General weirdness.

[Cavallo]

OK, so I know this is too many variables shifting too quickly, but leaving that aside for a moment...

I had a very strange night. I've been creeping my min. pressure up very gradually over the last week, maybe 0.2cm per night, heading for my lab-titrated pressure of 9, even though the machine reports 11.x every morning. I thought I was being conservative, and letting myself adjust to the pressure increases. At 8.0, I had a really good night with an AI < 1. Subsequent nights were back to the usual pattern, so I guess it was a blip. I kept increasing very gradually, expecting that eventually, the numbers would begin to decrease.

Last night, I worked my 15w reptile heater into my hose-cozy. It performed perfectly, resulting in absolutely rainout-free, tropical air arriving at the mask. I incremented my pressure to 9.0 and went to sleep. After four hours, I awoke to a peculiar sensation. I felt as if there was very little pressure at the mask. VERY little. Confused (and a little groggy) I unplugged the reptile heater, concerned that perhaps I had melted a leak, or that the extra heat was somehow confusing the pressure transducers in the machine. Checking the results, I noticed an AI of nearly four. Almost double what I've been getting.

I tried to go back to sleep, but the pressure still seemed to damned low to even be comfortable. Pissed, I completely changed the settings to straight CPAP at a pressure of 11 with zero ramp. I fell asleep very quickly and slept like a stone for four more hours. The results show the AI divided neatly in half, which tells me my count for those final four hours was zero, although my HI was still up there. I feel really good this morning. Perhaps the best yet.

What should I conclude from all this? Comments? Criticisms?

[cflame1]

I'd leave it there for a few days (like about a week) before I inferred anything.

"One night does not a trend make!"

[Cavallo]

"One night does not a trend make!"

I know, I know. I guess my biggest mystery is that odd sensation of very low pressure when I woke up. Have I really just habituated to it? Did the warmth and humidity of the air make it feel like less? Was the machine malfunctioning?

Anyway, this is still just my loaner unit. I go to the DME for my very own AutoSet this morning. I'm definitely going to start that off at CPAP/11 and see what tonight brings.

[KatieW]

I like to analyze too, so I empathize. As a newbie, I still ask similar questions, and am told by the wise folks here that "one night does not a trend make, and just give it some time".

I know, I know, but I'm just asking.

I too have woken up feeling so comfortable with the air pressure that I wondered if the machine was working. But when I checked the LED, it showed a pressure of say, 9, and the next morning my software confirms that my pressure was pretty consistent all night.

[YawnGirl]

I too have awoke and thought the machine had quit blowing air. However, when I lifted my mask away from my nose, the pressure nearly blew my eyes out!

I have ordered the heater cord (15w) but have not received it yet. Did you use a dimmer to reduce the heat?

[PST]

I too have woken up feeling so comfortable with the air pressure that I wondered if the machine was working. But when I checked the LED, it showed a pressure of say, 9, and the next morning my software confirms that my pressure was pretty consistent all night.

This list is getting pretty long, but me too. It's a good thing.

[peppi]

I too have had a smilar situation. I had to unplug the machine and start the session over. It was fine for the rest of the night. I also had the opposite occur where I was getting way too much air but the machine displayed 6.9 , this also was reset by pulling the plug.

I cant help but think there are some glitches in the algorithm in the S8 autoSet II.

Best,
Phil

[Cavallo]

Damn. It'll be hard to be on alert for that when I'm unconscious.

[timbalionguy]

You can purchase a manometer on CPAP.com, or make one yourself to verify that your machine is delivering the right pressure.

I do find that as I get used to the pressure, I hardly notice it. There are times now when I can be at 17 or 18 cm (Minimum is 13) and not realize the pressure is that high. However, it sounds like there is more to your situation than just getting used to the pressure.

In any case, good luck! Sounds like you are quickly figuring this all out.

[happysleeper]

Pretty creepy, as I also have the same machine. Perhaps that explains my recent episode with air hunger with a new mask (see different post).

I also sometimes wake up so comfortable that I wonder if the air is blowing. If I don't feel air hungry, that helps me to know that the flow is good. I also will open my mouth a bit, and if I hear a hurricane and feel air escaping, then I know that all is well.

Happy Sleeper