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beepsilver · Post by **beepsilver** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 7:31 pm

Hi, new to the forum. CPAP user for two years--all on a Philips Respironics with heated humidifier and Swift FX nasal pillows mask. I've been trying to understand why I still feel tired midday after consistently getting 7 hours of sleep. Excluding any external factors, does this Sleepyhead data show anything obvious? I can post data from other days if necessary. Thank you.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 7:40 pm

Welcome to the forum.

Please review this thread about what we like to see on the reports. You can get everything we need on one screen shot. Will save you some work.
No need to redo this one though.
viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html

Do you take any medications of any kind? If so, what?

How many times do you think you might wake up during an average 7 hour night?

Your AHI isn't horribly bad but I would want it less if it were me. Have you ever tried raising the minimum pressure? Something like 6 or 7 minimum might do a better job holding the airway open and reduce those events you see flagged. They may or may not be affecting your sleep quality and thus how you feel during the day. I can't guarantee it is going to give you the results you want but it is what I would do if it were me.

OkyDoky · Post by **OkyDoky** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 7:56 pm

If you increase your minimum to 6 or 7 it will probably clear up some of your events. Like Pugsy said it may or may not help the midday tiredness. But I don't think it will hurt to cut down on the disturbances.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 8:00 pm

Your min. pressure is at the machine's default low... most people feel suffocated at that and most are at higher mins. (7, 8, 10 and more), but only raise it to where you feel good and SH shows good numbers... go up to e.g. 7 for a few days (one's not enough to get a valid picture) and see how things are.

beepsilver · Post by **beepsilver** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:15 am

Well thank you all for responding! I'm 55 and on no meds--for the most part I only wake up once to go to the bathroom between 3-6am. There are infrequent times when I'll wake between 1-3am for no reason I can explain--perhaps due to my CPAP setup or due to a noise or some other disturbance. I will bump up the min pressure to 6 and monitor results. Since my required pressure doesn't get that high I'll try 6 for a few days then move to 7 if events continue.

With nose pillows I never experience a suffocating or lack of pressure sensation at any time, even during ramp. I did have that feeling with the nasal mask however (only during the 5 minute ramp when pressure was low), but I don't tolerate that mask well across the bridge of my nose (angry capillaries), but ironically it did give me better AHI scores by one or two points--I've probably only worn that mask 4 times in two years. I tried it again last week, saw the better AHI and went another night with it, but it was tearing up my nose, even with a comfortable and un-tight fit. I just like wearing the nose pillows so much more--more comfortable and easier to get on/off.

I modified my screenshot somewhat. My machine (as has been pointed out) doesn't have all the graphs that some do. I'll upload the modified screenshot; please let me know if there's another graph I should include because I have space for one more. Thank you all again so much! Greg

: Capture.PNG (229.91 KiB) Viewed 16491 times

OkyDoky · Post by **OkyDoky** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:33 am

This screenshot is still at the 4 minimum. I think you have a good plan to go ahead and increase the minimum. I think you will eventually need 7cm but if you want try the 6 and evaluate before increasing more that's ok. It's all about changing one thing and seeing what difference it makes for you.

beepsilver · Post by **beepsilver** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:37 am

Thanks Oky, I just changed my settings and I did opt for 7. Keeping my fingers crossed it'll make an improvement. I'll report back in a few days.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:48 am

beepsilver wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:37 am
Thanks Oky, I just changed my settings and I did opt for 7. Keeping my fingers crossed it'll make an improvement. I'll report back in a few days.

Your type of machine often requires a higher minimum to alleviate events... see what 7 does, but be prepared to go higher.

beepsilver · Post by **beepsilver** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:52 am

Thanks Palerider!

zonker · Post by **zonker** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:49 pm

beepsilver wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:37 am
Thanks Oky, I just changed my settings and I did opt for 7. Keeping my fingers crossed it'll make an improvement. I'll report back in a few days.

welcome to the forum!

a favor please....post back to this thread you've started for awhile. it helps everyone keep straight who you are and what advice has been given and so forth.

good luck!

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:56 pm

---and how well it has worked.

beepsilver · Post by **beepsilver** » Sat Jun 16, 2018 10:12 am

Two shots (Thurs & Fri nights). Thur=min pressure 4.0; Fri=min pressure 7.0. Cannot tell a difference physically but I see some differences on the graphs. RERA is down, Hypos are up. Bathroom break on Thurs but not Fri. Really don't know what to make of it all. Should I keep the min pressure the same for a couple of more nights before ticking up by one?

Thursday Night:

: CPAP Thurs Jun 14.PNG (204.84 KiB) Viewed 16431 times

Friday Night:

: Fri Night 15 Jun CPAP.PNG (189.14 KiB) Viewed 16431 times

OkyDoky · Post by **OkyDoky** » Sat Jun 16, 2018 10:36 am

No bathroom break sometimes is a positive reward of treatment that is getting more effective.

To me it looks like the main difference was your pressure wasn't jumping about so much but it's still not enough to prevent the hypopneas. Like PaleRider said with the Respironics machines you probably need a higher minimum to prevent the events. It's up to you if you want to watch at these settings a few more days or go up to 8 minimum. At some point I think you will need to increase the minimum.

beepsilver · Post by **beepsilver** » Sat Jun 16, 2018 10:47 am

Thanks! Unless I get feedback to the contrary, I may be so bold as to go for 8 tonight. Flow limitation was also way down last night.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:00 am

They changes were subtle but they were there.

I see no reason not to give the 8 minimum a go tonight. It's not urgently needed so if you have a problem going higher than you can take smaller steps but I think that you would probably do even a little better with a little more minimum.

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