CPAPtalk.com

palerider wrote: ↑

Sun May 27, 2018 10:19 pm

Your doctor *guessed wrong*, and didn't even follow standard protocol when giving a patient a machine without a titration... the standard is to give then a machine programmed in auto mode, so it can, with checking of the data, zero in on the appropriate settings for that person, at home, in their native environment. This process ends up giving a better result in the end.

It's your choice, but if it were me, I'd set it the way I suggested, and then post a screenshot of the data tomorrow, following the instructions in my sig below.

My primary care sent me to a place called Sleep Data. They sent me home with a small machine and something to wear on my finger etc.. From those results they made their guesses.
Then tried to sell me one of their ResMed 10 (non auto) machines for nearly $1000 and that's WITH my insurance. I declined in favor of shopping around and found a RESMED 10 AUTO a few days later BRAND NEW for $200. I don't really know what you mean by 'titration' but at this point nobody even knows I have the machine and I'm not sending my data anywhere for analysis,.. YET.

Speaking of which... when uploading my results, is there a different place I should be doing that or just a screenshot right here?

Sluggish wrote: ↑

Sun May 27, 2018 10:35 pm

. I don't really know what you mean by 'titration'

'titration' is a sleep study in a lab where you're hooked up to a remotely controlled machine, and a tech adjusts the pressure till they think you're sleeping pretty good. They're often wrong.

Sluggish wrote: ↑

Sun May 27, 2018 10:35 pm

Speaking of which... when uploading my results, is there a different place I should be doing that or just a screenshot right here?

palerider wrote: ↑

Sun May 27, 2018 10:19 pm

and then post a screenshot of the data tomorrow, following the instructions in my sig below.

Sluggish wrote: ↑

Sun May 27, 2018 10:20 pm

Julie wrote: ↑

Sun May 27, 2018 9:38 pm

Sluggish it struck me that you said the machine wasn't keeping your airway open... but it seems you're judging that while awake and I wonder if you're thinking you can tell when it closes, consciously. I wonder if you're not mistaking your esophagus/throat closing e.g. when you swallow (or don't swallow) and thinking it's your airway... whether in fact there is even a possible anxiety factor there because you normally would not be aware of your airway (vs throat) closing at all, awake or not. There is a syndrome called globus hystericus (don't be put off by that plse) where people become conscious of what they believe is a lump in their throat when in fact it's a 'nervous' reaction (physical) to anxiety.

Beats me. It feels like my airway is closing as soon as I relax all the way. It feels like I am constantly having to keep my throat/trachea/esophagus/whatever open by muscle involvement or something. On occasion, when I am awake and talking with someone mid sentence and when I inhale my throat will close for a second and make a slight suction/closing sound. Most people don't notice it but my friends will call me out and make fun of it etc...

If you think your airway is closing while you are awake, you have other problems...Listen to the recommendations and do it!. If you are not going to follow recommendations, why are you here?

LSAT wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 4:53 am

If you think your airway is closing while you are awake, you have other problems...Listen to the recommendations and do it!. If you are not going to follow recommendations, why are you here?

I’ll get the report sorted and posted in a new thread ASAP. I’m not doubting that I probably have a slew of other issues. I don’t recall ever saying I wouldn’t folllow recommendations but thanks for yours as well.

As a new user, I was simply coming here to learn and explore. I didn’t realize that I was talking with CPAP professionals who actually know more than the folks at the sleep center. Pardon my initial ignorance and reluctance.

PLEASE stick to this thread - we can't run all over getting history etc.. to properly help.

Julie wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 10:25 am

PLEASE stick to this thread - we can't run all over getting history etc.. to properly help.

That was a close one Julie!

I had just posted it in a new thread but deleted it and moved it here after reading your post

Just a newbie trying to figure this stuff out. Posting this for evaluation as suggested by some long time users. Last nights settings were AUTO/8-20 also as suggested here. Had numerous sleeping issues. Fully awoke a few times. The mask was too loose and pillows came out every time I turned on my side causing wind in my face and noise. The room was too cold and I couldn't reach the blanket at the foot of my bed because of the mask hose lol. Didn't want to take it off and reset the machine etc. I plan to try again tonight with the same settings. Otherwise all suggestions are appreciated. This has been an awesome resource so far.

