New User Questions

[Graypoet]

I am into my third month as a user of a CPAP device. It has taken some time to become accustomed to the device but I am surviving. I can honestly say that I see little change in my physical health. I skipped using the device one night and did feel a bit tired that next day. With that experiment it does appear that the device is helping me more than I realize. The data collected by the device shows that the AHI events are reduced from the initial sleep study by over 60%, an average now of 6.5. I have several questions.
1. Am I expecting too much too think that I should see no AHI events during a nights sleep?
2. Should I use the CPAP device if I take a nap during the day? This nap is very relaxing without CPAP. I feel better after the nap than in the morning after a nights sleep. These naps may occur twice a week.

Thank you!

[Goofproof]

I am into my third month as a user of a CPAP device. It has taken some time to become accustomed to the device but I am surviving. I can honestly say that I see little change in my physical health. I skipped using the device one night and did feel a bit tired that next day. With that experiment it does appear that the device is helping me more than I realize. The data collected by the device shows that the AHI events are reduced from the initial sleep study by over 60%, an average now of 6.5. I have several questions.
1. Am I expecting too much too think that I should see no AHI events during a nights sleep?
2. Should I use the CPAP device if I take a nap during the day? This nap is very relaxing without CPAP. I feel better after the nap than in the morning after a nights sleep. These naps may occur twice a week.

Thank you!

You need to go into user controls, and set up the equiptment you use in text not iconny. Then get the needed software, your treatment could be better, but you are trying that's good many don't.

I'm betting on you using a nasal mask, and losing treatment pressure or incorrect pressure, the software will allow you to make needed adjustments. Welcome! Jim

[Gerald?]

1. Am I expecting too much too think that I should see no AHI events during a nights sleep?
2. Should I use the CPAP device if I take a nap during the day? This nap is very relaxing without CPAP. I feel better after the nap than in the morning after a nights sleep. These naps may occur twice a week.

Welcome. To answer your queries:

1. No events is expecting too much. However, you probably should expect to get lower than an average of 6.5. With a bit of luck something under 3 is good to strive for. I average around 0.5.
2. Yes you should. I find I get even better value from my naps when I use CPAP.

Can I suggest if you are willing to do a bit of work to provide a bit more detail and take some advice from the forum, you will probably get better results. Once the therapy is working optimally then I suspect like me (and lots of others around here), you will get to the point where the idea of sleeping without CPAP is not something you would ever contemplate doing if you have the choice.

Based on your signature a pressure setting of 5 sounds unusual. It would be interesting to see some of your data around that.

Like Jim mentioned, if you go to the second section in the announcements "Pugsy's pointers" you will find info on getting software that will help you get the data and post on the forum. If you can do that, I suspect you will get a flood of helpful assistance.

[Pugsy]

Exactly which model DreamStation machine are you using?

Should be a model number on the bottom or side that starts with DSX then 3 digits followed by 3 or 4 letters.

DSX200xxx
DSX400xxx
DSX500xxx

I agree with everything Gerald said so no need to type it again.

First thing though...need to know exactly which model you are using so we know if there is more data to evaluate than just the AHI.

[kteague]

Everyone has to find their own personal best in treatment. For most it is a balancing act where a pressure high enough to yield a consistent 0.0 AHI causes things like air in the belly, mask leaks or central events. That's where I'm at - my AHI is usually below 1, never reaches 2. At my current pressure I already get air in the belly so I am willing to tolerate those few brief events. If someone is on a relatively low pressure and an increase does not cause any of the above problems, a fairly regular AHI of 0.0 can be reached. I used to get zeros several times each week, but my pressure needs changed over time. Personally, I will be making efforts to inch up my pressure if I start seeing AHIs of 2. When we multiply our AHI by hours slept, the reality of how disruptive to sleep even a low AHI could be, we see that just a few digits could make a difference.