Pleae explain my leak chart

[Lizistired]

HI Jeff,
Did you have a titration?
Do you know why they didn't titrate you to a specific pressure? Not enough time?
Did you get copies of the full reports and graphs?
I was thinking maybe you didn't have a titration might be why they set your minimum so low.
I have a dollar that says you would do better trying straight CPAP at 9 cmh2o with EPR off.
That said, you need to at least raise your minimum to at least 7 or 8.
You could also reduce the EPR to 1 if you don't want to turn it off. Or you could try it off and see if you need it.

Some of us are sensitive to pressure changes. When I use auto, the pressure goes much higher than I need on cpap.
In my avatar where the red ahi graph drops off is when I turned the EPR off after 6 weeks of screwing around with my pressure.

In ResScan, If you uncheck the AHI and SNORE, and then adjust the graphs to show to 6, you'll be able to get them on 1 screen.

[JeffL]

I didn't have the sleep study with CPAP.
I was tested without it, then went back for the test with CPAP. The lab tech explained that some people just can't tolerate it, so in order to same me and my insurance company the expense of a study with CPAP, they just let me try breathing through the mask while the tech make all kinds of changes. I was pretty miserable with everything he did, especially exhaling, so I didn't stay for the test. They offered to let me come back for what they called CAP NAP, if I wanted to try again. I had originally gone for the sleep test with the intention of getting a dental appliance anyway, but I decided to see the doctor first to discuss the alternatives. The doctor sent me to what I guess I've seen called a DME here on the board, to try different masks, to see if something would work. The tech there had me try the nasal pillows. I now realize (but didn't then) that they were leaking when I tried it, but it was very easy for me to breath, and only seem like a minor annoyance, rather then unbearable torture. I don't think the tech at the sleep study lab had me try nasal pillows because I told him that I breath through both my nose and mouth, but it turns out that I have no trouble keeping my mouth shut while I sleep. As I mentioned, the DME told me it was ok if it leaked a little, and she must have heard the hissing sound it was making. I didn't know any better, and the leak made it very easy for me to breath. That's the long explanation of why I didn't have a pressure recommendation from the sleep study, and the doctor wrote the prescription to have it self adjust. BTW, I'll be seeing the doctor next week for another follow up.

[Lizistired]

I just quoted your post to bring it over to this page. Something I notice is that your clusters of events start after you fix the leak. That makes me wonder if the pressure changes and leaks are causing arousals and you are fighting the machine.
On my data I often take a few deep breaths before my breathing stops and the machine scores an apnea. I have videoed myself and that happens when I turn over, fix a leak or adjust the covers or hose. So I don't worry about those, but I am more aware of my breathing when I wake up now. If you zoom in on the flow graph, you will be able to see your breaths leading up to the apneas.
If you think of standing outside and getting hit in the face with a strong gust of wind, if you can't turn away, you will automatically compensate by closing your airway or just not breathing. This is how I think some of us respond to the pressure changes.
Your leaks aren't bad. Not as bad as they looked in that first summary graph! Something to keep in mind is that the pillows are inflated by the air pressure coming out of the inner portion pillow and back flowing into the outer shell of it. That's another reason I think your low minimum pressure and pressure changes might be causing you problems.

"APAP titrations" seem to be getting more common. I just don't understand why they start people out so low. I haven't read of anyone on here with a titrated pressure of less than 7 cmh2o, that works.
You have said that you don't want to change anything til you see your doc, so at least you will have some time to explore your data and will be able to discuss your questions and concers with him/her.

I haven't turned off EPR or made any changes since I got the machine besides turning up the temp. and turning off the Ramp.
They pressure was set to automatic.

Here is last night's detail:

[greg-g]

My observations only, and I'm just another user.
The machine is working fine without constraints, and personally I don't think changing the settings will alter your results.
Your starting pressure of 5 is just that, It's a starting pressure. Once the pressure increases above this pressure it no longer has any relevance. That said some people can have significant events before the pressure increases high enough to have an effect. In your case I don't see any events specifically occurring while the pressure is low, but most people on this forum I suspect correctly would like to see a starting pressure of say 7 or 8.
The maximum pressure setting of 12 has hardly been reached so again it is having no effect. Personally I'd like see the maximum pressure a bit higher just to have more headroom.
The snore index is excellent, likewise the Flow limitation.
The leakage is generally very good and well within the required tolerance value of 25, this shouldn't be causing a problem, but the lower the better.
Your events are definitely higher than desirable and I can't offer any further comments.
EPR is generally seen as a matter of personal preference, I prefer 2 myself, I've tried other values and it made no difference to my events but then everyone is different. Its certainly worth experimenting with.
Best of luck, I'd be interested to hear the outcome of your next doctors visit.