My First, Second & Third Night's Data! Getting Better!

[Georgio]

This is an attempt to link to my first night's data.......to see if this works. Wow....I did it....here's my whole night for the whole world to see! At least you didn't have to listen to my VS...lol.....This is a big step for me.....I hope to gleen some helpfull information out of this! Your comments are welcome! Georgio

[Snoredog]

You need to seriously increase your Minimum pressure UP from the current 4 cm. About the only part of that report that means anything is the daily report and the data shown at the bottom of it. Right now it shows your 90% pressure at 8.0 cm.

Move your Minimum pressure up to about 6.5 cm and the Maximum up to about 15 cm.

[Georgio]

Thank you for your advice to everyone......for tonight I'm making the following adjustments:

Change Low from 4 - 6.5

Change High from 10 - 15

Change Aflex from 3 - 2

And we will see what happens! Hope my SV will go down.

My sincere grattitude!

Georgio

[OutaSync]

Way to go, Georgio! You are off to a great start.

Bev

[rejoicem56]

What do you mean your mask was boiled to fit ???? If that would make the leaks stop I sure would try that.

[ww]

What do you mean your mask was boiled to fit ???? If that would make the leaks stop I sure would try that.

IF you can also keep your mouth shut all night!!!

[Georgio]

According to the instructions that came with my mask.....you can go thru a procedure of placing it in boiling water....submersing it in cool water and then wearing it a few minutes to better mould to your face!

It works! My nose isin't so red and swollen. If I had leaks right now I would try the "Macs" silicone ear plug fix next...!!!

[Snoredog]

According to the instructions that came with my mask.....you can go thru a procedure of placing it in boiling water....submersing it in cool water and then wearing it a few minutes to better mould to your face!

It works! My nose isin't so red and swollen. If I had leaks right now I would try the "Macs" silicone ear plug fix next...!!!

You can re-boil it if it doesn't fit, it is best if you dip it in some iced water in a bowl to cool the outside so it doesn't burn your skin.

That is the only reason to buy the gel, so you can boil it and custom fit it. The one I have seals up pretty good just noisy is all. The first version they came out with was the ProfileLite, that one was garbage, it they put a "seam" where they created the cushion melted in a membrane flap (because it leaked so badly) right on the bridge of your nose, it left a nice bloody divot on the nose to wear all day long at work. Then it leaked really bad even if you boiled it with potatoes and carrots. The ComfortGel with their replacement.

After you have purchased other masks most realize how cheap that comfort series is and refer to them as the CrappyClassic, CrappyGel, Crappy 2, CrappyEtc.

Respironics masks are basically throw-aways as there are no replacement parts or cushions.

[Georgio]

With your all's help, I got through another night having made pressure adjustments. (Results below.) I was more aware of the machine and extra pressure last night and felt as though I became more wide awake when I did wakeup thru the night. I would describe it as feeling more like I was on a respirator rather than CPAP. My VS is still high. Your advice is greatly appreciated...you all give me hope!

Do you think I'm keeping my mouth closed??? I wonder about that.

Thanks, Georgio

[Hawthorne]

It looks like, to me,as though things are improving. How did you feel when you got up this morning?
Your VS is down some and you are spending more time at or around your titrated pressure, which is good. It should help you to feel more rested. You have a 1cm higher 90% today (at 9) - no problem - nothing to be concerned about, in my opinion (fairly normal with an auto and using the flex) and spent way more time at your titrated pressure (only 1/2 hour at 8 on your first night but over 2 hours at 8 last night). Your spending more of you night at 7,8 and 9, with the auto mode allowing for nightly change in pressure needs, instead of 4,5,6 and 7 - as it was last night. You should feel better spending more of you night right around your titrated pressure. I'm still not sure if your titrated pressure is right. Time will tell.

You will need to get used to the higher pressures but I think it will be better for you. It looks like you set the ramp at 4 to help you get to sleep and hit ramp once during the night - am I right?

