Data From Last night One month on CPAP

[wmcanally]

Ok ive been on my CPAP machine for exactly 32 days. Hereis my data from last night. My machine notes my 30 day average AHI is 2.1. Some nights have ventured to 3.5 but mostly im under 2. Ive stuck with my Swift FX nasal mask and hope ive gotten the leaks under control. Feeling better most days. Have had a nasty cold for a week. But hanging in there. Please comment if i need to tweek anything. Dr Appointment with Sleep doctor on the 27th of this month. He will review data and im told set my ramp. Im on auto for now.

[Pugsy]

Do you normally wake up 2 or 3 times during the night? If so, is there any specific reason? Is this a normal occurrence for you?

Your leak is fine. Your AHI is fine. Technically that minimum of 5 seems to be working but you spend a lot of time around 9 cm. Some people find that pressure changes can disturb sleep. If you feel this is happening with you then a consideration of increasing the minimum to 7 or 8 might be made just for limiting pressure changes possibly disrupting sleep and maybe cause a reduction in those RERAs.

So based on AHI alone...technically 5 minimum is doing its job and no need to change anything base on AHI but some people will feel better, sleep better with less extreme variation and thus increasing the minimum closer to average might level things out a bit and might allow for less sleep disturbances (if you are having any).

If this were my report my only concern would be the fragmented sleep (try to figure out what was causing it and limit it) and probably an increase in minimum just to see if those RERAs decreased and maybe the overall stabilization allowed for better sleep. Not critically needed but just "tweaking" if it were me.

I know you were waiting to talk to your doctor about all this before doing anything on your own. So what I mentioned is what I would talk to the doctor about if this were my report.
Fragmented sleep (why and what to do to limit)

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

wmcanally,

Nothing to add to what Pugsy said. I just wanted to congratulate you on 32 days! I am right there with you as I started my CPAP therapy on 11/09/11. Soon enough we will both hit our 6 month mark and then the big milestone of 1 year! All thanks for this go to this forum that has been here from the start for 'newbies' just like us!!

John

[wmcanally]

not sure on the arousals. I toss and turn some. I try to stay off my back. I cant remember when i went to sleep and never woke up once before morning. The restroom awakings have seemed to diminish. I have found over the last week the need to get up and blow my nose and use saline spray to open up passages. But overall i feel well rested. I just assumed that it has to do with getting adjusted to the new thing attached to my face.

[pap4life]

Pretty enviable read-out. AHI avg. well below the standard benchmark of being below 5.
Since you are going back to Doc soon, I wouldn;t tweek. BUT..If I wasn't going back to a Doc soon, I think I would tweek the bottom pressure to 10 and put the top at 14. As Pugsy suggested, the present set great pressure difference might be an arousal issue.

[wmcanally]

as always i appreciate all the information. They has helped me deal with this new situation in my life. And I'm not complaining, i can deal with this. We have far more things that can happen in our lifes that is worse than sleeping with a machine. But having you all in this forum to help people like me is wonderful.

Thank you

[Mary Z]

Wait until you see your doc before you start tweaking. You are fortunate enough to have a doc who will see you shortly after starting therapy. Take advantage of that.

[Pugsy]

I mentioned the arousals because I see 2 breaks in therapy line on the report you show. If these were bathroom breaks..and you are male and older, then we all know that the prostate can cause them. If that is the case we won't expect that to change from fiddling with the machine.

Should you decide to increase your minimum pressure (either from discussion with your doctor or on your own) I would suggest you do it in small increments. It will just be easier to adjust to and give you an opportunity to watch those pressure lines. A jump from 5 to 8 cm will be an abrupt change and be harder to adjust to than if you slowly increased that minimum. Not that it is extremely difficult to adjust but but might as well be as comfortable as possible. There is no urgent need to increase the minimum based on these AHI numbers. I personally like to use the least amount of pressure (minimum pressure) that gives me the best results. There comes a point when pressure increases don't afford any huge changes and so I see no sense in using them if no need is present.

Some people do better with a narrow range of pressures (like 4), some people do better with a wider range (like you are now) and some people do better on straight cpap. With time and experience you will figure out where you are at in those categories.

[wmcanally]

IM a 44 year od male ( at least for 2 more weeks). I get up to use the rest room if i have had amot of fluid intake before bed. At times i drink alot of water or diet 7 up at night. Then yes i seem to get up more often. Im not sure why i am waking up. Theres not a urge to use the restroom. Unless i turn off the machine and get up and get a drink or fludh the nose i seem to go right back asleep. It may very well be the pressure changes. I have never taken a sleep aid. I go to sleep very fast. I may need something to stay asleep. Not sure. I may need the pressure adjustments to eliemate this. Im just not sure.

[Pugsy]

I'm just not sure.

You know what? There is no urgent need to start changing anything until and if you want to.
You feel well rested, sleep good number of hours and your AHI is quite acceptable.
Just because you can change something doesn't mean you have to change something.

I mentioned fragmented sleep just because I saw 2 breaks in therapy and asked if it is a problem for you.
If it is not a problem for you then don't worry about it. We are all individuals and there is so much truth in the YMMV thing when it comes to cpap therapy. There are lots of ways to get to the same place and someone else's way may not be your way. Doesn't mean one is right or wrong way...just different way.

[pap4life]

If you look at where your snores occur; they appear to be just after your 'p' breaks and where the pressure is somewhat lower (around 6-9) on the way upward. Once your pressure is up to your avg and/or 95% mark, they dissapear indicating the CPAP is doing it job of opening your airway at 9 to 10cm of pressure. Therefor I feel the wakes up are not associated with pressure changes at all. Again, if its working, don;t fix it. Your numbers are great (for last night)/ One night does not make for a complete dianosis of therapy. Only time will tell. Again as Pugsy says, if you or the doctor "tweeks"; do it in gradual increments to keep the pressure disruption to a minimum. Stay complaint and you will acheive your goal.. Longer life and better health.

[wmcanally]

thank you for this valuable information. I really apprediate it. IM glad im on here.

[rlyndecker]

How did you get that information? I am pretty sure I have the same machine & I can't find anything but API's...
Thanks!

[Pugsy]

How did you get that information? I am pretty sure I have the same machine & I can't find anything but API's...

The PR System One machines that have full data have some software choices. Easily obtained.
Explained with some examples here. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64906&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... re+options