Mask Pressure Issues

[Tumdace]

So ive been checking with Sleepyhead lately and my AHI is incredibly low (0.41, 0.33 last two nights).

Ive just recently switched to the P10, and I love it.

However, my machine pressure is supposed to be 9, with my SenseAwake settings at 6.

Ive noticed the last few nights the machine's pressure has almost never reach 9. Last night it was at 9 for 40 minutes (12:40 to 1:20) and then 6 for the remainder of the night.

Take a look for yourself:

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n19/ ... leepy1.png
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n19/ ... leepy2.png

What is going on? Why is my AHI so low yet pressure never actually reaches what it is supposed to?

[palerider]

doesn't look like it thinks you're awake.

[Tumdace]

What do you mean? If its staying at 6 constantly and not going up to 9, does that not mean its never actually recognizing im going to sleep and raising to 9? My pressure is supposed to be 9 once sleeping.

[Julie]

Your pressure goes up only as needed, and if it 'feels' a higher pressure's not necessary to do the job, then it won't rise. You're obviously doing fine if your AHI is anything to go by, so be happy!

[Pugsy]

Julie....he has the Icon Premo...it's supposed to be a fixed cpap mode machine. It isn't an APAP.

I wonder if maybe turning off Sensawake feature needs to be done. Perhaps the breathing while asleep is confusing the machine.

Though if you are sleeping well and feeling good...it may not matter.

[todd2968]

First of all I'm very new don't know the lingo.
Last night my first going full auto I noticed it was set at 4 low and it started at 4 which wasn't giving me enough air to breathe , I felt. I cranked it up to 6 and that seemed okay but I could not deeply breathe and it never left 6.
My setting non auto is 8 so I switch my cpap off auto and went back to 8
Maybe I'm doing something wrong.
Good luck

[Pugsy]

I cranked it up to 6 and that seemed okay but I could not deeply breathe and it never left 6.

How do you know it never left 6...were you awake watching it? It won't/shouldn't increase from the minimum setting when in auto mode until some soft of apnea event or warning sign tells it to increase and you don't have those warning signs while awake.

You used cpap mode at 8 for a long time. Going down in pressure will definitely create a suffocation type of feeling. If you want to use a lower minimum pressure...start with a very modest decrease like 7.6 for 4 or 5 nights...then maybe 7.2...and so on.
You have to work your way down if that is what you are wanting to do.
A 2 cm jump in any direction can feel quite significant when someone has been using a fixed pressure for a long time.

[todd2968]

I know it was at 6 because this new clock radio looking cpap has a display. I was not sleeping just trying to get used to it watching tv
I never used the ramp because I felt like I was fighting for air.
I guess I figured that an auto would supply the exact air needed, it just seemed to stay on the lowest setting regardless of how hard I tried to breath in. I know it is probably a mental thing I have plenty of air but when yawning(mouth closed)(if that's possible) it seemed to stop me.

[Pugsy]

I guess I figured that an auto would supply the exact air needed, it just seemed to stay on the lowest setting regardless of how hard I tried to breath in. I know it is probably a mental thing I have plenty of air but when yawning(mouth closed)(if that's possible) it seemed to stop me.

It will find the right pressure once you go to sleep.....but it can't do much while you are awake in terms of responding to apnea events or warning signs because you won't be having them while awake. It's real difficult to trick the machine into increasing the pressure while you are awake. It just doesn't work that way. The whole idea is to find the right pressure when you need it and you don't need it until you are asleep.

[todd2968]

Good to know to bad they don't make a reverse ramp. Who knew that sleep would be so important. Michael Jackson killed himself(with help from MD) just trying to get some sleep.

[palerider]

I know it was at 6 because this new clock radio looking cpap has a display. I was not sleeping just trying to get used to it watching tv

auto responds to snores, flow limitations, hypopneas and obstructive apneas.

none of which are you going to have while you're awake and watching tv.

you're asking it to do things it isn't designed to do, as in, read your mind.

if you want a higher starting pressure, then set it to a higher starting pressure.

it's a airsense, not madam zelda the mind reader

[Tumdace]

Im wondering if I do need to disable Senseawake on my machine.

Gonna let it run for a few more nights and see what happens. If my AHI is fine it must mean 6 is sufficient for me I suppose?

I like the idea of Senseawake as a feature but if the machine is not actually going into its full prescribed setting then its not really working properly I suppose.

Wondering if I should alert my sleep group as to whats happening, I am unsure of how they might react if I told them I was checking the data myself.

Edit - Called my sleep group anyway, not 100% sure they understand it either as they didnt sound perfectly confident in their answer, but apparantly the Senseawake is only there to kick in once an apnea occurs. Which is strange because from my understanding of it and what one of the other techs at my sleep group explained to me, Senseawake is only there to provide pressure relief upon awaking. Its supposed to start at 6 and go to 9 once it detects you are asleep and if it detects you waking up its supposed to go back down to 6.

Im more than a little confused atm lol.

[palerider]

Edit - Called my sleep group anyway, not 100% sure they understand it either as they didnt sound perfectly confident in their answer, but apparantly the Senseawake is only there to kick in once an apnea occurs. Which is strange because from my understanding of it and what one of the other techs at my sleep group explained to me, Senseawake is only there to provide pressure relief upon awaking. Its supposed to start at 6 and go to 9 once it detects you are asleep and if it detects you waking up its supposed to go back down to 6.

I'd suggest reading your manual, seeing what it says.

as I understand it, sensawake is suposed to sense when you're awake, and reduce the pressure, then when it thinks you're asleep, (by watching your waveform) raise your pressure.

if it's not thinking you're asleep, it won't raise your pressure.

it *is* an option, that's why you can turn it off, if it's not going to your needed pressure, then it's not working for you, and you should probably turn it off.