Newbie, taking initial steps to understand

[kerryvan]

Hello all, I've just received and used my Remstar Auto A-flex system for 4 days. being an engineering background, now I'm curious as to what all the settings and info means. I found the clinical setup manual, a special thanks to the poster. Now, what key data points should I be monitoring to see if it is leaking at night or running at a max setting. I think it was having a major leak a couple nights ago, it woke me up due to the air blowing on my face. The pressure seemed very high when I tried to re-place/ fit the mask, getting a good seal was difficult until I turned off the machine. Also, the ramp time seems slow, I typically fall asleep within 5-10 min. Will a slow ramp still allow the machine to detect any events and respond correctly?

Secondly, what other good masks should I consider? I know that I open my mouth frequently for breathing during the night, so a nasal only solution may not work, IMHO.

I have the humidity control set to the max, yet I wake up with dry mouth. Is this common? My lungs feel overly moist, like when you have nemonia. last night I lowered the setting to 4 and feel better today.

any help would be greatly appreciated in understand this powerful diagnostic machine.

[Julie]

A couple of things here... I would turn my humidifier down as it's not helping anything but making you congested. Second, I would see if I need the ramp at all (most don't after a short time). Third, I'd definitely try some full face masks as that really sounds like it might be necessary and the reason for your dryness. Also, your machine doesn't give you the 'real' data you want, and I would, if I could afford it, look into one that does (with a smart card, card reader and software). Knowing the leak rate and compliance are good, but nothing like what you could get with a better machine and if you're an engineer, won't have any trouble dealing with it.

[kerryvan]

Thanks for the info, maybe I didn't list the right machine, it is an Remstar auto Aflex, Part Number DS550P-DS550S, with a lcd display and smart card. I was hoping to get much of the info from the lcd display.

[Gerryk]

Your machine does not react to events while in ramp. I only know of one machine that does react to events during ramp and that is the system one. I am not sure how well it reacts during the ramp, if it jumps past the ramp or all the way to what is needed. However, I believe you can adjust the ramp on that machine to shorten the time up.

Gerry

[GaryG]

I was hoping to get much of the info from the lcd display.

You can get numbers from the display, but with software and card reader you are able to correlate leakage and pressure with your events. And for a newbie, there are plenty of people here that can interpret results for you.

[GumbyCT]

Kerry - it is not uncommon to list the wrong machine in your profile, plus equip. does change over time and the words may no longer make sense years down the road. Which is why I ALWAYS ask people to list what they are talking about in their post, which you did. Now we just have to get people to read what you typed

fwiw - the LCD displays a summary of data. Using the software you can tell if and when you had leaks and events - which are likely caused by the leaks - which may ALL be positional.

You never said which mask you are using - the name should be listed on a label, on the back of the headgear. The mask size is often on the mask, maybe under the chin. Sometimes just changing the size will help.

Be sure to adjust the mask when laying down with you air at full pressure. Your face will change shapes when laying down.

Lots of info here about masks us the Advanced Search option under the Home icon to find info on your mask.

Good Luck

[kerryvan]

Mask is the resmed mirage quattro, large. another mask that looked interesting was one that covered the mouth area but had some silicone nostral plug for the nose. It looked much smaller but I'm not sure if it would be comfortable.

I reduced the ramp time down from 20 min to 10, and changed the humidity setting lower to a 3.

Maybe I'm not being clear, what I'm considering an event, is when I go from a very vivid dream state to an awake state immediately. I'm thinking that is caused by a gasping for air, and the immediate awaking. I'll drift back to sleep within a couple minutes. Since the Cpap, the occurances has lessoned.

[GumbyCT]

Maybe I'm not being clear, what I'm considering an event, is when I go from a very vivid dream state to an awake state immediately. I'm thinking that is caused by a gasping for air, and the immediate awaking. I'll drift back to sleep within a couple minutes. Since the Cpap, the occurances has lessoned.

Did I miss the question here?

Yes, you were likely gasping for air BEFORE.

The Quattro is a good mask - size matters.

[cleanmarlene1]

I got the same machine you have a month ago--i have played with auto and cpap and like the auto with a low setting of 7 and leave hi at 20 as it does its own thing according to what happens when i am asleep i think--still learning--what i didnt know is the software for it wont be out till January--i am keeping check with a oximeter that records during the night and has software for my pc that shows O2 and heart and events---i have humid set at 2 which is the suggested setting in manual--when i used the cpap setting i had ramp at 6 for 45min and then 11 which is what they told me i needed and i was miserable--but the sleep study was miserable and done so poorly i wish i had never paid for it--but that is life and now i know why i couldnt sleep--

[Muse-Inc]

...another mask that looked interesting was one that covered the mouth area but had some silicone nostral plug for the nose. It looked much smaller but I'm not sure if it would be comfortable...

I wear the Respcare Hybrid full face mask that covers the mouth and has nasal pillows...it's quite comfortable and comes with 3 sizes of oral cushion, 3 sizes of pillows that can be set at 2 heights! It's early in your treatment/recovery, get some data over a few weeks; meanwhile, read everything you can to learn about apnea and you'll probably like reading about the different algorithms that govern how different mfg's APAP respond to events. After you acclimate and get some data, then consider tweaking if necessary. Conquer leaks first.