Need help from Intellipap settings experts.

[Dormejo]

I have switched machines from F/P Icon to Intellipap for travelling and DC purposes.
My set pressure is 8. On the Icon - i had not problems adjusting and using it for the first time and for one week had very low AHI and good sleep.
with the Intellipap now into my second week and still find tweaking the settings is getting me frustrated.

After reading many of the excellent comments and posts by others using Intellipap I have tried endlessing to get it right - im just not getting it. Ssome nights I have sudden bursts of a high pressure, then other nights it doesent happen, really high AHI to compared with Icon, and then last night felt like i was forced to be inhaling very quickly, and machine seems really noisey when inhaling -although I sleept well I am not sure how to 'interpret' the data from Smart code only.
Not sure I feel as good during the day as on Icon.
Here is ny data so far - would love some feedback on getting the settings right!!!!!!!!!!!

90% 95% AHI Pressure Plateau High leakflow time NRI EPI
7D 10. 10.5 13.5 7 % 0% 1.5 4
1D 9 7.5 8.0 0 % 0% 0 10

thanks.

[49er]

I have switched machines from F/P Icon to Intellipap for travelling and DC purposes.
My set pressure is 8. On the Icon - i had not problems adjusting and using it for the first time and for one week had very low AHI and good sleep.
with the Intellipap now into my second week and still find tweaking the settings is getting me frustrated.

After reading many of the excellent comments and posts by others using Intellipap I have tried endlessing to get it right - im just not getting it. Ssome nights I have sudden bursts of a high pressure, then other nights it doesent happen, really high AHI to compared with Icon, and then last night felt like i was forced to be inhaling very quickly, and machine seems really noisey when inhaling -although I sleept well I am not sure how to 'interpret' the data from Smart code only.
Not sure I feel as good during the day as on Icon.
Here is ny data so far - would love some feedback on getting the settings right!!!!!!!!!!!

90% 95% AHI Pressure Plateau High leakflow time NRI EPI
7D 10. 10.5 13.5 7 % 0% 1.5 4
1D 9 7.5 8.0 0 % 0% 0 10

thanks.

Hi,

As one who has not had success with the Devilbiss and who is contemplating switching machines, I feel your pain. What is your current pressure range?

Do I assume correctly that since you use the Devilbiss for travel that you didn't obtain the data card module?

As an FYI, please don't be discouraged by my experience as many people on this board have had great experiences with the machine. But I wanted to let you know you weren't alone in your struggles.

49er

[tseefl]

Hi Dormejo
I also feel your pain!
Is yours the CPAP or Auto Adjust CPAP?
I read your thread and the same thing happened to me last night. It was fine, and after a real "blowy night" that woke me up several times I woke up and my AHI was 8.5 ( its 3.7 on my PR system one that's in for repairs now).
Well, back to my Intellipap.
I am usually 8 cm/h20 pressure, but last night I was 10: I am never that high!
This is my second Intellipap Auto Adujst, as my first one malfunctioned after 2 days of use: noisy on the inhale and all different blower forces. CPAP.com sent it back to Devilbiss, they"replaced the blower" and when I got it back, the blower went out, lights flashed and beeped and woke me and my husband up.
The inhale and exhale relief is tricky to adjust. I called Devilbiss to help me.
I plan on calling Devilbiss on Monday if this persists another night. They are very helpful when you call them.
And don't rule out that you may have a malfunctioning CPAP: ask the Devilbiss people if this is normal.

[Dormejo]

thanks 49ner
my presssure settings are 5 min and 11 max my prescribed setting is 8cm.

I wondering if i might even try the machine in CPAP mode to see if any different.....

thanks guys for your support - im glad im not imagining all this!!

[49er]

thanks 49ner
my presssure settings are 5 min and 11 max my prescribed setting is 8cm.

I wondering if i might even try the machine in CPAP mode to see if any different.....

thanks guys for your support - im glad im not imagining all this!!

Hi,

I have found in the past when I capped the maximum pressure, I got some strange results.

I am wondering if you might do better running your pressure from (pick a number) to 20. Initially, I was going to suggest that you try 9-20 since 10 seems to be your 7 day 95 percentile pressure. But if you have never started at that range, it might be too big of a jump to go that high.

Maybe do 6-20 to see what happens as a starter?

You could certainly try a straight cpap setting. It has never worked for me but everyone is different so you never know.

Good luck.

