Newbie need advice *Update*

I just got my machine Wednesday and the first night was awful, I couldn't fall asleep at all and took it off after 3 hours. Last night was a little better, I actually slept a little with it on but kept waking up, took it off after 4 1/2 hours. That was a big improvement since I did sleep. I think my pressure is too high but wanted to give it a try since that was perscribed...

I have the air sense 10 autoset for her, it's set in CPAP with a pressure of 15. I have a mild case of apnea with 6.9 but saturation was 82%. I don't get to see an actual sleep Dr until November, I'm ready to fire my PCP, after 3 years of complaining about how tired I feel and me saying I want a sleep study I think I have apnea she finally sent me for a sleep study.

Self diagnosis and now I'm looking for advise on self treatment, I'd like to try the auto setting but not sure what number I should put in, I'm even considering just trying the CPAP mode pressure a little lower since my o2 dropped so low during my test. Any suggestions on which numbers to change?


*Update 10/4/16*
Yesterday I went back to the DME, I saw a different one and she was really good. I liked the last one but after dealing with her my opinion of him changed. My prescription clearly stated auto for a range of 5-15, not cpap 15, she said she'd be surprised if I would go above 10. The mask he gave me was too big for my face, and after trying different styles I ended up with the same mask style but smaller.

The results were I slept much better last night and didn't feel panicked, I check the pressure and the average was 7.3 with a AHI of .1. I need to get a card reader still so I can really see what's going on in sleepyhead. I'm feeling better about this now.

Please excuse any typos I'm on my phone.

Zardra77 wrote:I just got my machine Wednesday and the first night was awful, I couldn't fall asleep at all and took it off after 3 hours. Last night was a little better, I actually slept a little with it on but kept waking up, took it off after 4 1/2 hours. That was a big improvement since I did sleep. I think my pressure is too high but wanted to give it a try since that was perscribed...

I have the air sense 10 autoset for her, it's set in CPAP with a pressure of 15. I have a mild case of apnea with 6.9 but saturation was 82%. I don't get to see an actual sleep Dr until November, I'm ready to fire my PCP, after 3 years of complaining about how tired I feel and me saying I want a sleep study I think I have apnea she finally sent me for a sleep study.

Self diagnosis and now I'm looking for advise on self treatment, I'd like to try the auto setting but not sure what number I should put in, I'm even considering just trying the CPAP mode pressure a little lower since my o2 dropped so low during my test. Any suggestions on which numbers to change?

Please excuse any typos I'm on my phone.

.

YOu could go to auto mode and set the minimum at 8 and maximum at 15. Watch it for a few days and see what the data tells you. Be sure to download Sleepyhead software.

Exactly - what LSAT said. There's no magic about changing things on your own - we all do it and that's how you find the right numbers. Why someone would set yours in Cpap is a mystery, and at such a high number. Remember - the severity of your test results has no bearing on how much pressure is needed to keep your individual airway open... no relation. You could have had a result of 50 but only need a pressure of 7 to do the job, so forget that aspect entirely.

Are you using the ramp feature? At what setting?

Thank you so much both of you for your replies. Yes I am using the ramp feature and it's on auto. I really need a new PCP, she has been very difficult through this whole process. I had my sleep study in June, I had to call and get my results after a month of nothing from her, she wanted me to do another study. She finally gave in and referred me to a sleep Dr.

The ramp feature is normally set (by you) to a timeline, to help you adjust to the rising of your prescribed pressure setting until it's reached, during which time you're not fully treated of course, until that setting's reached. So what timeline is your ramp set to - where does it start and how long is it set for? It's not the prescribed pressure setting number (in your case 15).

Auto ramp....page 10
https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf

It ends and will start increasing the pressure 1 cm per minute either when it thinks you are asleep or after 30 minutes....whichever comes first.

Ramp usually is at 4 cm unless you change it. Are you having trouble exhaling against 4 cm? Are you feeling like not enough air is moving like you are suffocating?

No I don't have any problems at 4, I start to notice a change around 8 that it's increased but at 15 it will wake me up and I have a hard time exhaling. I try to relax and go back to sleep but it becomes too much and I have to stop and start all over.

Tonight I'm having trouble with the mask fitting, I can't seem to get the adjustment right. I'm going to be getting a different one Monday, hope I can adjust better after that.

Yesterday I went back to the DME, I saw a different one and she was really good. I liked the last one but after dealing with her my opinion of him changed. My prescription clearly stated auto for a range of 5-15, not cpap 15, she said she'd be surprised if I would go above 10. The mask he gave me was too big for my face, and after trying different styles I ended up with the same mask style but smaller.

The results were I slept much better last night and didn't feel panicked, I checked the pressure and the average was 7.3 with a AHI of .1. I need to get a card reader still so I can really see what's going on in sleepyhead. I'm feeling better about this now.

Please excuse any typos I'm on my phone.

Congratulations for getting the "good" DME.
I suggest you request no more contact with the lousy one, if in the same office.
The right mask is so important, as well as the correct settings.
Sleep well.

chunkyfrog wrote:Congratulations for getting the "good" DME.
I suggest you request no more contact with the lousy one, if in the same office.
The right mask is so important, as well as the correct settings.
Sleep well.

She gave me her card so I will contact her directly if I need to again. I just can't wait until November when I finally get to see an actual sleep Dr.

I've noticed a difference but can't seem to get passed 5 1/2 hours, but it's only been 3 nights.