Here I am back again!!!! Need some help!!! Please?

[Lori Dawn]

Hi, Everyone!

I am back! I hope everyone is doing well. My life got VERY crazy for a while, so I quit..... Yes, Pugsy, you won! I didn't make it six months... Remember your challenge that you dared me to make it six months? Well, I lost. BUT my life really spun out of control for the last year. ANYWAY, two more doctors have said that I MUST use the machine. Go figure. LOL!

So I ordered some stuff to help me start over... I have the Swift for Her nasal pillows, and the PRS1 machine set at 14 (my prescribed pressure) and wide open for the top pressure, and a chin strap to keep my mouth closed. I started last night and have downloaded my data into SleepyHead. Boy, that sure has come a long way in a year!

I had really good numbers, all under 1.0. BUT my leak rate is:
Total LeaksTotal Leak Rate (L/min)
W-Avg: 39.26 32.00 38.00 53.19 56.00

I hope someone can comment on what it should be for my mask. I think this is too high....

Anyone? Pugsy?

Thanks for any input.

Signed,

The Prodigal Child, Lori Dawn

[Pugsy]

Been wondering where you have been.

The leak rate for the Swift FX at your pressure is fine on this report.
http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/documen ... er_eng.pdf page 5 is the vent chart
At 14 cm pressure intentional vent rate is 40 L/min. The worst you had was the 56 L/min max which is well below large leak territory of 80 to 90 L/min.
Disregard the minor fact that your vent rate at times appears less than the 40 L/min per the chart because there is a normal plus or minor variance of 6 L/min anyway.

Don't try to compare your leak numbers to a ResMed report because ResMed machines subtract the vent rate prior to reporting and Respironics machines report the total leak which is vent rate plus any excess leak. You won't ever see a nice zero leak number due to the vent rate always being included. I suspect from the numbers that you present your leak line is fairly stable overall.
When looking at SleepyHead leak line if the scale is zoomed it tight then the leaks look worse than what they are. It establishes scale based on the maximum reached and in your case a low maximum so you are going to see a really zoomed in view of your leak like and it will make mountains out of molehills.

[Lori Dawn]

Thanks, Pugsy!

I was worried that I had a problem right off the bat, and I had it down pretty well before I quit, when I was using the Quattro, which just wasn't comfortable. I really like the Swift, but I couldn't keep my mouth closed, got discouraged and quit. So now I'm going to try again. The chinstrap obviously helped, so we'll see.

Anyway, I'm really confused about ALL THE DATA on the SleepyHead report!! I would like to understand the numbers. It's overwhelming! I will continue to look and try to learn what's what, and ask questions as I go.

Thanks so much for your reply! It's encouraging!

Lori Dawn

[Pugsy]

SleepyHead offers a ton of data but most of it you don't really need to worry about. All that tidal and minute volume stuff isn't really needed. Normals are so widely varied that unless your lungs are compromised by some sort of disease it really isn't important and if your lungs were unhealthy..you would already know it.

Concentrate on the basics....leak line...pressure line...events graph and overall AHI numbers. Flow graph if you are curious and want to zoom in on something.

Glad to see you back on the cpap wagon again. I know it is so tempting to let things slide and come up with any number of excuses why we don't wear this darn stuff but you just can't let yourself go down that road. Even if you don't see or feel the improvement that some people see and feel....the damage being done by not wearing the mask is slowly killing you and/or maybe setting you up for something really bad (heart attack or stroke or whatever). Think of it as preventative pill if nothing else.

[chunkyfrog]

Welcome back.
Rooting for you to succeed this time.

[jweeks]

Anyway, I'm really confused about ALL THE DATA on the SleepyHead report!! I would like to understand the numbers. It's overwhelming! I will continue to look and try to learn what's what, and ask questions as I go.

Lori,

Yes, please ask more questions. The two key numbers are large leak and AHI. Everything else can wait for now. The best thing you can do is focus on getting 10 full nights in a row on CPAP. Then look back over that 10 days and see how you feel. Take it 10 days at a time, and if you don't see a trend towards feeling better, then it is time to dig in more deeply. For now, just get some time on the hose since it is going to take a while for your body to get used to breathing again and to get caught up on sleep.

-john-

[Pad A Cheek]

Well Hello Again Lori (Queen of the Fog) Dawn,

I am glad to see you here. I know it can be tough to deal with all the things life throws our way, but if you have sleep apnea, treating that comes before you can deal with other things. So glad to see you back again. If I can help, let me know.

The chat room has changed as you can see, but there is always email and the phone.

Karen

[Lori Dawn]

Thanks for the responses!

Pugsy, yes, I know that this is what I should be/should have been doing all along, and I have no really good excuses. So try again, I will.... I hope to get it right this time. Thanks for the advice and encouragement!

ChunkyFrog, thanks so much for your encouragement!

John, yes, ten days at a time, doesn't seem like forever... I'll try thinking of it that way... they say it takes 21 days to make a habit. Thanks for the advice and encouragement!

Karen, yes, I know I need to just buckle down and treat it, and every doctor I see insists that I use the machine, of course... I'll get it right sooner or later! Thanks for the encouragement!

Lori Dawn

[Madalot]

Hey Lori!

It has been a while and I've wondered what happened to you. I'm sad that you stopped using your machine, but am glad to see you back here, willing to get back on it.

[Lori Dawn]

Thanks, Mad... Just fell off the wagon, getting back on, but much easier this time, it seems. This chinstrap I got really makes the difference. I was sad that I couldn't keep my mouth shut, and it seemed that the Swift wasn't going to work, tried making my own, but it just wouldn't stay in place... It was kind of an accident that I got this chinstrap, but it's working very well. And I can use the Swift, which makes me so happy! Last night was my third night, and it seems like I'm getting right back into step with it... Much easier start that the previous times!

Would love to chat with you! I'm hanging out in the chatroom waiting for you and Snug and Mom and the others! Already had a nice chat with Pad...

I'm looking forward to catching up with y'all!

Lori