New BIPAP user Encoreviewer question

[ibis58]

I have been on BIPAP since February. Been reading as many posts as possible.

Received Encoreviewer software with USB reader today, no problem with install or reading data.

I dont get any AHI data. I read the posts and see an example of the data at:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=49496&p=453636&hili ... hs#p453636

I don't get the table with AHI. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank You

[cflame1]

Did you get the detail data... or just the summary data (hint how many pages did you get?)

If you just got 2 try looking for the full details because all you got was the summary data.

I can't give you specifics because I'm using different software (using Encore Pro).

[ibis58]

I found that I was looking at a weeks data at a time. I need only look at a day at a time to get the data on AHI and LEAKS. Now that I have that I will start working on lowering the LEAKS and AHI. They are both quite high.

The software is a necessity otherwise it is all for naught. Dr. nor DME checked the AHI's or LEAKS.

Thank You all

[Slinky]

My experience has been 3 out of 4 sleep "doctors" I've encountered don't know their fanny from a hole in the ground regarding what is and isn't excessive leak and its affect on our PAP therapy or even bother to look at or consider the reported leak rate. Not even when I pointed it out and asked about my reported leak rate which was excessive. The standard answer when I did ask was that today's PAPs can compensate quite well for excessive leak. DUH, DOCS!!!!

It would seem that the sleep "doctors" have no concern about leak UNLESS the local DME provider's RRT recognizes it and notifies them about it. Patient reporting doesn't seem to have any credibility.

[ibis58]

Update for the data problem. I called Respironics, their software person said the New Grey Respironoics BIPAP S/T part #1012885 "DOES NOT SUPPORT DETAILED DATA" that is why I can not get the same reports as in the ENCOREVIEWER help files or as the other posters have. Can't see AHI, SNORE, LEAK tables etc.

He suggested their SYSTEM 1 BIPAP any suggestions. I have the BIPAP thru DME will either buy my own or ask them to change.

[unadog]

The Bipap S/T is a somewhat specialized machine.

Do you know what your diagnosis is, or why you have the S/T?

Getting effective therapy is the primary goal. Being able to measure and adjust the therapy can be important too, but there may not be many other machines that are a good fit for you.

Best,
Michael

[ibis58]

Unadog,

The only thing I have is "REPORT OF POLYSOMNOGRAPH" in the IMPRESSION: section "OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA resolved by BIPAP @ 17/12 cms. MILD PERIODIC LIMB MOVEMENT"

In the RECOMMENDATION: section "BIPAP @ 17/12 cm H2O BPM=16 with heated humidification via a large ResMed Mirrage Quattro mask."

DME gave me Respironics Grey model BIPAP ST with humidifer and above mentioned mask. I bought ENCOREVIEWER and ordered ENCORE PRO software. The only ENCOREVIEWER info I get that seems relevant is the avearge APNEA count (I average 173.3) and AVERAGE LEAK (I average 57..

Any help or insight would be appreciated.

[unadog]

Interesting!

The Bipap S/T is a very specifc and very expensive machine. A CPAP is often sufficient to treat OSA and might cost $1,000 in the "real world." A BiPap/VPAP is the next step and might cost $1,400 to $1,700 or so. The Bipap S/T might cost about $2,600, or $5,000+ fom a DME.

They used to be used where there were Central Apneas in addition to Obstrucive. Another machne, the ASV, is more commn in that role now. The ST is still used in cases where there is hypoventilation or breathing support is needed due to weak muscles, etc. I'll let the experts chime in on why you may have been prescribed one.

I posted about 1 week ago about how the ST counts apneas, but got no responses. Like you, I might get 145 apneas in 6-8 hours. I was not sure exactly how it counts apneas. My " patient initiated breaths" was about 53%. So if it counted all of those, I would have at least 400 apneas per hour.

By comparison, at approximately the same pressures, I might have 5 apneas & hypopneas a night on my ASV. So that raises the question: How do you titrate yourself on the ST? How do you Rae and/or improve your theapy? I am nor completely sure about that. I suppose like any other machine the goal is to reduce apneas. But I wish I knew how they were defined, and had more detail. I have felt good after a night on the ST, where I have had bad days after my hose came off on my ASV during the night, or simlar events. So I think I have had good therapy on the ST.

The leak rate is not terrible. I believe the base rate fr that mask at a pressure of 12 is 40. So 57 is not terribly high at a presuure of 17. You can look that up on the ResMed site. But that is an average? Can you see a timeline with spikes, etc.? I forget right now. I'll have to go take a look.

[esamuels70]

Oh! It is very expensive! Not all people have sleep apnea can afford the price of a machine.