New to Intellipap

[twaine]

Hi! When I was diagnosed early this year, I dilly-dallied---I guess I was in state of denial until I found this site and learned a lot about OSA that eventually convinced me... I'm missing a lot if I dont get myself a CPAP soon.
First problem--the cost of the machine here is double/triple the price. Second problem--what machine to get. I was overwhelmed with the different types and brands of CPAP but further readings from this site made me finally choose a DeVilbiss Intellipap Auto adjust not only costwise but also for its being handy for travel. I asked my cousin to buy the machine and all the accessories(I deemed necessary) and shipped it here in the Philippines. Today, I got the shipment, read the manuals thoroughly and I am not still quite sure if I understand well enough to use it tonight! Jitters! I am not tech savvy so the smartlink module/software kinda overwhelms me. Question: Should the module be attached at all times or only when retrieving datas? Calling intellipap users: I guess I will be needing your help and support in the next couple of days!

[Julie]

Hi - Just letting you know it's a great machine (have used mine for six months now) and that a member here (Amelia) will be by to help you with the technical questions (I don't use the module, only online codes) but it's actually quite easy to use once you get past the start (as with anything else I suppose). Good luck.

[twaine]

Thanks Julie! I know I'm in the right site for moral and technical support

[Emilia]

Hi Twaine! Welcome to the forum and to our small, but loyal group of Intellipap users! I hope you will enjoy your IP as much as I do mine. You will notice to the left under my name/picture a PM in blue that you can click. If you do that you can send me a private message that will not be seen by anyone but me. Please do that and send me your personal email address so I can mail attachements to you of the clinician's manual, a quick start guide for the software that I created for newbies, and a DeVilbiss publication to help you better understand the machine/algorithm.

To answer your question, the module should be attached to the back of the machine all the time. Be sure you attach it firmly and solidly.... this module collects the data from the machine and then transfers it to the SD card you put into the module. It will retain all the data, but each time you put the SD card into the slot it will only copy the NEW data to the card since your last time.

Can you give us some more information here to let us help you better....

1. Do you have a copy of your sleep study results? If so, providing us with the findings would help us understand your actual diagnosis.
2. What pressure settings are you using, and are those based on a titrated pressure your doctor prescribed?
3. Are you also using a humidifier.... your IP may or may not have been purchased with a humidifier unit that sits below the machine itself... and attaches.
4. Will you be using the SmartFlex settings? If so, do you know what to set those to?

Relax.... we will help you get through this. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who is more tech savvy than you and can help you navigate the software until you get the hang of it, that would be good.

[twaine]

Hi Emilia!
I already PM you my email ad. Last night I used the intellipap but without the humidifier(as I don't have distilled water available yet) and also I have not attached the module. I used the Zzz full face mask instead of the nasal pillows so as not to overwhelm me with the pressure. Anyway, I think the mask was a nice fit as I only felt a tiny amount of leak when I turned on my sides (which is not a problem as I'm used to sleeping on my back). I woke up once during the night to pee. I felt the difference this morning, no headache or tiredness and eyebags not as prominent. I just had lunch and I am not sleepy. I think I'm going to like my Intellipap
However, the LCD this AM showed AHI 31.5+, high leak 31+% but when I retrieved my datas at the Devilbiss website using the smart code it showed the ff:
95th percentile pressure--8.5
90th Percentile pressure--7.5
AHI---------------------------- 4
Pressure plateu time------ 0%
High leak flow time-------- 0%
NRI---------------------------- 3.25
EPI----------------------------- 1
Why the discrepancies? Anyway, tonight I will try to attached the module and try to use the nasal pillows.
Here is my doctor's prescription:
Pressure reqt: CPAP-----8cmH20
Auto CPAP minimum 6cm H20
maximum 14 cm H20
Ramp----------20 mins
I don't know how to attach my scanned sleep study report here but it says:
"sleep latency was 10.5 mins compared to a normative value of greater than 15 min for patient's age."
"Although sufficient amounts of NREM sleep were noted, minimal REM sleep occurred, limiting these to NREM sleep.....but once CPAP was applied, sleep became more consolidated with less awakening and arousals."
"Mild apnea-hypopnea seen on 3rd hour of study....during NREM sleep typical respiratory event lasted 18secs...longest event lasted 28 secs....lowest O2 sat was 88%"
I haven't figured out what should be my smartflex settings.
Thank you for the support and help.