Sluggish wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 8:54 am

I’ll get the report sorted and posted in a new thread ASAP. I’m not doubting that I probably have a slew of other issues. I don’t recall ever saying I wouldn’t folllow recommendations but thanks for yours as well.

As a new user, I was simply coming here to learn and explore. I didn’t realize that I was talking with CPAP professionals who actually know more than the folks at the sleep center. Pardon my initial ignorance and reluctance.

you're probably going to find a lot more help here than with the folks at the sleep center. this is a common complaint with cpap users. the doctors mainly think that if they give you this magic box, it will "cure" you.

not ALL doctors are this way. some actually are interested in the individual patient. but that hasn't been my experience.

people here have taken the therapy in their own hands and as a result, have seen a much better outcome. and have been kind enough to share their experiences.

Sluggish wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 8:54 am

I didn’t realize that I was talking with CPAP professionals who actually know more than the folks at the sleep center.

We do more than shove a machine into your hands and boot you out the door, caring only if you use the machine so we can get paid, not whether it works for you or not.

Sad fact is, if the folks at the sleep center were all that good, forums like this one wouldn't exist, because people wouldn't have problems that drive them to community support.

Sluggish wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 10:43 am

Just a newbie trying to figure this stuff out. Posting this for evaluation as suggested by some long time users. Last nights settings were AUTO/8-20 also as suggested here. Had numerous sleeping issues. Fully awoke a few times. The mask was too loose and pillows came out every time I turned on my side causing wind in my face and noise. The room was too cold and I couldn't reach the blanket at the foot of my bed because of the mask hose lol. Didn't want to take it off and reset the machine etc. I plan to try again tonight with the same settings. Otherwise all suggestions are appreciated. This has been an awesome resource so far.

Short answer, raise pressure to 9, drop the EPR setting by 1, and work on mask fit, you've got sizeable periods of excessive leaks.

palerider wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 11:55 am

Short answer, raise pressure to 9, drop the EPR setting by 1, and work on mask fit, you've got sizeable periods of excessive leaks.

Ok. Raised pressure to 9. EPR is already at 1. There is no lower setting unless I’m missing something.

You can turn EPR off if you want... it's a comfort feature, not mandatory therapy.

Sluggish wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 12:22 pm

palerider wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 11:55 am

Short answer, raise pressure to 9, drop the EPR setting by 1, and work on mask fit, you've got sizeable periods of excessive leaks.

Ok. Raised pressure to 9. EPR is already at 1. There is no lower setting unless I’m missing something.

There's zero.

It's *possible* that you're one of the few people that the extra ventilation from that small inhale/exhale difference causes centrals...

Go ahead and leave it at one for a bit, let's see how you respond to the better pressure.

palerider wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 6:41 pm

Sluggish wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 12:22 pm

palerider wrote: ↑

Mon May 28, 2018 11:55 am

Short answer, raise pressure to 9, drop the EPR setting by 1, and work on mask fit, you've got sizeable periods of excessive leaks.

Ok. Raised pressure to 9. EPR is already at 1. There is no lower setting unless I’m missing something.

There's zero.

It's *possible* that you're one of the few people that the extra ventilation from that small inhale/exhale difference causes centrals...

Go ahead and leave it at one for a bit, let's see how you respond to the better pressure.

I'm not sure I understand EPR settings... Unless I'm reading it wrong, according to Resmed manual with EPR "ON" (as mine is) it will not drop below a pressure of 4 regardless of setting. So am I actually getting 4 even though it's set to 1??

"Expiratory Pressure Relief
Designed to make therapy more comfortable, Expiratory Pressure Relief (EPR) maintains optimal treatment for the patient during inhalation and reduces the delivered mask pressure during exhalation.
EPR On—EPR is enabled. Off—EPR is disabled.
The following settings are only available if EPR is On:
EPR Type Full Time—If set to Full Time, EPR is enabled for the whole therapy session.
Ramp Only—If set to Ramp Only, EPR is only enabled during ramp time. EPR Level 1, 2, 3 cm H2O
When EPR is enabled, the delivered pressure will not drop below a minimum pressure of 4 cm H2O, regardless of the settings."