AHI Worse but usage better...help

Daddymac · Post by **Daddymac** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 7:21 am

Hi, a newbie here, two questions.

1. I have been using the Devilbiss APAP with humidifier, for the last two months. I have tried three masks like the Phillips Softgel FFM and the Resmed Hybrid and i struggled to keep them on through the night or for more than 2-3 hours before taking them off. Also with the Hybrid my AHI readings were 5 but the pressure some nights was up around 13. I have the machine pressure factory set to Min 3 and Max 15. I have finally found a mask that i can wear through the night which is the Resmed Quattro FX and i am wearing this for a full 6-7 hours, pressure readings are down to 7-8 range but i cant seem to get my AHI down to below 6. I am feeling better than ever, not tired during the day and so the question is, should i continue to try and get my AHI down to below 5 by tinkering maybe with another mask or should i be happy that i have a mask that i am comfortable with and am keeping on. Bit confused.

Second question is, i am based in the Middle east and i have to pay for everything myself, no insurance/health service to cover the costs (even though they DO pay for the Sleep Study???). How genuinely useful is the smartlink software and what will it add to the Intellipap Internet codes i use everyday to get my pressure and AHI readings. If my AHI is ok/not terrible and i am feeling good, what can this additional data offer me thats worth the USD150 for the software etc OR....... is this the answer to question 1????

thanks
Newbie....

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 7:55 am

Hi - have the same machine and love it - also only use the codes. What do your leak stats and other data look like? One thing is important - having your low pressure at the default setting of 3 makes it very difficult for the machine to 'catch up' with events at higher pressures and I think you'd be much better off to set it higher (especially as it's impossible to breathe at 3 anyhow!), to somewhere just below whatever your 90-95% pressure's are - e.g... for 90-95% of the time I seem to use about 9 cm, so have set my range at 8 to 13 and occasionally will go to 10.5, but rarely any higher. Can you try raising the '3' for a few nights and see what happens?

Sheriff Buford · Post by **Sheriff Buford** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 8:16 am

Daddymac wrote:Hi, a newbie here, two questions.

1. I have been using the Devilbiss APAP with humidifier, for the last two months. I have tried three masks like the Phillips Softgel FFM and the Resmed Hybrid and i struggled to keep them on through the night or for more than 2-3 hours before taking them off. Also with the Hybrid my AHI readings were 5 but the pressure some nights was up around 13. I have the machine pressure factory set to Min 3 and Max 15. I have finally found a mask that i can wear through the night which is the Resmed Quattro FX and i am wearing this for a full 6-7 hours, pressure readings are down to 7-8 range but i cant seem to get my AHI down to below 6. I am feeling better than ever, not tired during the day and so the question is, should i continue to try and get my AHI down to below 5 by tinkering maybe with another mask or should i be happy that i have a mask that i am comfortable with and am keeping on. Bit confused.

Like Julie stated, you have to know what your leak rates are with the mask you like. If they are within reason, keep the mask. Once to get VERY used to wearing a mask, cpap therapy, and the ability to fall asleep right after putting the mask on, then you can tinker. I've been doing (tinkering) that with full face masks.

Second question is, i am based in the Middle east and i have to pay for everything myself, no insurance/health service to cover the costs (even though they DO pay for the Sleep Study???). How genuinely useful is the smartlink software and what will it add to the Intellipap Internet codes i use everyday to get my pressure and AHI readings. If my AHI is ok/not terrible and i am feeling good, what can this additional data offer me thats worth the USD150 for the software etc OR....... is this the answer to question 1????

You can get by knowing your ahi, leak rates, your percentile and the number of centrals you have. I very seldom use the software.

thanks
Newbie....

Sheriff

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:18 am

Daddymac wrote:Hi, a newbie here, two questions.

. I have the machine pressure factory set to Min 3 and Max 15. I have finally found a mask that i can wear through the night which is the Resmed Quattro FX and i am wearing this for a full 6-7 hours, pressure readings are down to 7-8 range but i cant seem to get my AHI down to below 6. I am feeling better than ever, not tired during the day and so the question is, should i continue to try and get my AHI down to below 5 by tinkering maybe with another mask or should i be happy that i have a mask that i am comfortable with and am keeping on. Bit confused..

Be happy with this result - live with it for a few months. The first few months are all about getting adjust, your brain learning to trust that this thing on your face is good and will not kill you while you sleep.
I would adjust your pressure up to starting near 6. Then it doesn't have to work to get to the pressure it needs. Do this 1/2 a cm at the time, sleep with it for a few days, then adjust if needed again, repeat as needed.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:42 am

Black Spinner isn't wrong to be so cautious, but really at that # (3) I seriously doubt you'll do any damage by jumping to 5-6 at one go... the difference is too minimal (and so commonly scripted for beginners anyhow) to matter, plus you're not getting treated for the time you wait out all those tiny increments.

Daddymac · Post by **Daddymac** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 2:13 am

thanks everyone, according to my readouts, i have 0% High flow leak rate and 0% Pressure Plateau time on all readings (1,7 and 30 day) can this be right?

I will adjust the min pressure setting tonight to 4 and see how that works.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 6:41 am

As long as you realize 4 is the actual low default setting for most machines... IP is the exception at 3. I think you're wasting your time and health being this careful.

AHI Worse but usage better...help

AHI Worse but usage better...help

Re: AHI Worse but usage better...help

Re: AHI Worse but usage better...help

Re: AHI Worse but usage better...help

Re: AHI Worse but usage better...help

Re: AHI Worse but usage better...help

Re: AHI Worse but usage better...help