New to CPAP...making right decisions?

[mikelh83]

Been Reading all your posts, and found them very helpful. Hope it is okay that I add to this forum, as I have some questions/issues.

I was recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea after my wife kept complaining that I was not breathing when sleeping. Too the point that she would wake me up and tell me "you stopped breathing again" Lets just say, to a person that "thinks" they are asleep, this is very annoying. LOL

Never would I thought I would have a problem, until I was tested. AHI of 38.03 on back, and .98 on side. Being that it was so bad on my back, my doctor pushed for CPAP.

On the 2nd sleep study night, they found that 7cm was bringing my AHI down to 2.2. But here is the kicker...they said I only slept for 183 mins, is this enough to have a proper pressure?

So I have been on CPAP for about 2 weeks. I do feel somewhat more rested, but wife is still complaining about my snoring?!? I say WHAT? So after reading, I changed my machine to APAP (good friend at sleep lab told me originally to try APAP for 3 weeks, then switch it to CPAP). I dont think I know what I was actually dicussing with doc about APAP, so he said just try CPAP.
Last night, I set my APAP to 7-14cm...Was this the right move overall? Should I try APAP for 3 weeks, and switch back to CPAP?

Will doc be angry when they find out I took issues into my own hands? LOL

When I woke up this morning, the machine was reaching 10.7 on the screen, and the 90% thing said 11. something. Does this mean that I got up to that pressure during the night?

Would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks

[chunkyfrog]

APAP comes up to the pressure needed to stop an apnea; so yes, your pressure did come up to 11
Even a long sleep study can give an incorrect titration. They are not infallible.
Lucky you, the APAP can find your number without a scalp full of glue.
My hubby and I have our machines set for a tight range (2-3 cm over and 3 cm under our 95% pressures.)
This keeps our AHI's well under 2 nearly all the time.

[mikelh83]

Thank you for the info. Sounds like you leave it in Auto all the time. I hope to give it a week to ten days and see how I feel, and what my AHI number looks like.

[BlackSpinner]

Thank you for the info. Sounds like you leave it in Auto all the time. I hope to give it a week to ten days and see how I feel, and what my AHI number looks like.

Some people leave it in auto all the time, mostly because during most of the night they don't need high pressure but during REM sleep they need much higher pressure. It very much depends on the person.
If you install the software like sleepyhead and import the data you will be able to see when you needed the pressure of 11cm.
It is not so much about snoring as it is about keeping your internal organs well fed with O2. You might not feel the difference now but there would be a difference to your organs down the road (including that one that keeps the wife happy).

[archangle]

We need to know the exact CPAP machine you have. If you have the right machine, it can give you a lot of information about what's happening and how your therapy is working.

[mikelh83]

I have the PR System One with C flex. Still not showing up in my profile, but mask is and I have double checked it three times

[JohnO]

I have the PR System One with C flex. Still not showing up in my profile, but mask is and I have double checked it three times

There are -three- PR System One units. I don't know why the vendor makes the models with such similar sounding names. You may need to turn the unit over and tell us the model number.

Plus - straight CPAP, no efficacy data.
Prop - straight CPAP with efficacy data.
Auto - Auto CPAP with efficacy data.

[chunkyfrog]

STOP! do not look at bottom until the water tub is out!

[mikelh83]

Auto with a flex is what is says

[mikelh83]

So good night on APAP, 90% was at 9.5, machine led/screen was reading 8,/and I slept with it for over 9 hrs. Making progress, still thinking the 7 set up in the lab (if u read my story above) does not seem like it I was alseep long enough to determine the right pressure.

[Tino2You]

Mike,

Have you downloaded the sleepyhead software yet? One of the graphs displayed is your snore index. The louder you snore the higher the index. Snoring and nasal masks are counter productive. When you open your mouth you are allowing the pressure to drop in your airway. You may need to use a chin strap or something to remind your sleeping brain to keep your mouth shut. One of the "tricks" used by lots of us it to place your tongue behind your top front teeth and create a small vacuum. This, in effect, closes the airway to your mouth.

-tino

[JohnO]

So good night on APAP, 90% was at 9.5, machine led/screen was reading 8,/and I slept with it for over 9 hrs. Making progress, still thinking the 7 set up in the lab (if u read my story above) does not seem like it I was alseep long enough to determine the right pressure.

Sounds like good progress. After a week or so, it would be good to note the 90% pressure. It it is quite a bit higher than your prescribed minimum, you may benefit from increasing it. To best see this data you will want to get the software that runs on a computer. It is much more detailed than what you can see on the LCD screen.

Sleepyhead is one, although it needs a manually installed patch to work with the newer PR machines (which it sounds like you have -- is the model number on the bottom 560 -- and yes, take out water tub first...

Another option, which work on Windows only is Encore Basic. It can be obtained for free, and works quite well.

[mikelh83]

Will Sleepyhead work with my machine. It has a modem on the back of the machine that sends information to somewhere, LOL They said that I and my doctor can request a report after 30 days, and anytime after that, when ever I want. I have an SD card, but my home care provider did not have it inserted. instructions say I have it install along with the modem, but in order to remove it, i would have to remove the modem everytime. Sounds retarded! So, will any software I download work with this setup?
Mike

[mikelh83]

Will leave in auto for a few weeks and see what happens. I just don't think I slept enough at the lab to get a good pressure. People have so many questions when they start CPAP, so thanks for all the help.

[RandyJ]

mikelh83,

I think you can be titrated correctly in a short time. I only slept about 1 hr 20 mins at my titration, and they got it pretty close. With an APAP, however, you can use a range, as you are doing, and not need to wonder. You can also read your data from the sd card. If you are using the correct range, you should have good AHI numbers and your partner shouldn't hear very much snoring going on.