Vibratory Snores? Do they matter?

Hi,

I use a Remstar Auto Tank, and have low AHI's (around 1.6). But my Vibratory Snore numbers are much higher, average 5.7 or so. I am using a Swift FX mask. Does VS matter? Is there something I should be doing differently. I don't use a chinstrap or tape most nites, and do have some dry mouth issues. Tips? Suggestions? Thanks.

remstarcpap wrote:Hi,

I use a Remstar Auto Tank, and have low AHI's (around 1.6). But my Vibratory Snore numbers are much higher, average 5.7 or so. I am using a Swift FX mask. Does VS matter? Is there something I should be doing differently. I don't use a chinstrap or tape most nites, and do have some dry mouth issues. Tips? Suggestions? Thanks.

First of all, the M Series Auto w/A-Flex in your profile is not the "tank".
Machine: M Series Auto CPAP with A-Flex

The Legacy model like the one in my profile has been the one that has been referred to on the forum as the "tank".

Second point.......you didn't mention what pressure (or range of pressures) you were using.

Third point.......that snore index number is not that high.

A little more pressure (or raising your minimum pressure) should bring it down......along with doing nasal cleansing before bedtime. If you're using a higher setting on your humidifier, try turning it down or off. Too much humidity can exacerbate nasal congestion which could be interpreted as snoring by the machine......along with stuffy nasal passages in general.
Nasal congestion is also a contributor to mouth-leaking/breathing, which is a contributor to snoring AND a loss of therapy air which compromises the effectiveness of your therapy. Mouth-leaking can also compromise the results of the data being reported by your machine. If the previously mentioned things don't help, get a full face mask or tape your mouth shut.


Den

I had high vibratory snore numbers with AHI <1.0 when I used the Quattro FFM. Some of them were leak related, but most not. When I switched masks (to the FX) they almost completely disappeared. Maybe high VS data is a signal that we haven't yet found the right mask.

Wulfman wrote:

remstarcpap wrote:Hi,

I use a Remstar Auto Tank, and have low AHI's (around 1.6). But my Vibratory Snore numbers are much higher, average 5.7 or so. I am using a Swift FX mask. Does VS matter? Is there something I should be doing differently. I don't use a chinstrap or tape most nites, and do have some dry mouth issues. Tips? Suggestions? Thanks.

First of all, the M Series Auto w/A-Flex in your profile is not the "tank".
Machine: M Series Auto CPAP with A-Flex

The Legacy model like the one in my profile has been the one that has been referred to on the forum as the "tank".

Second point.......you didn't mention what pressure (or range of pressures) you were using.

Third point.......that snore index number is not that high.

A little more pressure (or raising your minimum pressure) should bring it down......along with doing nasal cleansing before bedtime. If you're using a higher setting on your humidifier, try turning it down or off. Too much humidity can exacerbate nasal congestion which could be interpreted as snoring by the machine......along with stuffy nasal passages in general.
Nasal congestion is also a contributor to mouth-leaking/breathing, which is a contributor to snoring AND a loss of therapy air which compromises the effectiveness of your therapy. Mouth-leaking can also compromise the results of the data being reported by your machine. If the previously mentioned things don't help, get a full face mask or tape your mouth shut.


Den

I actually am currently using the Tank model APAP primarily as I found it considerably quieter than my M Series. I use a fixed pressure of 9cm. Most of the time I have water in the humidifier but don't turn it on. (Except winter when it is dryer.) I don't do nasal cleansing, do you mean using a Neti pot?

But my question still remains, does it matter if my VS numbers are 5-6 anyway?

remstarcpap wrote:

Wulfman wrote:

remstarcpap wrote:Hi,

I use a Remstar Auto Tank, and have low AHI's (around 1.6). But my Vibratory Snore numbers are much higher, average 5.7 or so. I am using a Swift FX mask. Does VS matter? Is there something I should be doing differently. I don't use a chinstrap or tape most nites, and do have some dry mouth issues. Tips? Suggestions? Thanks.

First of all, the M Series Auto w/A-Flex in your profile is not the "tank".
Machine: M Series Auto CPAP with A-Flex

The Legacy model like the one in my profile has been the one that has been referred to on the forum as the "tank".

Second point.......you didn't mention what pressure (or range of pressures) you were using.

Third point.......that snore index number is not that high.

A little more pressure (or raising your minimum pressure) should bring it down......along with doing nasal cleansing before bedtime. If you're using a higher setting on your humidifier, try turning it down or off. Too much humidity can exacerbate nasal congestion which could be interpreted as snoring by the machine......along with stuffy nasal passages in general.
Nasal congestion is also a contributor to mouth-leaking/breathing, which is a contributor to snoring AND a loss of therapy air which compromises the effectiveness of your therapy. Mouth-leaking can also compromise the results of the data being reported by your machine. If the previously mentioned things don't help, get a full face mask or tape your mouth shut.


Den

I actually am currently using the Tank model APAP primarily as I found it considerably quieter than my M Series. I use a fixed pressure of 9cm. Most of the time I have water in the humidifier but don't turn it on. (Except winter when it is dryer.) I don't do nasal cleansing, do you mean using a Neti pot?

But my question still remains, does it matter if my VS numbers are 5-6 anyway?

OK. Now I understand.

As far as nasal cleansing......whatever works......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_irrigation

That level of snoring wouldn't bother me if my other data was good. Lots of snoring is just "sound effects". Actually, my snoring indexes during my first year of therapy was REALLY high (your numbers are nothing like mine were)......but, then I started experimenting with nasal cleansing and pressure increases and they virtually disappeared.


Den

It may not be true for everyone, but when I used several "tank" Respironics autopaps, they always scored quite a few "Vibratory Snores" for me. At that time, for some nights I would switch to my Puritan Bennett 420E autopap set for the same pressure range. The 420E also had detailed data, including what they called "acoustical vibrations." Snores rarely showed up on my 420E's results.

The later Respironics M series machines that I used usually never scored one at all, or at most a random scattering of 3 or 4 VS events. I just assumed Respironics made the M series machines less touchy than the older tank models about sensing vibrations that might have nothing to do with a real snore anyway. The designers probably continued with that diminished VS touchiness in the even newer PR1 machines, too.

remstarcpap wrote:Hi,

I use a Remstar Auto Tank, and have low AHI's (around 1.6). But my Vibratory Snore numbers are much higher, average 5.7 or so. I am using a Swift FX mask. Does VS matter? Is there something I should be doing differently. I don't use a chinstrap or tape most nites, and do have some dry mouth issues. Tips? Suggestions? Thanks.

I can't help you but I'll trade you VS scores! My average for this month so far is 35.6 - with some days going over 100. I set up my webcam and recorded myself sleeping one night and heard no snores, so either they are very quiet snores, or the machine is counting something else. In my sleep study they said I snored 100% of the time. I do use a full-face mask (Hybrid) right now, but I'm going to try a nasal mask at the doctor's suggestion. My AHI averages around 1.5.

thanks all for helpful responses. I'll compare to my M series Autopap, and see if that's lower in VS. And mostly I won't worry about it.

My Encore software says that my Vibratory Snore average is over 500. It varies from 350 to 650 but it is UP there every night. All other numbers are fine, AHI is less than 1.0 usually. No large leaks, System leaks are 35-45. Pressures are 9/9. I have used mouth tape (2 strips vertically) for a lower system leak.
This high number is consistent over the 6 weeks I have had the software. I do not think I still snore, but I don't really know. I will have to get a little recorder. I have read the previous posts with several good ideas for me to try. How could this number be so high? It’s like I am playing a kazoo. Any ideas?