First Detailed Report, looking for feedback on leaks and oth

[albill]

I have the Redmed software now to go with my S8 Autoset II machine. If you look at my previous posts, I have UARS (according to one doctor) or a sleep disorder consistent with OSA (according to another). I have the classic UARS symptoms of highly fragmented sleep with lots of state changes but very few apneas and my oxygen is always above 90%. My primary problem is constantly waking up, headaches and fatigue.

I have detailed data from the software for the past five days but I'm not entirely sure how to read it. I'm trying to figure out how bad my leaks REALLY are. I do have a papCap Cotton Chinstrap on its way and have used a rather sucky chinstap the last two nights. I also sleep with an oral appliance (made by a dentist) in my mouth that was my initial treatment for my sleep problems before I got the machine. This moves my jaw forward a bit and guides my tongue forward as well.

Looking at my machine's general results for leaks for the previous night, they are often .32 to .40 liters/s. I know that above .4 liters/s, the effects of therapy drop off, according to the manual and what I've read here. Looking at the detailed information and the charts, it doesn't look like my overall leak rate is that bad, just that I have incidents of 10 or 15 minutes where it is bad a couple of times a night. When I go to sleep, my mask fit is always "excellent", which means a leak rate below .1 liters/s as I recall.

I was wondering if anyone could take the time to look at the report PDF and give me any feedback on the data since this is my first time reading it and the Resmed software kind of sucks.

The detailed report for the last five days is at http://www.mediafire.com/?w202hnddzzm.

Thanks!

Louis "Al" Billings

[Wulfman]

Hi Al.

I took a look at your reports.
Your events look very good (only a couple of apneas on that one night). As you noted, there are some periodic leak issues, but I'm sure you'll get those resolved.

The only thing I wasn't clear on is what your pressure settings are in your machine. Could the awakenings be from pressure changes? It appeared that your machine hovered near the 10 cm. pressure.
Are you using EPR? If so, what setting?


Den

[albill]

I took a look at your reports.
Your events look very good (only a couple of apneas on that one night). As you noted, there are some periodic leak issues, but I'm sure you'll get those resolved.

Thanks for taking a look.

I don't think my general arousals show up as events. My sleep is slightly improved, but not dramatically, from before I had the machine.

The only thing I wasn't clear on is what your pressure settings are in your machine. Could the awakenings be from pressure changes? It appeared that your machine hovered near the 10 cm. pressure.
Are you using EPR? If so, what setting?

The machine is in APAP mode set to be at 9 - 14 cm of pressure. It has been hovering around 10 but it is doing that on its own.

EPR isn't specified by my prescription so the machine is not currently set to use it. I haven't turned that on because it isn't clear that I should do so.

[Wulfman]

Well, since your machine is pretty much staying at 10, I'd set the minimum pressure there and see how that works.


Den

[albill]

Well, since your machine is pretty much staying at 10, I'd set the minimum pressure there and see how that works.

Would that have much effect?

My first doctor's followup is on Feb 2 so I was going to avoid doing much to it until then unless I had a good reason.

[Wulfman]

Well, since your machine is pretty much staying at 10, I'd set the minimum pressure there and see how that works.

Would that have much effect?

My first doctor's followup is on Feb 2 so I was going to avoid doing much to it until then unless I had a good reason.

Your call.

MY "reasoning" (if it were me) would be that the pressure is going to and generally staying at 10 cm. anyway.


Den

[albill]

I'm just trying to avoid the doctor going "What the hell" the first time he sees me after getting the machine.

The leak data is still confusing because it is reporting a daily average of .35 l/s or so but I can see from just the last five days that most of the night, the leaking is pretty nominal.

[Wulfman]

Depends on your relationship with your doctor. You could always remind him that it's YOUR therapy. (not his)
You have almost a month before your appointment. If they download your card, there will only be about a week's worth of nightly detail.......the rest will be compliance. Most sleep doctors and DMEs only care about compliance. Is the doctor or DME going to download the card and check? If your doctor is one of those "special" types that even trusts the data from a CPAP, then he may be impressed with your initiative to take charge of your own therapy. That's why I said "Your call".

If your stats are equally as good or better, or you are getting better sleep, then you have justification for tweaking your own therapy.......in my opinion.


Den

[BrianR4743]

"I don't think my general arousals show up as events. My sleep is slightly improved, but not dramatically, from before I had the machine."

Your numbers look great, although you've got to get a handle on the leaks (like many of us do!). I found myself getting buried in the numbers recently, and not too focused on how I felt. The fact that your sleep is improves is a positive sign. Keep up the good work!

[albill]

"I don't think my general arousals show up as events. My sleep is slightly improved, but not dramatically, from before I had the machine."

Your numbers look great, although you've got to get a handle on the leaks (like many of us do!). I found myself getting buried in the numbers recently, and not too focused on how I felt. The fact that your sleep is improves is a positive sign. Keep up the good work!

I just wish that I could sleep with it for more than four hours or so. I don't sleep very heavily with it (or without it either) but I an told that four hours is a pretty common average in the first month or two.

[BrianR4743]

I just wish that I could sleep with it for more than four hours or so. I don't sleep very heavily with it (or without it either) but I an told that four hours is a pretty common average in the first month or two.

It takes awhile. You've got a lot to get used to, and have probably had some messed up sleep for awhile. I've been at it for 2 months now, and just experienced the 2 most restful nights I can remember in years. I'm still tired pretty early the next evening, but I'm sure that will improve as well. Like a good round of golf, it's what keeps me coming back!

Hang in there. You're headed in the right direction.