Hello from the snoremaster

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
snoremaster
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 5:57 pm

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by snoremaster » Tue Jun 08, 2010 6:15 pm

Quick update for me:

My AHI index going up, not down ....

6/2 5.4
6/3 11.0
6/4 No data (have no idea why, I wore the thing)
6/5 8.7
6/6 11.9
6/7 12.4

Good news is that I'm getting used to the mask, and have found a comfortable placement for the hose. Had a vivid dream last night - which before CPAP .... I can't remember the last dream. So I take these as good signs.

I'm going to run at the same 10/6 pressure for the balance of the week. If I'm still 10+ I think I'll move to 12/9 and see what happens next week.

User avatar
sleepmba
Posts: 197
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:31 am
Location: Florida
Contact:

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by sleepmba » Tue Jun 08, 2010 8:22 pm

Do you have data about your leak level during the night? Your AHI may be fluctuating because of a leak.
For commentary from a 10 year Sleep Technologist visit my blog at: Recent Topics: Picture of the new baby/ Switching to Swift FX
http://www.sleepandcpap.blogspot.com
http://www.cpapmaskreview.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/sleepandcpap

snoremaster
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 5:57 pm

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by snoremaster » Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:21 am

It looks like I don't have any "large leaks"

But I do have numbers for "average leak" on a nightly basis. These numbers mean nothing to me. Example on the detailed daily report for June 7 - it says

Min in large leak: 0
% of night in large leak: 0%
Average Leak: 30.4

Thanks for your help MBA.

SM

snoremaster
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 5:57 pm

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by snoremaster » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:14 pm

Hey everyone - quick update on my progress. My AHI was sporadic at my sleep lab titrated pressure settings of 10/6. After reading through the manual on my machine, I saw that it has a split night function where you can spend part of the night on specific settings, and the remainder of the night on auto bipap (biflex). I ran this for just over a week. Regardless of what I do, the numbers are always better during the biflex part of the night (second 4 hour period). During biflex, I've have my max ipap @ 12, and my min epap @ 6 - and my AHI's have been in the 4's the past three days.

On biflex my 90% pressures vary from 10/8 to 11/9 - but if I set to these pressures specifically (static) I do not do as well .... the biflex program adjusting throughout the night is benefiting me.

I will make small adjustments to the max ipap / min epap over a longer period of time to see if I can dial it in a little better .... but the machine seems to know best ....

One area I need some advice. My pillow mask does perfect when sleeping on my back .... no leaks. On my side, the headgear actually moves a bit and air escapes .... Anyone wearing my kind of mask have any suggestions?

Thanks!

SM

User avatar
jdm2857
Posts: 2982
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:29 pm
Location: South Jersey

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by jdm2857 » Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:28 pm

Did you doctor give you any indication why you were put on BiPAP instead of CPAP?
jeff

snoremaster
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 5:57 pm

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by snoremaster » Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:46 pm

JDM -

Nothing from the doc. The sleep study technician wrote in the study that I responded better to bipap with 6cm pressure. It makes sense to me - even at these low pressures, exhaling into anything over 6 or 7 is uncomfortable for me.

User avatar
jdm2857
Posts: 2982
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:29 pm
Location: South Jersey

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by jdm2857 » Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:49 pm

Thanks.

I was wondering because BiPAP is much more expensive, so usually CPAP is tried first unless there is an definite indication that BiPAP is required.
jeff

snoremaster
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 5:57 pm

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by snoremaster » Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:01 pm

Yes, I'm fortunate that they issued a machine that is so flexible.

scooterpie
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:43 pm

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by scooterpie » Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:04 pm

Short version: You may try a firmer pillow for your head. I just happened to have one in the house to try. Also, check the tightness/fit of the frame. Good Luck!

Long version: I use the Opus 360 and using a tiny bit of moisturizer (Wibi--non-greasy) to make a little better seal (I did this for a few weeks) seemed to make a difference. Then I just quit doing that. (There's some other kind of moisturizer I've read about on another subject discussion here, but I don't recall what it was.)

I also wash the nasal pillows, frame and short hose daily with dish soap--it was originally recommended that I use baby shampoo, but the lingering smell of it on the nasal pillows is enough to make you quit the whole thing pronto! I know I've read some people here who haven't washed their setup in months, but I can't personally imagine that either. It's just personal preference. I can't put on dirty socks from the day before--they may look clean and it's my sweat and they were in the same shoes I wore yesterday, but I guess I'm just fastidious that way:-)

I place the hose on the headgear over my head as opposed to either side or free--simply because I sleep in every position including stomach from time to time. I found fewer problems with the seal over time. Having the straps on the frame (the part that sits on your cheeks) somewhat loose helped at some point for me as well--looser was better than tighter. Oh, I also now use a fairly firm pillow (the one for my head), which was difficult to get used to, but it also seems to contribute to the optimum position for the mask (very little interference). Using the firm pillow seems to make it easier to sleep on my back as well. I sort of had a neckache while switching over, but it went away over time.

It may be that I'm still just blissfully ignorant or just a stick in the mud--haha--but I've been using CPAP for about 4 months now and I don't see any reason to try another mask at this point. I sleep through the night and with the original issues that led me to CPAP--cardiac arrhythmias--I now have peace of mind. I'm not happy to have sleep apnea, but I'm happy that CPAP is working for me. There's a subculture of people who need it, but for some reason can't/won't get used to it or use it. And I sympathize with them--it took me a fairly short 10 days--a couple nights were horrible and scary. One of those bad nights led me to skip the whole mess for the next night and start fresh--give it a new chance the NEXT night. Honestly, I came to CPAP in a very different way than I guess is typical--for instance I was NEVER tired during the day. I feel very lucky every day that I was able to make the leap to embrace the concept in every way!

