Day 2 with chinstrap stats/APAP adjustments?

peacefrog · Post by **peacefrog** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:55 pm

So I went a full night with the chinstrap, hoping it would solve any leak issues. I actually didn't feel as good as I did the first day, but here are my stats from last night:

Pressure: 13
Leak: 0.0
AHI: 4.8
AI: 0.4
HI: 4.2

My machine was set at 7-13. I was thinking of bumping it up to 8-14 and see what that does. Anyone think there would be any problems w/ this?

peacefrog · Post by **peacefrog** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:56 pm

and another note. my mouth was still dry this morning, even w/ heated humidification and chinstrap.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:51 pm

Yes, I think you should bump up the low pressure to 8. And I think you are doing great.

I think you will always have some drymouth. It's just comes with the therapy. But it should get better. There are some mouthrinses and mouth sprays especially for dry mouth by the toothpastes in the store. They help a little.

peacefrog · Post by **peacefrog** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:54 pm

thanks. This board and the awesome amount of help I've been able to find here have definitely been a factor in my compliance. I'll give those mouth sprays a try too.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:49 am

Do you tape? Chinstraps are usually a waste, taping works. Jim

brackstone · Post by **brackstone** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:24 am

peacefrog wrote:and another note. my mouth was still dry this morning, even w/ heated humidification and chinstrap.

What is your humidfier set to?

peacefrog · Post by **peacefrog** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:03 pm

goofproof wrote:Do you tape? Chinstraps are usually a waste, taping works. Jim

I can't tape. I've tried it. For one my beard doesn't agree with it too much, and second I get serious feelings of claustrophobia when I have the tape on my mouth. I need to know that I can open my mouth if I have to. My leak rating on the machine went from 0.04 to 0.00 when I started using the chinstrap if that means anything.

brackstone wrote: What is your humidfier set to?

I have the humidifier set just a notch over II. Any more and it tends to build up condensation resulting in water up the nose. I sleep best in a cooler environment.

peacefrog · Post by **peacefrog** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:06 pm

after bumping to 8-14 last night I got

Pressure: 14
Leak: 0.0
AHI: 4.3 - went down a bit
AI: .8 - went up a tad
HI: 3.5 - down from 4.2

I raised the bottom pressure a bit more and lowered the top pressure down a tad. I'll give it another try tonight and see what I get.

brackstone · Post by **brackstone** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:06 pm

peacefrog wrote:
brackstone wrote: What is your humidfier set to?
I have the humidifier set just a notch over II. Any more and it tends to build up condensation resulting in water up the nose. I sleep best in a cooler environment.

I hear you there, I sleep much better in a cooler environment as well. I would suggest getting a tube cozy or better yet a heated tube. I don't have the link to one personally but they do exist and they will prevent the rain outs you are experiencing and allow you to probably get the humidity you need.

peacefrog · Post by **peacefrog** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:27 pm

I'm looking at those right now. I've also thought about trying to hang the hose from one of those large rubber screw hooks above my bed though I don't know how hanging the hose would affect me if I wanted to turn and sleep on my side.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:31 pm

In your case, with your Swift, I doubt hanging the hose overhead would work. The hose just needs to be higher than your humidifier to help. Here's some suggestions.

Ways to try to avoid rainout:

1. Keep your xpap machine below the level of the mattress, as low to the floor as possible.
2. Use hose covers – flannel or fleece tubing to cover your hose. Use as many as necessary. (I use three covers on my Aussie heated hose and I still get a few droplets of rainout using my Aura – but I appear to be an exception, not the rule).
3. Run your heated humidifier as low as you comfortably can.
4. If your hose runs up over your head, try not to raise it really high to where it has a long drop back down to your head.
5. Raise your room temperature as high as you are can and still sleep comfortably.
6. Nasal pillows are usually more prone to rainout than masks.
7. If all else fails, purchase an Aussie Heated Hose from Australia. Not only does it help prevent rainout, but it also warms the air before it hits your face and/or up your nose. Here’s the site:
http://www.sleepzone.com.au

peacefrog · Post by **peacefrog** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:22 am

went without chinstrap last night, since I haven't done that since I learned how to read the stats. also last night tried a pressure of 10 (my titration pressure) - 13.6. Here are my stats

Pressure - 13.2
Leak - 0.0 (maybe I'm not mouth breathing after all)
AHI - 3.0 (down from 4.9)
AI - .3 (down from .9)
HI - 2.7 (down from 4.1)

So far I've been able to lower my AHI from 4.9 to 3.0. I'm going to keep playing w/ it until I find the "sweet spot" where I can't seem to get any better results. For tonight, I've raised the pressure to 11-13.6. Statistically last night was the best yet. I also got some of the mouth moisturizer to see if that helped w/ the dry mouth, and it did seem to be a little better this morning but I also turned the humidifier up a couple of notches so it could have been a combination.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:45 am

Do you have your machine calibrated for the mask you are using, ResMed required the mask type to be set on the machine, Remstar doesn't. If set correctly Resmed takes the vent leak out of the figures and the leak you have left is yours. the downside if it's not entered right, the figures are bogus. Jim

Sorry, I can't believe a ResMed giving a leak rate of 0.0, something always leaks sometime during the night.

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peacefrog · Post by **peacefrog** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 6:37 pm

yes the mask is set properly to the swift system. I have had nights that have had some leak rating, but the last few nights have registered 0.0

Hurricane · Post by **Hurricane** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 11:14 am

[quote="Goofproof"]Do you have your machine calibrated for the mask you are using, ResMed required the mask type to be set on the machine, Remstar doesn't. If set correctly Resmed takes the vent leak out of the figures and the leak you have left is yours. the downside if it's not entered right, the figures are bogus. Jim

Sorry, I can't believe a ResMed giving a leak rate of 0.0, something always leaks sometime during the night.

I agree with Jim I use the Swift also, AHI readings 0.4 - 1.9 yet I never saw any thing close to the leakage numbers you have, just putting it on and taking it off should create some leakage, never mind adjusting it. Maybe your on to something, new technique.
Ed