SleepyHead Graph Evaluation Needed

[Debijo]

Would ya'll look at this and see what I need to do next. I switch to the Swift FX with Bella loops last Saturday and still trying to get the pillow for my head right. I am going to try to get some medium pillows also, I only bought small, the small looks like it fits fine in the mirror, but it sure is easy to get leaks. Thanks so much for your help.

[Pugsy]

Couple of questions...the first half of the night...were you restless? Maybe awake several times fiddling with the mask or something?

How are you feeling in general?

Your leak number to avoid with your machine is around 80 L/min. Most of the time you were okay in that regards.

In general the first half of the night looks a bit "cluttered" sort of like maybe restless sleep with maybe some awakenings.
The second half of the night looks great...more consistent..no break in therapy line...looks like more consistent sleep.

Was there something specific you were wondering about with your charts? It's easier to explain things when I have a specific question.

With the second half of the night looking so good we know the settings seem to be doing a great job. I don't see anything that screams out "fix me" unless you are maybe having a lot of awakenings with the mask..and that takes time. It took me a full week to get the Loops tweaked just right. It's much more sensitive.

[Debijo]

I am tired. I miss the hose setup from the Tap Pap...Never knew the hose was there. Oh, and I did have a new nightguard in last night that I ended up taking out after not very long. With the new setup, I am fighting the hose and pillow. I lay awake thinking of how to fix it all

I want a graph that looks like caffeinatedcfo's!

I will keep practicing! Thanks

[Kenwood]

I want a graph that looks like caffeinatedcfo's!

You just made his day...

[Pugsy]

I want a graph that looks like caffeinatedcfo's!

I totally understand. Can't say as I blame you. He's sleeping great...you aren't. He found the miracle mask..you haven't.
You will...give it time.

Get your mask issues sorted out so you don't spend half the night fiddling and thinking....see what your reports look then.
If you are thinking of a change in pressure...the only thing I would think would be maybe 0.5 increase in minimum pressure. Clear up the clutter if it persists and you are pretty sure you are sleeping and can't blame it on being awake.

It's possible that the variations in pressure can be a disturbing factor to overall sleep quality for some people. Since you have a PR S1 machine..if you want to try cpap mode to see if maybe you are one of those people instead of switching to cpap mode I would suggest APAP mode with a very tight range (like 1 cm) or make your minimum to equal your maximum.
If you keep APAP mode you keep Flow limitation data. In CPAP mode you lose FLs because they simply aren't scored. Minor point but FLs are useful or they wouldn't be flagged.

[Kenwood]

I want a graph that looks like caffeinatedcfo's!

I totally understand. Can't say as I blame you. He's sleeping great...you aren't. He found the miracle mask..you haven't.
You will...give it time.

Get your mask issues sorted out so you don't spend half the night fiddling and thinking....see what your reports look then.

Same here (check out my struggles in my thread)....once Pugsy sent me two nasal pillow masks to try....my charts cleared up and I finally slept with no mask leaks. It was night and day difference from the FFM's.

[avi123]

I am not familiar with your machine but most of your events are in the upper airway (nose, mouth). So raising the expiration pressure even by setting this pressure close to the inspiration pressure could resolve these events and the hypopneas also. I would not be surprised if those pillows stuck in your nose are causing most of these problems, and the leaks too.

[Pugsy]

I am not familiar with your machine but most of your events are in the upper airway (nose, mouth). So raising the expiration pressure even by setting this pressure close to the inspiration pressure could resolve these events and the hypopneas also.

With the Respironics machine like this one there is no separate inspiration or expiration pressure like with the ResMed and EPR.

Flex exhale relief doesn't function like EPR does either.

This machine does have the minimum and maximum single pressure though and in this case a little increase in minimum might help but the ugly stuff during the first part of the night may be more artifacts from being awake and fiddling with the mask and thus no amount of pressure change will help. If the entire night looked like the second half of the night there isn't any real urgent need to change anything unless sleep was still poor quality and someone wants to eliminate variations in pressures as being a disturbing factor to see if sleep quality in general improves. Though a small increase in minimum pressure now sure wouldn't hurt anything and it might help...like with leaks...more stable pressure is easier to keep a good seal if the pressure variations are maybe adding to mask leak or fit issues.

[Debijo]

Ok, min set for 11, max 12 and fingers crossed. Thanks so much, will let you know tomorrow.

[Pugsy]

Good luck tonight.

[Debijo]

Last night was better. I used a different pillow, which I think helped, I don't remember fixing as many leaks.



Any other suggestions? Thanks so much!

[Debijo]

I think I am making progress? Do I keep it like this a few days or bump it up another .5? As always, thankyou for your opinion!

[Pugsy]

I would do one more 0.5 cm increase if it were me and then sit back and give it a few days. I think you are real close now.

[Debijo]

Thanks Brenda! I am so ready to wake up feeling good and wanting to accomplish something!

[Pugsy]

I am so ready to wake up feeling good and wanting to accomplish something!

Me too.
Sometimes I get the best reports in the world and feel like crap...sometimes the ugliest of reports and feel quite decent.
Never have been a morning person though. CPAP isn't ever going to turn me into something I never was in the first place.
I used to wish it would then someone slapped a 2 X 4 up against my head and made me realize that some miracles are just too big to expect.

Do you have any of the other signs or symptoms of sleep apnea that maybe will show marked improvement rather quickly so that you know that at least something is happening?
For me it was nocturia and the killer morning headaches that when they left...I knew something good was happening even though I didn't wake up ready to do the marathon thing. I still don't want to do the marathon thing.
I am good with not getting up to pee all night long and no longer waking with a massive, massive headache.
The other stuff is real gradual and sort of snuck up on me.
I realized how much when I went without my machine one night last summer after 3 years of not missing a night.
I got a rude awakening as to just how bad things could be.