New machine + new mask = WORSE results?

[Amishboy51]

This might be nuts, but I'm hoping that at least one knowledgeable person here will share their thoughts.

On February 13th, I had an inpatient overnight sleep study. As it turned out, I didn't sleep well enough to get results, but before the study, I had printed out some recent Daily View charts from OSCAR. So even before I was wired for the sleep study, the technician looked at the data, and noted the "peaks and valleys" in Pressure. He immediately said that I was doing a lot of breath breathing, so he recommended that I switch from my Resmed N20 nasal mask to a facial mask.

On March 4th, after getting the message that my machine had exceeded its life, I upgraded from a Resmed AirSense10 to an 11.

On about March 27th, I finally changed from the Resmed N20 mask and cushion to an F30i.

So, here's an Overview of some of my results, from roughly the 30 days before switching to the AS11 to about 10 days after switching to the F30i. To me, it suggests that the Large Leak, on average, has been higher since March 4th, and has shot up even more since March 27th. The change in AHI has been even more extreme. Even the Total Time in Apnea, while still fairly low, seems to have consistently increased.

Am I crazy to think that my therapy has deteriorated since making these changes?

[ChicagoGranny]

There's not much we can tell from summary charts. It would be much more helpful if you got a free account at SleepHQ.com, uploaded your SD card there, and then posted the link they provide to this thread.

(If your settings are the same with the 11 as with the 10, the therapy will not change. Both models use the same therapy algorithm. Switching mask models is a different story.)

You can find YouTube videos showing how to fit and adjust the model mask you are now using. These videos can be quite helpful in reducing mask leak.

[Amishboy51]

Thank you, CG. I'll try, again, to open a sleephq.com account, to hopefully make my data more useful.

[Amishboy51]

Okay, maybe this should be posted in a new thread, but I'm still struggling with Sleephq, just as I did when I tried previously.

I'm trying to upload my files from the SD card on a Mac. I was able to drag and drop the files, but even before I could click on upload, the blue circle in the file box on the left has been spinning, and underneath, the counter is also rolling and showing 60,000+ files.

Where do I start, or do I just sit tight until the files are all read, and the upload begins?

Thanks in advance.

[ChicagoGranny]

Choose the option to upload 30 days of data. You need to leave the window open while it is uploading. It still will take a bit of time to upload. Make sure your Mac doesn't turn the screen or battery savers off.

[Amishboy51]

Thank you, CG. I think your advice about not letting my Mac sleep was helpful, as I was able to upload some files, and the data then exported. However, after success with some files, I haven't been able to upload more files.

Also, once the data has been exported, am I supposed to do anything else? Because 7 Data Imports are listed as "complete," but there's nothing indicating any sort of analysis, report, etc. Some of the imports have been sitting there since yesterday.

[ChicagoGranny]

Also, once the data has been exported, am I supposed to do anything else? Because 7 Data Imports are listed as "complete," but there's nothing indicating any sort of analysis, report, etc. Some of the imports have been sitting there since yesterday.

Post the link to your account in this thread. SHQ redacts your personal information.

[Amishboy51]

Hi, CG,

Thanks for your patience; it's taken me quite a while to get files uploaded and data exported. Hopefully, the link below is what you requested.

https://sleephq.com/account/teams/jmqMdM/imports


https://sleephq.com/account/teams/jmqMdM/imports

[Pugsy]

Hopefully, the link below is what you requested

Those links are for your private account.....you need to do the public links.

All I can get from those links "you aren't allowed to see this stuff". Wants me to sign in.

[Amishboy51]

Apologies; hopefully this is what you're looking for:

https://sleephq.com/public/teams/share_ ... 4da49c5b5b

[Pugsy]

Are you having any nasal congestion going on???

[Amishboy51]

Sure, I'm "always" congested, with diagnoses of "seasonal allergies," "allergic rhinitis," etc.

I've periodically tried stuff like Nasocort, with some improvement, but then I stop since you're not supposed to use steroids for extended periods.

[Pugsy]

Ahhh.....your flow limitation graph is pretty ugly but that's probably secondary to the nasal congestion issues.
I didn't go through with the microscope on your flow rate but you have to remember that the machine responds to what it senses but it doesn't know that the FLs it senses (and will want to kill with more pressure) is from your nasal issues and unfortunately nasal congestion FLs won't/can't be fixed with more pressure.

I need to make some time and put those flagged events under the microscope and see if you were actually asleep or not when they got flagged. The "worse results" could just be SWJ sleep/wake/junk flagging and more of an indication of worsening sleep quality and have nothing to do with sleep apnea treatment.

Have your allergy symptoms worsened by chance around the same time as you got the new machine and new mask?

[Nocibur]

Am I crazy to think that my therapy has deteriorated since making these changes?

The massive leaks have destroyed everything. Your breathing, the ability of the machine to record events, the ability of the machine to address events (pressure is actually dropping during wicked events):

boy.jpg (53.06 KiB) Viewed 118 times

All I can see is June 9. Try to upload some "good" March stuff.

You need an oximeter.

Not that other guy.

[Amishboy51]

Ahhh.....your flow limitation graph is pretty ugly but that's probably secondary to the nasal congestion issues.
I didn't go through with the microscope on your flow rate but you have to remember that the machine responds to what it senses but it doesn't know that the FLs it senses (and will want to kill with more pressure) is from your nasal issues and unfortunately nasal congestion FLs won't/can't be fixed with more pressure.

I need to make some time and put those flagged events under the microscope and see if you were actually asleep or not when they got flagged. The "worse results" could just be SWJ sleep/wake/junk flagging and more of an indication of worsening sleep quality and have nothing to do with sleep apnea treatment.

Have your allergy symptoms worsened by chance around the same time as you got the new machine and new mask?

Thanks for this, as well as the upcoming advanced study, Pugsy. But, no, my symptoms haven't worsened.

[BTW, I had an interesting conversation with the NP in my pulmonologist's office (she seems more interested and knowledgeable about CPAP therapy than he does), and this was her take: basically, if my leaks aren't disturbing me, e.g., air isn't blowing into my eyes, noises aren't awakening me, etc., and my AHI is 5 or below, I don't need to worry about leaks. That AHI indicates that I'm receiving effective therapy. I definitely found THAT comforting!]