The other numbers look pretty good (except for VS and it's a little better). You had no FL at all last night. No VS at the 11cm and 12 cm pressure. Your OA and H were only up very minimally so that's okay.

I'm not sure I would make any more changes in the settings for a few days anyway to see if you begin to feel better and continue to spend most of the night around your titrated pressure. See how you feel as the day goes on. You were adjusting to the higher pressure last night.

Good to see what other will say about your last night's data and if they think further changes should be made right away or if waiting a few days at these settings is best.

[Georgio]

Thanks so much for your interpretation. My mask is rated at about 23 lpm at 8 lbs, so I think my leak rate is good. It should be, I've got that sucker strapped on tight enough!

Yes I did hit ramp twice....I had forgotten about the middle of the night! I will stay with these numbers a few more nights, unless anyone thinks I need to change them. Didn't feel better...but I understand it can take time. My mother said after a few nights on her new A-flex that she feels better!

Based on what we're seeing here..........does it look to anyone like I am doing any mouth breathing.....and need to get out the painters tape???? I have a tendency to breathe thru my mouth a lot and am particularly on guard for not defeating my treatment with an open mouth!

Thanks so much for everyone sharing their wealth on knowledge.

Georgio

[Snoredog]

With your all's help, I got through another night having made pressure adjustments. (Results below.) I was more aware of the machine and extra pressure last night and felt as though I became more wide awake when I did wakeup thru the night. I would describe it as feeling more like I was on a respirator rather than CPAP. My VS is still high. Your advice is greatly appreciated...you all give me hope!

Do you think I'm keeping my mouth closed??? I wonder about that.

Thanks, Georgio

1. I see improvement over the prior night's reports, that improvement is fewer number of events seen, although the AHI is slighly higher, I wouldn't worry about that.

2. You used Ramp and woke up about therapy hour 3 and hit the Ramp button, what was that about? Did you wake up for any specific reason?

It appears you developed some leak just before that event happened, the machine most likely couldn't respond and/or "allowed" the apnea seen that woke you to persist. You have to let that go as a fluke related to some leak.

I would continue with your current settings for a few more nights. Use of the Ramp is okay, I would set it for 30 minutes and 6.5 cm and hit it as many times as you like. If your pressure is at 12 cm during the night any time you hit it, it will take your pressure back down to the pressure set for Ramp, that can be even lower than your Minimum pressure but if you get below the 6.5 cm you could be starving for air and/or rebreathing your own CO2, that can leave you with an uncomfortable feeling and discourage you from continuing with the machine.

Once you get used to this therapy you will find when you put the mask on and push the button it feels refreshing (more so than without) and it encourages you to continue with the machine. Or that is the way it feels to me anyway.

[Georgio]

OK Snoredog I will do that. Changed ramp from 5min. at 4lb to 30min. at 6.5. It gives me so much more confidence and hope the advice I recieve from you and Hawthorne. I think I woke-up in the middle of the night, was very conscious of the air pressure, so hit ramp thinking it would get me back to sleep I guess.....

Does it look like my mouth is shut??

Thanks again,

Georgio

[Hawthorne]

Snoredog - I think that the ramp is set at 4cm and the minimum pressure is at 6.5cm.
Are you suggesting that the ramp be at 6.5cm? I'm thinking that 4 is too low for even ramp. What do you think? He did not spend a lot of the night at 4,5, and 6 - as he did the first night when he spent the majority of the night, by far, at 4,5,6 and 7. Spending most of his night at 7,8 and 9 (as he did last night) seems a lot better to me, given his titration pressure of 8. What do you think ramp should be and what should minimum pressure be in relation to the ramp?

I wondered about mouth breathing but I don't see any real evidence of that, do you, Snoredog?

[Georgio]

That's great.....I have better uses for my painters tape!!!! But I won't hesitate to use it if I start "mouthing off"!!! I tried a "potato chip bag type clip", but it was too tight! Did I read in here that someone was gluing their lips together with Polydent?

Georgio