More tired using BIPAP

Sleepyv wrote:My IPap 10, Epap 6, my AHI was 3.73

Give the new settings a few days and then post another screenshot. Are you falling to sleep but having problems waking before you have enough sleep? Do you take naps during the day and if so are you using your machine? Sometimes your mind has to be convinced that you are going to do this.
CPAP only treats Sleep Apnea and there may be other causes of your tiredness. Have you exhausted other possibilities for your tiredness? Do you follow the best sleep hygiene practices (you can google this)? Have you eliminated caffeine? Do you exercise daily? Have you taken a hard look at all prescription and OTC medications some interfere with sleep? Have you had a complete and thorough physical examination and blood tests which eliminate conditions known to contribute to poor sleep and fatigue?

I have had physical about a week before I started Bipap all text were good. I have been slacking on the exercise because I'm so tired. I will start again.

I have always been a light sleeper and am wondering if this could be the problem. I am determined but I get discouraged when I sleep 8 hours and feel like I haven't slept at all. I do wake up but only after 6 to 7 hours and try to go back to sleep but can't. I noticed my Apnea got a little worse last night with the lowering of the pressure, is this number ok? I didn't go up much.

Would mouth breathing show up on Sleepyhead. I wonder if I'm doing that. Also I noticed a lot of the people on the website use the same mask as you do. Im wondering if I should try it?

And no I don't take naps.

Sleepyv wrote: I noticed my Apnea got a little worse last night with the lowering of the pressure, is this number ok? I didn't go up much.
Would mouth breathing show up on Sleepyhead. I wonder if I'm doing that. Also I noticed a lot of the people on the website use the same mask as you do. Im wondering if I should try it?

Yes your AHI was a little higher but I would give it a chance for a few days. We all sleep differently day to day. On the screenshot you posted previously shows no large leak on the left side. You didn't include the leak graph so I can't tell if you had some short little leaks. If you did they weren't enough to effect your therapy. The P10 is a very popular mask but if you are comfortable with the one you have it seems to be working so no need to change unless you just want to try another mask.

Thank you, for all your help

I'm still going to stick by my original recommendation. The CA being experienced here is mainly a product of the pressure support of 4.0. If we can get you to access the settings and change to Auto BiPAP mode, then you can set EPAP to 6.0, PS min 2.0, PS max 4.0, IPAP max 12.0 This is all within your bipap prescription but will surely reduce the CA and should be a bit less stimulating than the constant pressure support of 4 you're getting now.

An update of the data would not hurt. To access the clinical menu, just turn the dial to setup, press the control knob and ramp button until the machine beeps, then turn back to setup. You will be in the clinical mode. You will see the BiPAP S mode is on, and you're looking for BiPAP auto. Only in that mode will PS min and PS max become visible.

I agree with you Sleeprider. I think that's what I need to do. I really wish the Dr would have understood that I'm just trying to comply with this. I do sleep comfortably with it just feel really bad during day. Even my blood pressure is up because not getting restorative sleep. Will try to work on it myself. Don't want to give up now.
Thank you for the help!

I don't see the Bipap mode, only Bi-flex in setup.

Sleepyv wrote:I don't see the Bipap mode, only Bi-flex in setup.

do you have the clinical manual?

Don't have the clinical manual but I'm going to try and get it.

Sleepyv wrote:I agree with you Sleeprider. I think that's what I need to do. I really wish the Dr would have understood that I'm just trying to comply with this. I do sleep comfortably with it just feel really bad during day. Even my blood pressure is up because not getting restorative sleep. Will try to work on it myself. Don't want to give up now.
Thank you for the help!

I'm sorry you are having these problems; setting your machine up, your Dr. not being very helpful, and feeling tired. But this the norm for most of us. If you are waiting for your Dr to fix your problems, most likely they will not be fixed.

You need to learn how to operate your machine, then let these board members help you with the settings. Sleeprider thinks your CA's are caused by too much PS. There is a very good chance that it is. When I started my Bi-Level' my CA's were crazy high with a PS of 4. Now the CA's are gone with a much lower PS. You have several board members that know their stuff giving you good advice and trying to help. You are one of the lucky ones....there are many out there lost with no help

Sleepyv wrote:Don't have the clinical manual but I'm going to try and get it.

there's a link up at the top of the apneaboard.com page that takes you to a page where you can get the manual via email. works quite well.

In this thread on the 24th we had the discussion on the Clinical Manual and I gave you the link to it. Just go back and click on that link then download it.

Sleepyv wrote:Don't have the clinical manual but I'm going to try and get it.

You're not seeing the settings because you're not in clinical mode. Follow these easy directions: http://www.apneaboard.com/pr-system-one ... structions

That will make the mode and settings visible. Be sure to record existing settings on paper so you can go back.

Ok Sleeprider I can see that I can change the mode to AutoB, is that what Im supposed to do? It is on Biflex 3 now.

Now that I have gotten into the clinical mode of my Bipap I am starting to understand all the different settings and numbers. Thanks to Sleepyrider, I will set the levels to what was suggested in his previous post. Thanks everyone for the awesome help. I really appreciate it. I will be posting results after trying it for a few nights. Wish me luck.