New user - advice from cpap gods on sleepyhead data

[yearning4zs]

Hello Everyone,

My main question is about a weird experience I had last night with my machine, but let me start with my basic info.

Age 35, male. AHI 19, oxy min 93, max 95. Machine settings: pressure min/max 4-15, erp 1, ramp on, comfort soft.

In my first three nights I saw steady progress with the final night peaking at 8 hours of use and very pretty ahi numbers. Then last night I ran into an issue where as I was dozing off the pressure would suddenly increase and I would be awoken. It happened two or three times and I got frustrated and quit. Was wondering if anyone could tell from my sleepyhead data if anything looks off?

Thanks in advance!

[D.H.]

This shows that you had a Central Apnea at 12:57, despite that you were not using the machine from about 12:41 to 1:06! I don’t know what to make of that.

[Pugsy]

This shows that you had a Central Apnea at 12:57, despite that you were not using the machine from about 12:41 to 1:06! I don’t know what to make of that.

The machine wasn't off during that time period between 12:41 to 1:06...it was simply at the minimum pressure of 4.
It was only off for maybe a minute at 12:41..very small break in therapy.
The pressure line was just stuck on 4 and didn't go up so you can't see it.

[Dreaming1]

What’s the lowest pressure you can handle awake? Your auto is taking a long time to get you up to 12. Perhaps you should start at a higher pressure than 4. Maybe consider 7 or 8 to start.

[palerider]

This shows that you had a Central Apnea at 12:57, despite that you were not using the machine from about 12:41 to 1:06! I don’t know what to make of that.

The machine wasn't off during that time period between 12:41 to 1:06...it was simply at the minimum pressure of 4.
It was only off for maybe a minute at 12:41..very small break in therapy.
The pressure line was just stuck on 4 and didn't go up so you can't see it.

And this is why DH is best put on the foe list, and ignored.

[palerider]

Hello Everyone,

My main question is about a weird experience I had last night with my machine, but let me start with my basic info.

Age 35, male. AHI 19, oxy min 93, max 95. Machine settings: pressure min/max 4-15, erp 1, ramp on, comfort soft.

In my first three nights I saw steady progress with the final night peaking at 8 hours of use and very pretty ahi numbers. Then last night I ran into an issue where as I was dozing off the pressure would suddenly increase and I would be awoken. It happened two or three times and I got frustrated and quit. Was wondering if anyone could tell from my sleepyhead data if anything looks off?

Thanks in advance!

First, please fix your chart as shown in my sig.

Second, you're likely not being waked up by pressure, you're being waked up by the events you're having, because the starting pressure is way too low.

Bump the minimum up to 6 or 7 for starters.

[yearning4zs]

Thanks for the replies!

Yesterday I used the machine for an hour during the day to desensitize myself. It seems to have been helpful. Still had some wake-ups during the night, but I'm thinking that was more do to my girlfriend constantly coughing with the flu. I have included my data from last night below. Based on this data, does it seem like I would still need to bump up my starting pressure? I do like having it on 4 and basically feeling like there is no pressure at the start.

[palerider]

Thanks for the replies!

Yesterday I used the machine for an hour during the day to desensitize myself. It seems to have been helpful. Still had some wake-ups during the night, but I'm thinking that was more do to my girlfriend constantly coughing with the flu. I have included my data from last night below. Based on this data, does it seem like I would still need to bump up my starting pressure? I do like having it on 4 and basically feeling like there is no pressure at the start.

I'd suggest a min pressure of more like 9... if you want the machine to start at 4 and build up to the 9, then that's what ramp is for

[yearning4zs]

Hello, sorry about that. I thought that the mask pressure and pressure graphs were interchangeable. Here is the updated version.

[palerider]

Thanks for the replies!

Yesterday I used the machine for an hour during the day to desensitize myself. It seems to have been helpful. Still had some wake-ups during the night, but I'm thinking that was more do to my girlfriend constantly coughing with the flu. I have included my data from last night below. Based on this data, does it seem like I would still need to bump up my starting pressure? I do like having it on 4 and basically feeling like there is no pressure at the start.

yearning4zs-

Welcome to the forum! Just as a tip, you'll want to organize your Sleepyhead Charts like palerider mentioned above. Presently, you are not even showing your pressure chart, so there is absolutely no way the guys can give you advice. So, here's the link from palerider's signature...go to it and follow the instructions there on which charts to upload. Then they will be able to give you some good advice. - Good luck on getting more restful z's!!!

wiki/index.php/Sleepyhead:Organize

He's got 'mask pressure' instead of 'pressure'.. it's a little harder to read, but good enough. What's annoying is when they have both mask pressure AND pressure, since they're redundant, and just waste space.

[palerider]

Hello, sorry about that. I thought that the mask pressure and pressure graphs were interchangeable. Here is the updated version.

That's ok, ... the charts are pretty much interchangeable... though the pressure one is easier to read when looking at the whole night. Mask pressure really shines when you're zoomed in far enough to see individual breaths, then you can see how the pressure increases are timing themselves with the breaths. sometimes that matters, (but that's more often on fancier machines).

[yearning4zs]

In response to the comment about ramp and starting at 7or 8, there is one thing I still don't entirely understand. With resmed autosense 10, lets say I set a minimum pressure of 7-8. It will immediately be on that pressure, or will it wait until I'm asleep and then ramp up to that pressure?

[palerider]

In response to the comment about ramp and starting at 7or 8, there is one thing I still don't entirely understand. With resmed autosense 10, lets say I set a minimum pressure of 7-8. It will immediately be on that pressure, or will it wait until I'm asleep and then ramp up to that pressure?

Huh? I suggest a minimum pressure of 9.

It's the Resmed AirSense 10 AutoSet

You If you set the min pressure to 9, it'll start at that pressure.

If you want it to start at a lower pressure, then set a ramp start pressure of whatever (4?) and a ramp time, or use the autoramp feature, which starts ramping up when it thinks you're asleep.

[yearning4zs]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I'll slowly move my way toward a minimum of 9. Maybe start with 6 or 7 tonight.

[yearning4zs]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I'll slowly move my way toward a minimum of 9. Maybe start with 6 or 7 tonight.

If you are concerned about your comfort at the higher levels of pressure, you could experiment with your EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief) setting. Right now you have it set at 1cmw; If you move it to 2cm, it makes it easier/more comfortable on your exhalations. The pressure on your exhalations will be the "given pressure" less the EPR; therefore at a 9cm minimum pressure which is what palerider is recommending, you presently have a 1 EPR, so your exhalation pressure would be 9-1=8; if you set it to 2, you would have 9-2=7 on your exhalations. Some people go as high as 3. I'm still experimenting and have mine set to 2 right now.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Thanks so much, I'll see how it goes with slowly cranking up the pressure and keep in mind the advice about ERP, thanks!