49er

[Hawthorne]

For me, the key to success was the "roundings" settings. I had tried several but finally set it at 4 for the iround and 4 for the eround.

My pressure settings are 11-13 cm (my titrated pressure last sleep study in 2008 was 11 cm) and I have Smartflex set at 1. With the roundings both at 4, this is a really good machine for me. The breathing pattern seems to match mine. My AHI is almost always 1 or below. Occassionally I may got to 1.5 but have had nothing higher since last November. I have had a number of 0.0 AHIs with this machine. My pressure is usually at 11 cm most of the night but I have gone up to 11.5 and,very rarely 12. I had almost identical AHI results with the PR System One Auto - same pressure range and A-Flex at 1.

I do have the software and use Sleepyhead right now. I do use the Smart Codes on the net but Sleepyhead is slightly more accurate it seems.

I find the Intellipap to be much quieter than the PR System One.

I don't use the humidifier that came with it. I find it much too hard to fill with my RA. I use a Fisher & Paykel 150 stand alone humidifer. Most of the year I use passive humidification (water but no heat). Only for the winter months do I use heat and then maybe 1.5 or 2.

[Dormejo]

Thanks for all the replies. I've started making notes of my settings to be sure I not what I'm doing to tweak it.

One other question from the group - ?..... Why does the sleepcube data differ from the smart code data via the Internet.

I had a reading of 2.o AHI on the machine yet when I checked the Smartcode data It was 13.0 LOL

[Hawthorne]

I never look at the AHI on the machine, just on the internet and Sleepyhead so can't answer that. I should start comparing that.

[49er]

Hi Hawthorne,

I tried similar type settings last night. The difference is I used a pressure range of 11-20 but kept the same smart flex settings as you used.

Unfortunately, in the limited time I used the machine, I had an AHI of 8 including one 26 second hypopnea which was part of a cluster. I suspect what occurred which has happened before is my breathing gets stuck when I am exhaling if that makes any sense. It seems to happen no matter which smart flex settings I use.

Because this cluster, my pressure shot up to 14 which then resulted in leak city which then woke me up. Unfortunately, I took off the mask without remembering doing so.

Can anyone relate?

49er

For me, the key to success was the "roundings" settings. I had tried several but finally set it at 4 for the iround and 4 for the eround.

My pressure settings are 11-13 cm (my titrated pressure last sleep study in 2008 was 11 cm) and I have Smartflex set at 1. With the roundings both at 4, this is a really good machine for me. The breathing pattern seems to match mine. My AHI is almost always 1 or below. Occassionally I may got to 1.5 but have had nothing higher since last November. I have had a number of 0.0 AHIs with this machine. My pressure is usually at 11 cm most of the night but I have gone up to 11.5 and,very rarely 12. I had almost identical AHI results with the PR System One Auto - same pressure range and A-Flex at 1.

I do have the software and use Sleepyhead right now. I do use the Smart Codes on the net but Sleepyhead is slightly more accurate it seems.

I find the Intellipap to be much quieter than the PR System One.

I don't use the humidifier that came with it. I find it much too hard to fill with my RA. I use a Fisher & Paykel 150 stand alone humidifer. Most of the year I use passive humidification (water but no heat). Only for the winter months do I use heat and then maybe 1.5 or 2.

[Hawthorne]

My settings will not necessarily work for everyone so I was just sharing what works for me. I found that it took a week or so, at my current settings, for everything to settle and begin to work well.

Changing settings for just one night will not give enough time for the body to adjust. Also, one change at a time and trying it for a week will be more helpful that changing a number of things all at once.

[49er]

My settings will not necessarily work for everyone so I was just sharing what works for me. I found that it took a week or so, at my current settings, for everything to settle and begin to work well.

Changing settings for just one night will not give enough time for the body to adjust. Also, one change at a time and trying it for a week will be more helpful that changing a number of things all at once.

Sorry Hawthorne, I wasn't clear in my previous post. I didn't mean to come across that I was blaming you for my situation. I definitely understand that when people share experiences, it is a case of "your mileage will vary.

The way I look at it, as frustrating as it is to not have a good experience, it is one more piece of information for me to consider as part of the overall picture.

Anyway, I still am curious if anyone can relate to what I am talking about regarding feeling like my breathing is stuck during a transition stage.

Thanks!

