Help understanding sleepyhead report

[jannicatt]

This is my first. For months I have attempted to tweak my machine settings according to what I read on other people's posts and answers. Now I think I have figured out how to upload my own...not sure if it is right. Anyway, could someone scan my charts and suggest improvement in my settings? It doesn't show on the chart, but I have been getting 75 or more pressure pulses a night. Is this important?

I am using Risponics System One 750P, RemStar BiPap auto with Bi Flex. Bi level mode, Epap 9.0 I pap 16.0 and PS 7.

Thanks so much; I appreciate any help you can give me.http://s124.photobucket.com/user/momdjk ... 9.jpg.html

[robysue]

It looks like you've posted data from several different nights.

On this night:

the leaks are a bit problematic. Some of the tops of the hills in the total leak graph are above 70 L/min, with the approximate excessive leaks at above 30 L/min. If leaks are bothering you, then you definitely need to work on them. But note the leak data from the other data that you posted shows leaks pretty nicely controlled.

The AHI data is pretty good: On all the days you posted the AHI is less than 3.

On this night:

there is obvious sleep fragmentation.

So the main thing that I see is some possible issues with sleep fragmentation and (perhaps) a bit of work on controlling leaks if that first night is typical of what your leak lines look like.

So: How would you describe how you are sleeping? Does it take too long to get to sleep? Do you think you are waking up too much? And if so, is the problem discomfort or just fiddling with the mask?

[jannicatt]

Thanks for your response. Sorry about posting more than one night...I had trouble figuring out how to do it and kept downloading and not knowing how to post it! Anyway, yes, I do wake up lots of times during the night but maybe the leaks are waking me. I have trouble getting back to sleep but keep trying. I will work on the leaks tonight. Is the large number of pressure pulses problematic? Should I ignore them or is there a way to correct that?

[library lady]

Have you tried mask liners for the leaks? They were a game changer for me... Karen at padacheeks makes nice reusable ones, and then there are RemZzzzs disposables, available at DMEs and from the hosts of this forum, cpap.com.

[jannicatt]

Thanks for the suggestion; we just received the order from pad-a-cheek and will try them. From what I have read, they really help.

[Pugsy]

The pressure pulses are just little puffs of air that the machine uses to help it decide if what it is sensing is related to the airway tissues collapsing and blocking the airway or if the reduction in airflow is related to open airway cessation of breathing (clear airway-central). Pressure pulses may or may not be seen with flagged events. I used to see some pressure pulse flags and no event at all but when I went to look closer it looked like the reduction in airflow ended at 9 seconds...and remember that all the apnea events have to last 10 seconds to meet criteria.

So essentially...nothing you can do to prevent them or change them and there really isn't any need to worry about them.

[jannicatt]

Thanks! Now I won't worry about them anymore!