the mask fit your face, and has nothing to do with your effort.

Forgive my asking - and ignore if you want to - but are you by any chance hard of hearing? It seems to me - and I may be very wrong about that - that leaks like that when coming from the mask should make a terrible noise, and wake a person up.

Put the back of your hand around the seal - do you feel air leaking?
Do you have pets that may have put their claws in one of the tubes?


O.

[RipVanWinkleWannabe]

RipWannabee,
With leaks that high you may be having a faulty connection - or even hole in one of the tubes.

You're rightly proud of yourself for wearing the mask so long -- its not easy, and you did it. Not managing to keep it from leaking is a question of luck: does the mask fit your face, and has nothing to do with your effort.

Forgive my asking - and ignore if you want to - but are you by any chance hard of hearing? It seems to me - and I may be very wrong about that - that leaks like that when coming from the mask should make a terrible noise, and wake a person up.

Put the back of your hand around the seal - do you feel air leaking?
Do you have pets that may have put their claws in one of the tubes?


O.

No, I'm not hard of hearing. But it generally takes an Act of God to wake me up once I'm gone.

Here are my numbers from last night. Improved, so I think that rules out connection or hose problems. Still some work to do, though. Mask was definitely tighter last night. I think I was scared of getting it too tight because I've heard that can cause leaks and can also push the lower jaw back and increase apneas. I had some lines on my face when I woke up, but they faded. Much tighter and the lines will get deeper. So, not sure what to do about these leaks. Keep playing I guess. Problem is that I'm a stomach sleeper and sleep on my arms; plus, I've always been a tosser and turner. These leaks may very well be "self-inflicted." I'll leave my headgear the way it is the next few nights and see what happens.

[Velbor]

One other thing...
what's the link for the program that deletes data from the encore card? i'd like a clean slate.

For a "clean slate," depending on what you really want to do, erasing the data card may be unnecessary, or insufficient.

If you want to "ignore" the first few days, all you need do is set the report dates on your software so as not to include those days.

If you really don't want the software to be able to see those first few days at all, and assuming that you're using EncoreViewer rather than EncorePro, you need to go into
C:\Documents & Settings\yourcomputername\Application Data\Respironics \EncoreViewer\Data
and "get rid of" the 32kb .bin files for those nights. (Probably better to move them into a new subfolder, rather than delete them outright, so you can move them back if you ever want to.) I have no idea how to accomplish this with EncorePro, or whether it can be accomplished at all. But if resetting the report start date does what you need, it's safer not to mess with the underlying data.

If you do not either change the report start date, or eliminate the data that's already been transferred to the program, erasing (reformatting) the card will not give you your "clean slate".

In any case, after seven days, the information from those nights is no longer on the card, anyway. (Though reformating the card periodically may well be a good idea, for other reasons.) Best of luck.

[RipVanWinkleWannabe]

Last night's data. Not sure I can get it any better than this. Hopefully I can maintain it.

[jdm2857]

Now you're getting somewhere. I'm not sure what the designed leak rate for your mask is, but without any large leaks, you can start to trust the other data.

As for Encore Pro, its data is stored in a MicroSoft SQL Server database. So you'd need some sort of database tools and knowledge of SQL to delete data from it. (Unless a delete function is provided in Encore Pro).