Kenny's CPAP Thread

[hose head]

I wanted to go back and touch on something you said about your mask leaking. You said that it was leaking at a joint? I have Swift LT and after two months, my leak numbers went way up. I clipped the LT so hose went over my head, and that helped some but I switched to Activa(the older one) and numbers are back down. What did you do to your LT to fix it? I love my LT.
You also said, your bedroom was cool at 68 to 70. My bedroom is about 55 to 60 every night. I will be glad when spring gets here
and I don't have to worry about getting a nose full of water in the middle of my dreams.

[DoriC]

I think 70 degrees is too warm also if you're using a nice comforter and "sleeping attire", our room is 65-67.

[tattooyu]

I wanted to go back and touch on something you said about your mask leaking. You said that it was leaking at a joint? I have Swift LT and after two months, my leak numbers went way up. I clipped the LT so hose went over my head, and that helped some but I switched to Activa(the older one) and numbers are back down. What did you do to your LT to fix it? I love my LT.
You also said, your bedroom was cool at 68 to 70. My bedroom is about 55 to 60 every night. I will be glad when spring gets here
and I don't have to worry about getting a nose full of water in the middle of my dreams.

My mask was leaking where the hose goes into the plastic end piece. You know how I fixed it? DUCT TAPE! My DME rep is sending me a new mask hose.

I was just guesstimating the temp. Could be lower than that.

[tattooyu]

ANOTHER GOOD NIGHT!

Results for 3/13/2009:
Usage: 8:32
Leakage: 0.24 L/s (still higher than I'd like)
AHI: 8.9
AI: 0.8
HI: 8.1


I decided to sleep in, because this is my birthday weekend! I feel great this morning! Even though I woke up a couple of times, it was only to turn over and go right back to sleep.

Progress is being made methinks!

[Uncle_Bob]

ANOTHER GOOD NIGHT!

Results for 3/13/2009:
Usage: 8:32
Leakage: 0.24 L/s (still higher than I'd like)
AHI: 8.9
AI: 0.8
HI: 8.1


I decided to sleep in, because this is my birthday weekend! I feel great this morning! Even though I woke up a couple of times, it was only to turn over and go right back to sleep.

Progress is being made methinks!

Kenny that sounds good that you are getting those AI numbers you wanted. I feel much better when i get them, its like a little taste of what might come in the future.

I'm thinking of going to visit my DME fully armed, they sent me a tiara basic chinstrap that looks like the cpap.com universal chinstrap. It stays on my head for about 5 mins and then likes to slide up and down the hose and tickle my ears.

Your leak rate is close to the lowest i have had with the swift LT, are you going to keep working on it or try a full face mask? I am thinking of trying some out in a week or two,the ones i tried at the DME leaked like crazy so i'm a bit worried.

[tattooyu]

Uncle_Bob,

I am going to keep the Swift LT because it's so light and comfortable. I think I still might be having some lip flutters or puffs, which may be accounting for the slightly high leakage. I'm still trying to analyze some of the data on my ResScan software. I'm a little disappointed it's not as detailed as the Respironics software on the graphs, but it's still great to see the data.

I can totally see where my huge leaks used to be and the string of apneas that occurred within them. However, the apneas I am having now do not coincide with the leaks, but rather in between them, which makes me think that a slightly higher pressure could prevent those.

When my three months comes around, I'm going to get a Quattro or Ultra Mirage FF mask just to have in case I get a cold or sinus infection. I think my primary will still be the Swift LT, though.

[goose]

Progress is being made methinks!

Methinks your right!!!!!
Keep at it, you're doing great.....still have a ways to go numbers wise, but if you're feeling good that's what counts in my book!!!!

take care
cheers
goose

[tattooyu]

Keep at it, you're doing great.....still have a ways to go numbers wise, but if you're feeling good that's what counts in my book!!!!

Thanks. I do feel so much better. If I can keep my leak rate under 0.4 L/s, get it as close to zero as possible AND get my HI under 2.0, that would make me very happy.

[SharkBait]

ANOTHER GOOD NIGHT!

Results for 3/13/2009:
Usage: 8:32
Leakage: 0.24 L/s (still higher than I'd like)
AHI: 8.9
AI: 0.8
HI: 8.1


I decided to sleep in, because this is my birthday weekend! I feel great this morning! Even though I woke up a couple of times, it was only to turn over and go right back to sleep.

Progress is being made methinks!

Methinks you are correct, Sir Tattoo...

Nice job, and that leak rate is starting to crawl down...

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[Uncle_Bob]

I am also planning on a full face mask at 3 months in case of cold etc.

But last night with the chin strap was improved.

slept 6.45 hrs
leak rate 0.9
AHI 6.9
AI 0.5
HI 6.4

[ozij]

Methinks so too.
And Happy Birthday, Kenny.
O.

[tattooyu]

Thanks everyone! Ever since the new chinstrap, my AI has been consistently below 1.0. I can't seem to get my HI below 7-8, but it will happen.

However, if you look at the graph below there is a string of apnea events that occur within a 20-minute period. My machine never tried to increase the pressure at all to prevent them. Is that because they were not obstructive events, and I am over 10.0 cm pressure?

My average pressure must be including the EPR setting, because my therapy pressures are 12-16 on auto. What do you think? My HIs seems to be scattered throughout the night now, as opposed to just at the beginning.

[goose]

My HI numbers are sucky too.....but AHI is average 2.5 over past year, so I'm happy.....also feel good, so that's my gauge!!

Happy Birthday Kenny!!!!!

take care
cheers
goose

[ozij]

Is that because they were not obstructive events, and I am over 10.0 cm pressure?

It is only because you were above 10.0 cm pressure, and those events were not accompanied by snores or flow limitations.
Your machine can not tell what caused you to stop breathing, and its designers decided not to let it respond to any standalone (aka frank) apnea whatsoever. Those events may well have been obstructive. And they are a few seconds short (well, long...) of being non-events - another indication that you're in the right pressure vicninity.

My average pressure must be including the EPR setting, because my therapy pressures are 12-16 on auto.

Yes, you're right about that.

O.

[Uncle_Bob]

Uncle_Bob,

I can totally see where my huge leaks used to be and the string of apneas that occurred within them. However, the apneas I am having now do not coincide with the leaks, but rather in between them, which makes me think that a slightly higher pressure could prevent those.

This is what i am thinking now too. I had my chin strap so tight the last two nights there is no way i could be leaking in my mind. Trouble is now i'm pitching the mask and strap after 2-3 hours. leak rate is 0.2 - 0.9 for that period though so i still totally do not get it.

Next step is like you did i think and try a different chin strap. DME sent me a very basic single strap one.