Questions after 1st night with S9

[macnmotion]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and to CPAP.

I am an American living in Thailand. I have a great Dr. who speaks English, but the technicians who brought me my S9 spoke none, so they weren't able to instruct me very well.

I've asked the Dr. for a copy of my sleep study. I believe that my AHI was above 60. He prescribed an APAP with min pressure 5 and max pressure 12. I have the H5i humidifier which the technician set to 30 (C), and I have the climate tubing. I have a SwiftFX on order but until that arrives they gave me an Activa Nasal Mask to use.

Last night I fell asleep fine with the machine working. After a few hours I awoke to find the mask off. I put it back on but the machine wouldn't work. I was awake for 90 minutes reading manuals, checking settings, etc. and finally discovered that a bit of the gel mask had pulled off of the plastic frame (hard to see due to the billowy shape of the mask). Once I pushed that back on, it created a proper seal and the machine worked. So I didn't have a full night, I had a total of about 4 hours with the machine.

I'm trying to understand the data. I know I need my sleep study to compare it to. But maybe someone can help point out some things for me:

My AHI was 9.8
- Obstructive: 2.8
- Central 6.4
- Hypopnea 0.5

I don't understand what the Central and Hypopnea data are telling me. I assume that the Obstructive number were events that the APAP didn't successfully prevent?? Why would that be? My max pressure during the night was 11.9 so I never reached max pressure. Why wouldn't the machine attempt to use all the pressure it was allowed to to stop an event?

My pressure readings:
Median pressure was 7.2
95th percentile pressure was 10.7
Max pressure was 11.9

There is a graph for snoring. My snoring was very very little (great news) and at the lowest volume level. How does the machine understand snoring? And loudness levels? Almost all snoring was in periods without a reported Event. Does that make sense? If so, should the minimum pressure be raised to stop snoring?

Thanks for any incite. Andy

[LinkC]

One factor is that Central apneas (your most common) are triggered by pressure that is too high. The 2.8 OA suggests that your CPAP is effective. But you need to consult with your doctor about the centrals. (And learn not to pull your mask off in your sleep! ) Actually that's fairly common in the beginning...but you DO need to get over it.

[macnmotion]

Thx for the reply. I sent the data to my Dr. and will discuss. Perhaps the pressure is too high, I seem to remember after the sleep study that he said my pressure should be 9, and was surprised when it was set as a high of 12, but since I don't have the sleep study results yet I can't be sure.

I made it through the second half of my night without pulling the mask off!!! I think this should get better. It's also possible that I pulled it off because of a loud "blowout" due to the mask being off the frame. Of course it's also possible I pulled the mask from the frame when I pulled the mask off my head!! LOL

[rested gal]

Welcome to the message board, Andy.

I wouldn't necessarily worry about a central apnea index of 6.4

Nor would I think that meant pressure needed to be lowered.

With a prescribed pressure of 9 from a sleep study, if I were going to change anything .... I'd set an autopap's range at 7 (or even 8 ) to 12 instead of 5 - 12. I'd raise the minimum pressure -- not bring down the maximum pressure. But that's just what I'd do, and I'm certainly not a doctor.

There can be normal centrals called "sleep onset centrals." There can also be normal centrals that happen during effort (like holding one's breath while turning over during sleep.) There can also be a "normal" central after a person has taken several deep recovery breaths following an obstructive apnea.

We can have perfectly normal centrals while we are awake and going about our daily activities, so I wouldn't be alarmed by the appearance of a few centrals reported in our machine data.

Links to Central Apnea discussions
viewtopic.php?p=22702

[macnmotion]

Thanks, I'm glad I don't have to be too concerned about the centrals. I will use the machine for a week or so until the SwiftFX comes, then share all this data with my Dr. I won't make a change without consulting him.

Thanks again everyone, I hope to be able to participate as I move forward with treatment. Andy

[sleepnationtv]

Hi,

We have made a video that goes over all of the features of the S9 that you may find helpful.
http://www.sleepnation.tv/post/2337667545/resmeds9

Good Luck

Dane

[macnmotion]

Thanks Dane, I'll watch that video!