APAP Questions
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DCTom
APAP Questions
Sorry for all the questions folks. Just trying to get all this figured out so I can feel better. I still don't seem to be getting any relief from the daytime sleepiness and grogginess. Actually I am less sleepy but more groggy than I was before CPAP. I am foggy. So I am wondering about my APAP machine. I play around with the settings and to be honest, no matter what I set the darn thing at, it says I'm not having any apneas. I can set it as low as 4 and I don't have any. I wonder if's I'm using it correctly or if it's broken or something. My apneas was diagnosed as moderate to severe. It seems really odd that a pressure of 4 would "work" but I'm still so tired. Any thoughts or advice?
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neversleeps
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:06 pm
- Location: Minnesota
What machine do you have? If it's the REMstar auto, what page of the report are you looking at?
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DCTom
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neversleeps
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:06 pm
- Location: Minnesota
DCTom, keep the questions coming. Knowledge is power!
I also have the PB 420E with Silverlining software. I run it at 4-20 cm. It usually has a 90% pressure of 11 or 12, although it wakes me up once in a while at 16-18 cm. I use the Ultramirage FF mask and a humidifier (I've been running the humidifier in the "off" position and just using it as a passive humidifier. I find the warm humid air to be a bit too much, but that's just me.) I've tried working with the 420E settings and moved my low pressure up to 6 and then to 8 for a few nights each, but the low setting of 4 seems to work best.
I didn't experience instant relief either when I started on my APAP about 3 months ago. My complaint prior to APAP was "I can't believe I'm more tired just waking up than when I went to sleep!" After being on the APAP for a few days, I started waking up feeling better, but I still wasn't feeling "rested". I was more alert during the day, falling asleep at the computer at work slowly stopped and gradually (over a period of about 4 or 5 weeks) I had more energy.
Even after 3 months, although I'm feeling more alert during the day and have bunches more energy, I'm still not feeling fully "rested". By that I mean that deep down inside I'm still tired. But I attribute that to the fact that for almost 5 years, I didn't get a restful night's sleep due to OSA and I figure I have 5+ years of sleep debt to pay off. It is slowly getting better, though. As often as possible (like on the weekends), I still am able to sleep for 12-14 hours, using the APAP. It helps pay off the debt, I think. But I figure it's going to take quite a while to get a zero balance on that debt!
I'm still kind of new to this, but I do know......
This therapy WORKS!
I also have the PB 420E with Silverlining software. I run it at 4-20 cm. It usually has a 90% pressure of 11 or 12, although it wakes me up once in a while at 16-18 cm. I use the Ultramirage FF mask and a humidifier (I've been running the humidifier in the "off" position and just using it as a passive humidifier. I find the warm humid air to be a bit too much, but that's just me.) I've tried working with the 420E settings and moved my low pressure up to 6 and then to 8 for a few nights each, but the low setting of 4 seems to work best.
I didn't experience instant relief either when I started on my APAP about 3 months ago. My complaint prior to APAP was "I can't believe I'm more tired just waking up than when I went to sleep!" After being on the APAP for a few days, I started waking up feeling better, but I still wasn't feeling "rested". I was more alert during the day, falling asleep at the computer at work slowly stopped and gradually (over a period of about 4 or 5 weeks) I had more energy.
Even after 3 months, although I'm feeling more alert during the day and have bunches more energy, I'm still not feeling fully "rested". By that I mean that deep down inside I'm still tired. But I attribute that to the fact that for almost 5 years, I didn't get a restful night's sleep due to OSA and I figure I have 5+ years of sleep debt to pay off. It is slowly getting better, though. As often as possible (like on the weekends), I still am able to sleep for 12-14 hours, using the APAP. It helps pay off the debt, I think. But I figure it's going to take quite a while to get a zero balance on that debt!
I'm still kind of new to this, but I do know......
This therapy WORKS!
_________________
| Mask: Ultra Mirage™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: APAP, 8-14 cm H2O. |
This therapy WORKS!!!
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
Thanks for the kind words, neversleeps, but.....I'm not in any way, shape, form, or fashion an expert on anything to do with cpap/autopap/bi-level treatment or the machines or the software! I'm just a well-treated user - thanks largely to advice I've read on the message boards and some very helpful people who looked at my data for me. I have to get help with my own data. I don't know enough about these machines to be able to help anyone else with anything more than encouragement!
Re: APAP Questions
Hi Tom:
I too have the same machine as you, with the silverlining software. If you're not having ANY apneas that's great, do you keep a copy of your report, can you share the numbers with any of us?
