New Icon User. Newbie issues

[Jason2483]

Hi all! I've been lurking around this site for a few weeks now and decided to join. I have a F&P Auto Pap because the local monopoly would not let me choose the S9 because it would harm their profit margin. All in all it seems to be a good machine and they set me up with a Swift Fx mask. They set me up at 5cm H2O based on only 2hrs of titration data from sleep study with no REM sleep. I found out at home it wasn't enough and my AHI has dropped to 1 at 6.5 cm H2O. I've been running into some difficulties and I am hoping that I can find some advice here.
1. If I use my machine on auto with a range from 5-10, the machine sits at 5cm all night and my AHI will be over 5 and the pressure changes wake me up if it tries to increase during REM to help me out. Does this go away? So far the auto setting has resulted in some crappy days.
2. The gel nasal masks put pressure on my cheeks and stop the airflow through my nose. The swift mask is nice, but I frequently roll over on one side of it and make it leak or block it off or it irritates my nose. I've heard lansinoh on the nares can help. Could I use a ultra mirage 2 mask and have it be somewhat loose and get away with it if I roll on it? Anyone else have a shallow sinus?

Lots of questions! But despite my irritations I feel worlds better. I had no idea I was so tired!

[Sheriff Buford]

I not sure about the mask. I tried the nasal masks at first, but one of my nostrils is plugged and the air leaks out (providing bad therapy) and I didn't like the sore nose. As you can see from my mask below, I use the total face mask and I am very happy.

"If I use my machine on auto with a range from 5-10, the machine sits at 5cm all night and my AHI will be over 5 and the pressure changes wake me up if it tries to increase during REM to help me out. Does this go away? So far the auto setting has resulted in some crappy days."

I just went from cpap to autoset. If I couldn't get my AHI lower than a 5, then I would increase my lower pressure from a 5cm to a 6cm. Use small increments and wait a week or so, to find your sweet spot. When I first got my autoset, on some nights, the increase in pressure (to address a "apnea moment") woke me up. I found that I would tighten the mask, stop the leak, then leave the mask adjustment for the next night. When I put the mask on the next night, I knew the mask may be a little too tight for the lower pressure, but tight enough for the higher pressure (it didn't wake me up). If you think the higher pressure may be a little too high, then slowly lower it too, but watch your apnea events. Try and find that sweet spot. I'm still trying to find mine and I have been tweeking for several weeks.

[Emilia]

The ICON is about as expensive as an S9 so I would say your DME has an exclusive deal to promote those.... IMHO. You can find the software for it, but it isn't easy. Some folks on here with your machine have been able to score copies.

How do you know your machine "sits at 5 all night" if you don't have the software to monitor every minute all night long? We need more info... are you using a ramp setting? If so, for how long? Are you using any type of exhale relief setting? If so, what is that setting?

I am sure others with the ICON will be along to help you out better than I can since I know very little about your machine. However, 5 is very low and most folks find it hard to breathe at such a low number. If you had the software, you could do a home 'titration' by using a range of 6-10 for a few nights and seeing what your 90th or 95th %tile pressures are. Once that is determined, you can set your range at 2 below and 2 above that number. Since you don't have the software, you say you got a good result at 6.5. You could switch your machine over to straight cpap mode at that setting and see if you begin to feel better consistently.

As for you mask... yes, Lansinoh will help greatly with nasal irritations or soreness. I've used it every night and never had any irritations of any kind. You can get a cpap pillow that may help you sleep on your side using the FX. Many on here have done that.... do a search for cpap pillow and read.

Keep reading and asking questions... You might want to change the title of this thread to mention your ICON to draw those users here to help you.

[Jason2483]

My machine reports my 95th percentile pressure as well as ahi, leak etc for the last night, last 7 nights avg, and last 30 nights avg. The machine was giving me a 95th percentile pressure of 12 but I seem to have some good nights around 6.5. There is no exhale relief and I think the sensawake is annoying so I turned it off.
My bit of attitude toward the DME was because they bill the insurance (and me) the same for the ICON as if it were another unit with separate humidifier. They get an easy 300 bucks for selling it over models like the S9 which require a separate humidifier.

[Jason2483]

I think the ICON will be my baby since it is pretty small and easy to travel with. I don't dislike the ICON unit, I just dislike how they billed it out and didn't give me any options. (I also managed to get the software)