itschoice wrote:
Anything else significant that you noticed? When I had the loaner, the last 2 days I noticed I was able to get more done in the day and that was great.
Mask: Wisp x-large and m/l I changed to the smaller size because the large one kept blowing air into my eyes. I also have a full face mask(nose and mouth) that I could use but it leaks so much air and slides up my nose so I went back to the Wisp.
Hi Tina, and welcome! I am quite new here myself and have been on CPAP almost 3 weeks. May I first suggest you add your machine make and model, specific mask and perhaps your prescribed pressure range (can do this in the equipment tab in the user control panel, which is top left under the search field.) This information will allow other users to better assist you. Take a look at the bottom of some other peoples' posts for examples.
Next, writing more about the loaner you mentioned and what was different about your therapy/equipment, etc. during the last 2 days you mention might be useful.
Mask: I used the Wisp during the first two weeks of therapy and I have the same machine as you. They only gave me the option of Large and X-Large cushion so I ended up using the Large. It did not feel like I needed a smaller one because the lower ridge of the cushion 'triangle' that sets over the nose was just under the nostril openings - any smaller and that lower ridge would have been higher up and partially blocked the airflow into the nose. I kept using the Large and didn't try the X-Large because I too would experience some air blowing into the eyes if I didn't have the straps tight enough. I kept it as loose as possible over the nose while still maintaining a seal. I experienced middle nose soreness and irritation despite how lose fitting the mask was. It's odd, because while I found it quite comfortable, it continued to leave marks. One thing that is recommended by many here is a product called Lansinoh (I saw a generic version as well). It is found in the baby section of stores and composed of only lanolin, which will not damage the mask cushion material. Based on what I've read on the forum, it has been used while the mask is in use, but also afterwards to help with irritation or soreness.
Regarding your data and my comments: I am by no means an expert on interpretation of Sleepyhead data and have only been using it to track my own progress and trends over the past two and a half weeks. There are many here who are very knowledgeable and skilled at interpreting and making suggestions based on the data and they will likely be along to assist you shortly. So, please take what I say here with an
enormous grain of salt.
VS and FL: Your Sleepyhead screenshots seemed similar to some of my data. For example, you have several "VS" (vibratory snore) events flagged that are followed by the machine increasing pressure. On my charts, I also had a lot of VS events that were followed by sustained increases in pressure. Often, "FL" (flow limitation) events were clustered near the VS events, which I also noticed on your screenshots. The VS and FL events and associated sustained pressure increases led me to begin making adjustments to my minimum pressure so that I could try to increase proper flow and decrease snores and FLs. My minimum therapy pressure is 8 and the max is 15. Upping it to 9 produced no change. Upping it to 10 stopped
all of the VS events and significantly reduced the FL events. As such, the machine was
not increasing pressure to deal with them. Obviously, it is not recommended to make any changes to your Rx pressures without consulting your prescribing doctor first. I found the VS and FL to be disruptive, so I changed the settings trying to optimize my therapy - it worked for me.
Minimum pressure: Some have mentioned that one's minimum pressure in APAP mode should be around 2 to 3cmH2O lower than what the 95% value tends to be (if I remember correctly.) So if someone's 95% pressure is routinely around 14, for example, and their minimum pressure is set to 8, it might help optimize therapy to get their minimum pressure up to about 11 to 12. It has been recommended that one not increase their pressure by more than 0.5cmH20 at a time. My minimum was set to 8 and I was routinely showing 95% pressure around 12. I now have my minimum at 10 and it has helped to optimize my therapy.
Maximum pressure: Your data seems to indicate your machine has you near your maximum pressure quite a bit of the time. To my inexperienced eyes, this might mean you could benefit from having a higher maximum pressure.
A-Flex: I noticed you have it set at 2. That is what it was set at when I got my machine. I have it set at 3 now, which makes it easier to breathe out (expiratory pressure relief.) I believe this change has helped optimize my therapy.
Humidity: I noticed it is set at 3. I have mine set at 2 because I found it harder to breathe at level 3.
AHI: Since your screenshots are all below 5, you are considered "successfully treated." Even though you are feeling tired with a lack of energy, it doesn't mean your therapy isn't working. I remember reading somewhere that some people start to feel better after only one night, some after a few weeks or several to many months and some have not expressed feeling better at all, even after a year or more. As you mentioned regarding the loaner, you felt more energy - that sounds promising! I have not noticed any change in how I feel since starting CPAP. It's been almost three weeks and I remind myself to be patient, it can take time to 'heal' and that how long it takes to start feeling better varies widely - which helps me put things in perspective.
It's great to hear you have been using your equipment everyday and I think you will find this forum very helpful. Best wishes that you start to feel better soon!