I had started out low at 4-14. Found it not too comfy, so I gradually upped my number to 6, where I've kept it now for a mo. or 2. I seldom go above 10 or 11, and usually can crank out about 6 hours on the beast. I use the swift nasal pillow (large pillow). I also use a chin strap, as I guess my mouth flopped open during the titration study at the hospital.
Anyhow, the weird thing is this, I always always usually total up about 8 episodes (either ap's, or hypop's). There is some question under "detected events" about whether to include the #'s for the ap's/w/cardiac oscillations and hypop's with FL limitation(whatever these #'s represent?) Anyway, I count the entire amount, as I feel that they too, represent an event of some form or other. I'm keeping my numbers what I think are low. Never can get a straight ans. from a doctor, obviously ZERO on every event would be the optimum, but I don't think that's possible FOR ME.
I've been on the PB420E since Jan. 28th. Initially had a bit of energy boost, that passed and am tired again, but do have other health issues involved.
My take on this is, it took years to get OSA in severe form (I had) so I'm trying to be patient and let the machine/and/me run it's course. Knowing it helps is enough for me........
RG can best answer the FL1 situation, if I am correct, a previous poster had to turn that off, and achieved better #'s or something? I can't recall?
Any one remember?
Hope this helps......
I too have the same machine as you, with the silverlining software. If you're not having ANY apneas that's great, do you keep a copy of your report, can you share the numbers with any of us?
I had started out low at 4-14. Found it not too comfy, so I gradually upped my number to 6, where I've kept it now for a mo. or 2. I seldom go above 10 or 11, and usually can crank out about 6 hours on the beast. I use the swift nasal pillow (large pillow). I also use a chin strap, as I guess my mouth flopped open during the titration study at the hospital.
Anyhow, the weird thing is this, I always always usually total up about 8 episodes (either ap's, or hypop's). There is some question under "detected events" about whether to include the #'s for the ap's/w/cardiac oscillations and hypop's with FL limitation(whatever these #'s represent?) Anyway, I count the entire amount, as I feel that they too, represent an event of some form or other. I'm keeping my numbers what I think are low. Never can get a straight ans. from a doctor, obviously ZERO on every event would be the optimum, but I don't think that's possible FOR ME.
I've been on the PB420E since Jan. 28th. Initially had a bit of energy boost, that passed and am tired again, but do have other health issues involved.
My take on this is, it took years to get OSA in severe form (I had) so I'm trying to be patient and let the machine/and/me run it's course. Knowing it helps is enough for me........
RG can best answer the FL1 situation, if I am correct, a previous poster had to turn that off, and achieved better #'s or something? I can't recall?
Any one remember?
Hope this helps......
DCTom wrote:Sorry for all the questions folks. Just trying to get all this figured out so I can feel better. I still don't seem to be getting any relief from the daytime sleepiness and grogginess. Actually I am less sleepy but more groggy than I was before CPAP. I am foggy. So I am wondering about my APAP machine. I play around with the settings and to be honest, no matter what I set the darn thing at, it says I'm not having any apneas. I can set it as low as 4 and I don't have any. I wonder if's I'm using it correctly or if it's broken or something. My apneas was diagnosed as moderate to severe. It seems really odd that a pressure of 4 would "work" but I'm still so tired. Any thoughts or advice?
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neversleeps
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:06 pm
- Location: Minnesota
I'm sorry I misspoke rested gal! I should explain that I am such a novice with this therapy that I consider those with a longer history on XPAP to be 'experts' by comparison!
Sorry to steer you in the wrong direction DCTom! You should probably contact your DME or sleep doctor instead of the forum members to ask questions that go beyond sharing personal experiences.
Sorry to steer you in the wrong direction DCTom! You should probably contact your DME or sleep doctor instead of the forum members to ask questions that go beyond sharing personal experiences.
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
No problem, neversleeps. I just get real nervous and kinda' squeamish about the word "expert". I know how many times I've been wrong about this stuff! A lot!
DCTom, knowing that I can be way wrong, if you want to send me an email with your .pat file attached, I have the SL software and would love to see it. I don't mean this to sound like a bug under a microscope thing, but I do like to look at data oddities. Doesn't mean I'll have the foggiest idea what you can do about it, but would like to see one of your .pat files if you want to send it.
Lcatron@earthlink.net
(See, neversleeps, you did a good deed. It was just that word. )
DCTom, knowing that I can be way wrong, if you want to send me an email with your .pat file attached, I have the SL software and would love to see it. I don't mean this to sound like a bug under a microscope thing, but I do like to look at data oddities. Doesn't mean I'll have the foggiest idea what you can do about it, but would like to see one of your .pat files if you want to send it.
Lcatron@earthlink.net
(See, neversleeps, you did a good deed. It was just that word. )
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