Results are tanking

[TowneSA]

[img][IMG]http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag4 ... dc8dba.jpg[/img][/img]

[TowneSA]

Things started off so well and now I have had reports like this for several nights in a row.

[Nick Danger]

Things are great most of the night. There are 3 or 4 major clusters - any idea what is going on then? Sleeping on your back? Maybe REM sleep?

Have you tried turning on auto mode just to see what the machine wants to do during those times? Maybe setting it to 11 - 14?

[TowneSA]

Things are great most of the night. There are 3 or 4 major clusters - any idea what is going on then? Sleeping on your back? Maybe REM sleep?

Have you tried turning on auto mode just to see what the machine wants to do during those times? Maybe setting it to 11 - 14?

Have not tried any of that. And really don't know what is causing the clusters. By "Auto Mode" what do you mean?

[Nick Danger]

Your signature and the Sleepyhead software show that you have an autoset machine. Sleepyhead says it is currently running in CPAP mode with a pressure of 12cm. It is possible to run that machine in autoset mode and set the minimum pressure to just a little bit below 12 cm (say, 11?) and the maximum pressure a bit above. Then the machine will adjust itself within those parameters to try to eliminate the events. To change the machine to autoset mode, you'll need the clinician's manual. Somebody on here will probably PM you with it - if not you can get it from the "other" apnea board.

BTW, I wasn't suggesting you were trying to sleep on your back. I was looking for possible causes of the clusters. If it is because you roll over onto your back, there are ways to train yourself not to. If it is because you need higher pressure during REM sleep, then you're going to have to increase the pressure (which can also solve the sleeping on your back clusters, if that is what they are). Your machine should be smart enough to figure out what you need if you set it to auto. If you don't like the pressures going up and down during the night, once you find the max pressure needed to eliminate the events, you can set it back to straight CPAP mode with the max pressure from the nights on auto.

[TowneSA]

Your signature and the Sleepyhead software show that you have an autoset machine. Sleepyhead says it is currently running in CPAP mode with a pressure of 12cm. It is possible to run that machine in autoset mode and set the minimum pressure to just a little bit below 12 cm (say, 11?) and the maximum pressure a bit above. Then the machine will adjust itself within those parameters to try to eliminate the events. To change the machine to autoset mode, you'll need the clinician's manual. Somebody on here will probably PM you with it - if not you can get it from the "other" apnea board.

Thanks, I will look at doing that.

[palerider]

Things started off so well and now I have had reports like this for several nights in a row.

you need more pressure to deal with those clusters of obstructives.

either bump the set pressure to 13, or, as nick suggests, let the auto functions of the machine earn it's keep.

do you know where to get the clinicians manual for your machine?

(http://apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-press ... tup-manual) or pm me, I've got a copy I can shoot you.

[TowneSA]

Things started off so well and now I have had reports like this for several nights in a row.

you need more pressure to deal with those clusters of obstructives.

either bump the set pressure to 13, or, as nick suggests, let the auto functions of the machine earn it's keep.

do you know where to get the clinicians manual for your machine?

(http://apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-press ... tup-manual) or pm me, I've got a copy I can shoot you.

Thanks, I found the guide. I do have a question though: Why would they set a machine at a constant pressure if a variable pressure would work better in most cases?

[englandsf]

It's never safe to expect a DME to do the best thing for you!-)

[Nick Danger]

Some people find that the pressure changing during the night wakes them. Just be happy they gave you a machine that will help you solve the problem!! A really good DME or sleep doctor would also be able to figure it out - but it's difficult to count on having a really good one.

[palerider]

Thanks, I found the guide. I do have a question though: Why would they set a machine at a constant pressure if a variable pressure would work better in most cases?

as nick pointed out, some poeple do better with a set pressure, wulfman here on the forum is a big proponent of set pressures... for some people, it's the best way. other people find that they do better with the auto setting, if it doesn't disturb their sleep.

Pugsy, for one, needs really high pressures for part of the night, and much lower for the rest (probably REM related) if she went with a single pressure, she'd be at 18cm, instead of 9 most of the night, iirc.

like most things in the whole sleep apnea world, it's very individualistic.

I guess the real answer is that it's best to start off simple and see work else is needed, and go from there, as opposed to throwing the whole kitchen sink at everybody

[TowneSA]

I do agree that you cannot count on your DME provider doing the best thing for your care and also agree that a good sleep doctor would be nice to have. In my case I have my GP that referred me for the study and have to date never seen the actual sleep doctor. I had to argue to get the original testing results and have learned more on these boards than I think I ever will any other way.

I appreciated all the help you offer.

[palerider]

... have learned more on these boards than I think I ever will any other way.
I appreciated all the help you offer.

it's a sad fact that a bunch of like suffering strangers care more about you than most doctors you're paying tons of money to... (and often offer better help)

[Denial Dave]

Any chance that the recent series of bad results are being caused by a seasonal cold trying to make inroads on your overall health?

I see changes in my results when my body is fighting off early symptoms of a cold. When the cold finally hits me, I can see the changes building in my sleepyhead data.

Types of food can also have an effect on 1-3 nights of my sleep.

just saying

[TowneSA]

Any chance that the recent series of bad results are being caused by a seasonal cold trying to make inroads on your overall health?

I see changes in my results when my body is fighting off early symptoms of a cold. When the cold finally hits me, I can see the changes building in my sleepyhead data.

Types of food can also have an effect on 1-3 nights of my sleep.

just saying

Thanks for the input. I don't think I am coming down with a cold but you never know. As far as foods go I have not really changed my eating habits. You make a good point on the cold symptoms though, some coughs or clearing of the throat could certainly stir up the data.