Understanding LCD readout from s8 auto

[sam1234]

First off, I have a ResMed Auto II. I do not have the software or card reader to read data from the machine.

What information am I getting when I go into the clinician's menu reading the results?

Is it an average from the night before (mask leakage, AHI, pressure, etc.?
Will I see results for a week, once a weeks worth of data has been collected? or do I need to have the data card in the machine for it to store that data?
How much data/time do I need to collect to be able to titrate a backup CPAP machine without software and reader?

The backup machine may be used for camping as well as when/if I encounter problems with current machine.

[sam1234]

I could use some help with understanding the data.

Is it showing averages?

Is the pressure shown, pressure at its highest point?

I am not sure how to interpret this information.

Is it necessary to have the smart card in the machine in order to see data beyond one night on the LCD display?

I can't afford to purchase the software/hardware necessary to read the smart card.

[bigk]

You will get AI, HI, AHI, and 95% Pressure and leak values - the pressure and leak you were below for 95% of the night.

You can get values for the last day, week, month, 6 months and year by pressing the left button.

The S8 will keep all the info (summary data) for 1 year in it's memory and keeps detailed data for the last 5 nights. The Data card can only hold 6 months data and it remembers less events.

[Slinky]

First off, are you actually going into the Clinicians Menu or are you going into the advanced/detailed patient menu that provides just Efficacy and Usage data?

A word of caution, tho possibly too late now, the very first time a person goes thru the Clinicians Menu he should have a pen and paper handy and write down what appears on each screen before proceeding to the next screen and NOT change anything that first time thru. That way, if you accidentally or intentionally changes a therapy setting, you know what the scripted setting was.

If it is the advanced/detailed patient menu (ONLY the efficacy and usage data is available) then there's no worry, you can NOT accidentally OR intentionally change your therapy in that menu.

The Efficacy data consists of the 95th percentile pressure and leak AT OR BELOW which you spent that night, the number of apneas and hypopneas you experienced PER HOUR, the number of apneas you experienced PER HOUR, and when you've used it long enough the averages of those same data items for the week, month, six months and 1 year.

The Usage data consists the total number of hours you've used the device, the number of nights used, the number of nights that have passed since first using that device and the number of hours used that night.

These devices have an internal, 24 hour, noon to noon clock so you must check your nightly data before noon as at noon that night's data is rolled over into the total averages.

The Resmeds do not need the card inserted into the device until you are ready to do a download. However, the card can only hold 4-5 nights of individual data and a year's worth of averages.

You would want one entire week's worth of data w/NO CHANGES made during that week, no mask changes, no Ramp changes, no EPR changes, NO CHANGES, for those entire seven nights. And that is a minimum and is assuming that you have an acceptable leak rate. A high leak rate really destroys the credibiity of a week's worth of data.

[sam1234]

First off, are you actually going into the Clinicians Menu or are you going into the advanced/detailed patient menu that provides just Efficacy and Usage data?

I have been into the clinicians menu. It appears that the DME rep. left most to default settings and only set the time and date.

A word of caution, tho possibly too late now, the very first time a person goes thru the Clinicians Menu he should have a pen and paper handy and write down what appears on each screen before proceeding to the next screen and NOT change anything that first time thru. That way, if you accidentally or intentionally changes a therapy setting, you know what the scripted setting was.

The Efficacy data consists of the 95th percentile pressure and leak AT OR BELOW which you spent that night, the number of apneas and hypopneas you experienced PER HOUR, the number of apneas you experienced PER HOUR, and when you've used it long enough the averages of those same data items for the week, month, six months and 1 year.

This was the information I was looking for... I have had readings that have been consistent (virtually unchanged) over the last three nights.

Leak .04, AHI 3.2, AI .2 and HI 3.0

That is partly what made me wonder about the data.

The Usage data consists the total number of hours you've used the device, the number of nights used, the number of nights that have passed since first using that device and the number of hours used that night.

These devices have an internal, 24 hour, noon to noon clock so you must check your nightly data before noon as at noon that night's data is rolled over into the total averages.

The Resmeds do not need the card inserted into the device until you are ready to do a download. However, the card can only hold 4-5 nights of individual data and a year's worth of averages.

You would want one entire week's worth of data w/NO CHANGES made during that week, no mask changes, no Ramp changes, no EPR changes, NO CHANGES, for those entire seven nights. And that is a minimum and is assuming that you have an acceptable leak rate. A high leak rate really destroys the credibiity of a week's worth of data.

Thanks

[Slinky]

Great data, Sam. You are doing A-OK!! Glad to help out when I can.

[MaskedBandit]

Make sure you have the LEAK DETECTION ALARM : ON so that the little bugger will wake you up in case of the mask slipping and leaking excessively. That will help to keep your numbers good as well as you! You can access that feature through the clinicians menu.

[sam1234]

Make sure you have the LEAK DETECTION ALARM : ON so that the little bugger will wake you up in case of the mask slipping and leaking excessively. That will help to keep your numbers good as well as you! You can access that feature through the clinicians menu.

I left that feature off as I am using the autostart function. I believe that I can't have them both on at the same time.

I know that autostart can skew the numbers but it beats reaching over and trying to find the on/off button.

[sam1234]

Great data, Sam. You are doing A-OK!! Glad to help out when I can.

I am surprised how consistent the data is. The pressure is set from 4 - 20. I changed the settling time to 0. My original script was for 11. That is what I have been using for over 17000 hours. I have been waking up off and on the last for months, gasping for air. The new machine is very comfortable. I only wake up to shift positions now.

[Slinky]

Yeah, I've got my Settling turned off too. I'm the opposite of you tho, I really dislike the AutoStart/AutoStop but on the VPAP Auto you've got no choice. You can't turn AutoStar Off or disable it in any way. *sigh*