One area I need some advice. My pillow mask does perfect when sleeping on my back .... no leaks. On my side, the headgear actually moves a bit and air escapes .... Anyone wearing my kind of mask have any suggestions?

Thanks!

SM

User avatar
torontoCPAPguy
Posts: 1015
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:27 am
Location: Toronto Ontario/Buffalo NY

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by torontoCPAPguy » Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:44 pm

Welcome to the forum. The bad news is that your numbers are awful excepting perhaps that oxygen saturation (and let me tell you THAT is MY big number; low SO2 causes high blood pressure and the resultant catastrophic medical issues.) The good news is that it is probably all treatable by a good CPAP/APAP system and you will feel better. You may not even realize how lousy you must feel right now - you are not getting any sleep. Welcome aboard; lots of experience on the board here and you will benefit from it; get that CPAP going, get a mask that is comfy and then get another sleep study done. Just got off the phone with a friend who had the most mediocre sleep study I have ever heard of. Mine included EKG, EEG, SO2, BP and the whole nine yards... even electrodes on my eyelids and my legs to sense how much I was moving during the night. I was wired up like an F18... but got some great information, am sleeping better than ever and no more night sweats, pounding heart at night, etc. A little better every week and I fully expect that by the end of the year I will be sleeping like a log and be much healthier. I wish the same for you. Welcome.

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Respironics Everflo Q infusing O2 into APAP line to maintain 95% SaO2; MaxTec Maxflo2 Oxygen Analyzer; Contec CMS50E Recording Pulse Oxymeter
Fall colours. One of God's gifts. Life is fragile and short, savour every moment no matter what your problems may be. These stunning fall colours from my first outing after surviving a month on life support due to H1N1.

User avatar
Jaylee
Posts: 1080
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:43 pm

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by Jaylee » Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:49 pm

Hello and welcome

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Pressure 18/13.

User avatar
torontoCPAPguy
Posts: 1015
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:27 am
Location: Toronto Ontario/Buffalo NY

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by torontoCPAPguy » Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:11 pm

Nasal pillows I found to be a pain although quite comfy.

And the suggestion regarding finding a firmer pillow is excellent - that is exactly what I did at home; went around trying all the pillows in the house until I found the firmest one. It gives me the best night of sleep as I don't sink into it and have it smooshing my mask around. Great suggestion. Only problem with it is that I didn't think of it. I did just that... but totally forgot what a huge difference it made.

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Respironics Everflo Q infusing O2 into APAP line to maintain 95% SaO2; MaxTec Maxflo2 Oxygen Analyzer; Contec CMS50E Recording Pulse Oxymeter
Fall colours. One of God's gifts. Life is fragile and short, savour every moment no matter what your problems may be. These stunning fall colours from my first outing after surviving a month on life support due to H1N1.

snoremaster
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 5:57 pm

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by snoremaster » Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:15 pm

scooterpie wrote:Short version: You may try a firmer pillow for your head. I just happened to have one in the house to try. Also, check the tightness/fit of the frame. Good Luck!


Thanks - I will try a firmer pillow - I'm on a soft one now that I absolutely love - so this will take some getting used to. I also route the hose over the head, and then over the headboard. By far the least interference this way.

Can I ask, how the heck can you sleep on your stomach with the mask on?

snoremaster
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 5:57 pm

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by snoremaster » Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:22 pm

thanks Toronto. It's going well - and I'm confident I can continue to adapt. This is one of those things in life that plain old doesn't work perfect day one. I get that completely now. Requires perseverance!

Really someone could write a book "Making CPAP therapy work" and it would have to do well. Sort of something along the lines of the pregnancy book what to expect when you are expecting.

torontoCPAPguy wrote:Welcome to the forum. The bad news is that your numbers are awful excepting perhaps that oxygen saturation (and let me tell you THAT is MY big number; low SO2 causes high blood pressure and the resultant catastrophic medical issues.) The good news is that it is probably all treatable by a good CPAP/APAP system and you will feel better. You may not even realize how lousy you must feel right now - you are not getting any sleep. Welcome aboard; lots of experience on the board here and you will benefit from it; get that CPAP going, get a mask that is comfy and then get another sleep study done. Just got off the phone with a friend who had the most mediocre sleep study I have ever heard of. Mine included EKG, EEG, SO2, BP and the whole nine yards... even electrodes on my eyelids and my legs to sense how much I was moving during the night. I was wired up like an F18... but got some great information, am sleeping better than ever and no more night sweats, pounding heart at night, etc. A little better every week and I fully expect that by the end of the year I will be sleeping like a log and be much healthier. I wish the same for you. Welcome.

brazospearl
Posts: 704
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 5:51 pm

Re: Hello from the snoremaster

Post by brazospearl » Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:25 pm

Snoremaster,
Another pillow idea you might want to try is one of the small buckwheat hull pillows. I use one (with about 1/3 of the hulls removed) on top of my memory foam pillow. It's just the right size to hang my face off so my mask doesn't move around due to pillow pressure. Not the same mask as yours, but might be worth a try.