49er

[Hawthorne]

I think what you are descrbing is what I felt when I ws using the PR System One. I didn't seem to be getting finished with my inhale when the machine was starting the exhale and vice versa. I was always trying to synchronize. That's why I found such a difference when I got the Intellipap and got the rounding set for me. I can just breathe and it is comfortable.

It does take time to find that right setup.

Sorry you are having trouble getting everything just right. It is frustating I know. Hope you can get comfortable soon You'll get it going soon because you are working at it

[Slartybartfast]

What you are describing is what happens if you leave the I-rounding and E-rounding (I= inspiration, E= Expiration). As set from the factory, the defaults have a rather mechanical feeling. Some folks refer to it as feeling like Darth Vader. You'll definitely feel a "klunk" every time you transition from inhale to exhale, and versa vice. To diminish that annoyance, set the I-rounding and E-rounding to some level other than 1. I set mine at the maximum, which I think was 5, and never looked back. WIth it set that way, I can't tell the difference between the Intellipap and my Resmed S9 Autoset. There are other settings you can alter that can really mess you up, such as the definitions for hypopnea, etc. If you get it set wrong, you can always set it to automatically return to the factory default settings. Then try again.

I think if you try what I mentioned above, I think you'll like the difference.

I'd also advise against having the low pressure setting as low as 5. If your titrated pressure is 8, try it at least at 6. Better yet, set it for 8, which is a pretty low pressure by CPAP standards (average titrated pressure is around 11 according to a poll). And since you've been having problems, consider just setting it for CPAP mode 8 cm and run that way for a few nights after you've made the I-rounding and E-rounding adjustments and get used to breathing with the machine. Then, set the minimum pressure 2 cm below your titrated pressure and leave the maximum at some higher number, perhaps 10. Presuming your titrated pressure was arrived at correctly, unless you are doing something funny in your sleep, your pressure shouldn't rise much above 8 while the machine is chasing events.

My titrated pressure is 11 cm. I set my machine at 8.6 cm minimum and leave the maximum pressure at 20, the machine's maximum. Pressure has never risen above 12 cm that way, and after 2 years, I don't even know I'm wearing it.

Let us know how you are doing.

Sleep well.

[Dormejo]

Thanks Slartybartfast, i have read some of your other posts and find them very helpful, especially as you have had what appears to be enough experiences with the Intellipap machine.
I havent check my data yet today, rushed out the door too early to disturb slumbering household.

I like this machine - if i can get the settings right !! as I need access to 12volt DC regularly fw or our holidays etc.

I will leave my settings on what had last night, as I had a good night sleep and then tweak when data is avail.

I still have a whirring sound on inhale -- i will check with my specialist as this sound does bother my husband. I have stablized it on a piece of thick cardboard and a wool blanket hoping that might drown out some vibration or noise, it is definately a machine/motor noise from inhalation......anywaay i think i can live with it.....................I can put up with some sml noise rather than falling asleep during the day and feeling like *&%$#@&*(&^%@ all the time!!

[Slartybartfast]

We're here to help.

Re: the noise problem, you've got just about the quietest machine there is. 1 db from being the quietest, anyway, and that's about imperceptible. To help the noise problem, consider setting the machine on a padded placemat, or terrycloth towel, and if you can get it so it's not line-of-sight to your ears, that will help a lot. I have a little wicker footstool about 14" high that I place next to the bed with the Intellipap on top of it. My wife, who is such a light sleeper she can hear the cat fart in the next room, says she can't hear it at all now. Nor can she hear my breathing. Said she has to listen to tell I haven't 'farked out on her during the night.

The hose and mask can generate quite a bit of noise, too. I have three masks and I've found the Aloha is the quietest. So I've begun using it more.

Re: the settings, if you're talking about the i-rounding and e-rounding, tweak with abandon! The i-rounding and e-rounding won't affect your data. They're for comfort only. But I'll say that I had an uncomfortable first night with the machine until I set both of those to 5.

The Intellipap is a great machine. It's more customizable than any other auto-PAP that I know of. It's half the cost of the S9 Autoset, and while the data capability isn't on a par with what you can view using ResScan, unless you're a geek like me, and like to know exactly what's going on, you can get all the RELEVANT and NECESSARY data simply by punching in the Smart Codes on the website. That said, after 2 years I don't bother collecting data until a week or so before my next semi-annual sleep doc appointment.

Enjoy the machine. I think you won't regret your decision to go with it.

Sleep well.