3rd night awfull

[jimmys]

I am new to this and tried for 3 nights now. started with auto 4 - 12. It was tolerable although claustrophobic . It was suggested here to up the 4 so i went 6 &12.6. it was okay but I still felt like I needed more air and there were minor leaks. Reading the posts I decided to up to minimum 7.6 and max to 12 last night. I felt like I wasn't getting enough air and kept getting leaks all night no matter what position [mainly side] and I couldn't sleep most of the night. I live in Asia and the language and the "everything will be fine attitude" leaves me more or less on my own. I haven't tried the main hospital where I had my sleep test though and would like to fix this with help from this site. My sleep test was bad and I have many apneas with my stopping breathing various lengths of times, the worst being 40 seconds.
I ordered the cable and software but the cable hasn't arrived yet. I checked the status on the machine and it didn't show any results for the day but the following results for the week, this is my 3rd day so it might be an average. I don't understand the numbers or the next step I should take so here they are and maybe someone could suggest settings and advice. My pressure last night was min 7.6 and max 12 and the settling was 5. I am not sure what the minimum or maximum pressure numbers do.

pres 7.2
leak .38L/s
AHI 5.8
AI .5
HI 4.3

[jules]

that leak isn't good - that is the most important thing imo ---- you got to get the leak number down

I assume you have full face mask of some kind in the menu

for daily info you have to check before noon - with the resmed there is a way to reset the clock I understand -

were you titrated in a lab? if so what was the pressure they obtained?

[ozij]

Relax, jimmy. Many first nights are like that.
jules is right. At this point, the most important thing to handle it your leaks -- and your comfort.
In addition to mask fitting, two other things affect links:
Hose routing, and the type of head pillow you have.

Check these for ways of managing to hose:
Rested Gal's LINKS to Hose hangers and methods of managing the air hose
viewtopic.php?t=10640[/quote]

A full face mask means you can breathe through your mouth without loosing treatment air, but a clear nose (when possible of course) is still better.
Nasal irrigation (nasal rinses) may be a great help with your sinus issues, and they a great help with cpap therapy as well.
I find the Neilmed squeeze bottle very easy (and pleasant) to use, though I mix my own solution -- http://www.neilmed.com. You'll find instructions and warnings here http://www.neilmed.com/usa/directions.php

Welcome to the forum, and good luck.
O.

[jimmys]

I will try a hose hanger, simple to set up. I have trouble breathing through my nose. i have a good nasal mask but brought the additional face mask. maybe I will have to give the nose mask another try

can anyone suggest a range to use. I really don't understand what the minimum or maximum pressure is. does this have to do with the settling? if I am at 8 minimum and 12 maximum what does this represent and if I feel like I am not getting enough air what way do I adjust my settings? I see someone posted they were having problems and took it off manual and set for 11 with the ? set at 1. is this an option to try?

thanks in advance

[ozij]

At this point, your leaks almost overwhelm the machine capacity to supply the pressure you need.

Some people need higher pressure to take care of their collapsing airway, others need less. Your results indicates that the machine spent only 5% of the time above 7.2. That is low pressure, and apparently you don't need higher. Again, your leaks are high -- and may at time overwhelm the machine's capacity to treat you -. And when the machine can't compensate for the leaks, you would feel lack of air.

For the therapy to work when you use a nasal mask, you have to be able to breathe through your nose only, and not open your mouth when you sleep.

The ResMed machine has an "EPR" setting - dropping pressure for exhale in 1, 2, or 3 cms/h2o. If you have it on, you can try to see how you feel with it off. I wouldn't fiddle with the pressure settings till leaks are better controlled.

The Autoset, like any automatic machine, analyses your breathing pattern, and supplies the lowest pressure it deems necessary to keep your airway open (patent). It will never drop below the minimal pressure you set, and never go above the maximum. While your machine was told it could go up to 12, it fact, in only went higher than 7.2 for 5% of the night.

O.

[Julie]

If you're using the humidifier, try turning it to a lower number for 1-2 nights because it can make congestion worse for many people. I'm curious about whether or not your doctor did prescribe a pressure, or pressure range number for you to use. It sounds like you're just guessing at what that is, rather than having had it prescribed.

[jules]

jimmy - did they try a machine in the sleep lab?

if so get that report out and look at what number they came up with

there is no point using a range that is far away from what they came up with until you get the leaks under control

check your sleep study report and report back with what number they came up with

[DoriC]

that leak isn't good - that is the most important thing imo ---- you got to get the leak number down

were you titrated in a lab? if so what was the pressure they obtained?

Do you know your titrated pressure?