CPAP location changed everything

[bucko]

I have had a strange experience that needs discussion. You all can see my previous posts as I struggle to get my CPAP under control. Basically a train wreck even as I tried everything this forum suggests to me. My numbers are basically bad with leaks and AHI's VERY bad. I sleep about 4-5 hrs a night.
Last night I moved my CPAP from the floor where it's always sat, and placed it on my dresser which is now above my head level. My hose management has not changed, it's attached to my headboard as always. Only the hose from the headboard to the CPAP would have changed.
So last night I slept for 7 hrs and my numbers are reduced by over half. AHI the lowest ever at 4. Leaks even smoothed out to the best ever. I changed nothing but the CPAP location.
I haven't heard this discussed in the forum yet. I think it needs investigating. Any ideas??????

[mbridget]

I don't have an answer for you -- but I am REALLY curious about the answer!

[JeffH]

Maybe you were on such a short "leash" that you were pulling the mask off and having leak issues which will cause AHI issues?

JeffH

[bucko]

Jeffh, if you read my post carefully you will note what I said about the hose. It has not changed at all. My hose is firmly attached to the headboard then goes to my mask. It is exactly the same as before, so it is not an issue of pulling it off causing leaks.
I would not think much about all this except that my numbers changed dramatically! It has got to be something to do with changing the CPAP location. Some other users should try to move theirs and see if you also get changes. If this bears out, it is another important aspect for us all to consider when setting up their CPAP devices.

[Nealbopper]

Your body just had enough and needed a good nights rest. Moving the machine really wouldn't do a thing but if its the cure for getting a good nights sleep, all power to ya. Really allot of the true sleep we apnea suffers get has allot to do with our mental state. We believe we can get a good nights sleep and that we will not let the small things bother us. It's when you come to this point that true sleep happens. It doesn't make a whole lot of sence until it finally happens to you. Now if you get a weeks worth of 7 to 8 hours a night. I want to hear more about this from you. Merry Christmas.

[Claire]

Hmmm...could the answer be in a reduction of pressure at face level because the air had to be pushed upwards for a period of time. This seems to makes sense at a an instinctual level, but may not be accurate in terms of physics. Anyone out there know the answer?

[RipVW]

Well, you know what they say--"Location, Location, Location!" :<)

[carbonman]

Any ideas??????

The machine was not in it's FengShui position,
to be in harmony w/you.

When you moved it, that was changed and now
you, the machine and the Universe are in harmony.

[Hawthorne]

I have never placed my machine on the floor (although I understand some do). Usually the advice is to have the machine lower than the top of the mattress on your bed. I have mine on a small table just below the top of my mattress (by several inches) and have always had it there. I get an AHI of less than 1, almost 100% of the time and have several 0.0 AHI in a 2 week period.

I would be interested,too, to hear from you if this continues to be a good setup for you. As nealbopper said, a week's worth of good data, as opposed to the data you got with it on the floor would be convincing. Watch out for rainout with that location especially if you use heated humidity. Let us know how it goes!

[Julie]

Mine's always been dead level with the top of the mattress (give or take a couple of inches) and my results go up and down with leaks, bad masks, etc., but I've seen nothing to suggest the height level matters.

[JeffH]

Jeffh, if you read my post carefully you will note what I said about the hose. It has not changed at all. My hose is firmly attached to the headboard then goes to my mask. It is exactly the same as before, so it is not an issue of pulling it off causing leaks.
I would not think much about all this except that my numbers changed dramatically! It has got to be something to do with changing the CPAP location. Some other users should try to move theirs and see if you also get changes. If this bears out, it is another important aspect for us all to consider when setting up their CPAP devices.

I read your post and you can still move an attached hose if you move enough in the night.

[Raj]

We do need more long-term data to confirm that the position of the unit made a difference, but if that proves to be the case, I can see many possible explanations of which I'll list three. First, having the machine on the floor put just enough of a kink in your hose (from unit to headboard) to create some back-pressure, affecting the smoothness of the machine's operation. Second, there are a greater concentration of allergens at floor level in your room and the unit's filter isn't effective enough to block them out sufficiently. Third, you find the sound of your machine more soothing in this position. Whatever the actual explanation or explanations, I hope this wasn't just a fluke and you'll have an easier time with CPAP from now on.

[sleepycarol]

I have king size bed and a small bedroom. On my side of the bed the edge of the bed is almost even with the bathroom door. Putting even a small table there is out of the question since it would take up door space. We had modified our waterbed headboard into the headboard we are using and so it has shelves. My machine is on the shelf directly behind me. That is where it has been the entire time I have been on it. My hose is routed up and then down to my mask.

In my experience too much tension on the hose going up to the hanger is bad. If the hose is unable to move freely it will cause my mask to dislodge and create leakage. I have experimented with this -- having the hose tight on the hanger with no slack from the machine to the hanger and then have it where it can "move" from the hanger to the mask. I get leaks every time it is tight as it creates tension on the hose whenever you toss and turn and can dislodge the mask. Even a slight dislodgement can cause small leaks to large leaks.

Hose management is more likely to be the change you needed. The machine being in a different location places different stress on the hose via your hose hanger leading to the better numbers.

[bucko]

Night #3 finished and the results remain the same. Best ever. For me this has been a big breakthrough and now I am ready to tweak settings and get it perfect. For now I will still NOT change anything and only monitor if this continues. My sleep time did decrease last night to 5.5 hrs which is more the norm for me, has been all my life. Still I think I felt better, have no dry mouth or sore throat. All in all I know this is now going in the right direction.
Raj and sleepycarol's explanations sound logical to me. Hose management seems to play a very important role in this CPAP setup. This should be stressed more to newbi's looking for advice.
Thanks for all the input. I may be getting my train wreck back on the tracks!

[sleepycarol]

Bucko glad your numbers are staying improved!!

Hope it continues. We all have bad nights occasionally -- just the nature of the beast -- even people without sleep apnea have off nights. For me I do not want my machine near the floor due to dust, etc. and having it where it sets is okay. Gives me plenty of hose and with it routed up like I have it helps with rainout issues as well.

Keep us posted!!