[jmcanzo]

I have seen my on screen results way off also like you describe and the smartcodes showing completely different results. I think the onscreen is what is off, because when looking at my data with the software, that matches the smartcodes. I basically ignore the onscreen

[mgrunk]

I've never bothered w/ the screen but just typed in the smart code so I could see more data. But the smart module is even better.

[redjoe]

the LCD this AM showed AHI 31.5+, high leak 31+%

It's an oddity of the machine. If you just use the right scroll button until it goes back to OFF, then start over, the readings will be correct.

Welcome to the community. Good to hear that it's going well for you.

[Emilia]

Hi Twaine,
I got your reply in the PM.... glad you are off to a good start! I have had my IP for a little over a year, and I didn't think the LCD window was supposed to give out any data at all. The SmartCodes or SmartLink software were the only two ways I ever checked my data so I would use only those to get accurate data. That said...your first night was great. An AHI of 4 on your first night is fabulous. The lower you can get the better, but anything under 5 is considered therapeutic. I offer the following suggestions:

1. You have such low pressures, I would consider turning off the ramp completely and jump right in at your low pressure setting of 6. That is what I did after a couple of nights using the ramp, and most of us get used to the pressures even when higher and learn to jump in without ramp.

2. Your 90/95th %tile average is 8 so your top pressure of 14 may be a bit high, but I'd wait another night or two to see if this replicates. IF IT DOES, then dial back on the top pressure to 11 and you may see another drop in your AHI.

You didn't say how many hours you slept last night, but since you had an easy time of it, I presume it was a full night's sleep. How many hours is normal for you? The sleep study info you provided didn't indicate the study AHI before being titrated. I tend to think you may have mild to low moderate OSA. I am in the low Moderate category as well.

Glad your mask was an easy fit/use for you....that is 90% of getting this right. You will love how much your mind will be clearer as well as your observations of no headache, tiredness or eyebags! I felt like someone swept away all the cobwebs inside my head

Here's to continued great sleep and results! Keep up the good work......

[twaine]

Hi! Thanks to all who responded.Really appreciate your help.
Here are my next reports:
------------------------------------------- 2nd night ---------- 3rd night
95th percentile pressure ------------ 11 ------------------ 9
90th percentile pressure ------------ 10.5 --------------- 9
AHI --------------------------------------- 8 ----------------- 9.5
Pressure plateau time ---------------- 0% ------------------ 0%
High leak flowtime ------------------- 0% ------------------ 0%
NRI ------------------------------------- 4.25 ------------- 5.75
EPI --------------------------------------- 3 ----------------- 1
While breathing hours -------------- 7.2 ----------------- 6.6
Still haven't use the module, humidifier and nasal pillow because I wanted to have a comparison from my 1st night use. On the 2nd night, I think my mask was a little loose so I adjusted it last night(3rd night).On both 2nd and 3rd night, I must have slept on my sides a few times as compared to the 1st night when I really tried to stay on my back the whole time. Could these be contributories to my following results? No smartflex yet.
And Emilia, my AHI on my sleep study report was 5.1 although low, my doctor still advice CPAP use as I have the signs and symptoms of OSA like daytime sleepiness, headache on waking up and tiredness the rest of the day.
Am I still on the right track? On 2nd and 3rd night I experience a few times as if the air wasn't coming thru the mask....don't know if the tube kinked when I got on my sides. Looks like it isn't easy as I thought....really need time to get the hang out of it.

[mgrunk]

I think I'd just try the other mask if you want, add the water to the humidifier and hook up the module - unless the mask you have is comfortable enough and you don't experience much in the way of leaking or discomfort. You won't know much more details until you hook the module up. If you have it, just go ahead and use it. It will collect the data and when you have time, you can then review it, but if you don't have it hooked up, you'll never be able to review it. I'd sleep however I normally sleep and go from there. I personally wouldn't worry about comparing anything but just aim at getting a decent nights sleep.