Need Help with Better Sleep and Pressure Sets

apap_user · Post by **apap_user** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 11:07 am

Hi,

Good Sunday to you all. New user here, having some issues with getting a good night's rest. Been combing through this wonderful community and the wealth of information here is amazing.
I need a little help with my CPAP therapy. I wake up certain mornings feeling fatigued, so I am wondering if my therapy is effective in-spite of the numbers, or if there are tweaks needed to my pressure sets.
Please point me in the direction of what to pay attention to or what to look for.
I use a Philips Respironics DreamStation APAP with a Simplus F&P Fullface mask. I'm a back sleeper, and use a very low profile pillow.

There were a couple of times last night where I had some awakenings. It felt like I was stuck while trying to exhale and that may have forced me awake.
Any help would be appreciated. I have attached data from last night and the night before, and a third data point from last week.

TIA.

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 2:35 pm

Increase Max pressure to 20. Make sure you are using the Flex exhale relief setting.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/v ... ction=view

apap_user · Post by **apap_user** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:32 pm

Hi! Thank you so much for your response and the video link.
When you say use flex relief. Is that the one called cflex and if so what would be a good setting to start with?

Secondly, is the min pressure okay where it is or should it be higher?

raisedfist · Post by **raisedfist** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:47 pm

I would just try 10 - 20 and see what happens, but most likely your min will end up being increased as well.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:49 pm

When it comes to any Flex exhale relief....try all the settings and pick the one that feels the best to you...that's the best one for you to use.

apap_user · Post by **apap_user** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 7:23 pm

Thank you both. I will give the increased pressure and flex suggestion a try and report back.

Also from revuewing my data seems like the machine stays at the min pressure most of the night, would that be an indication that the floor/min pressure should be higher?

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 7:53 pm

If the machine doesn't want to move off the minimum then maybe that's an indication that the minimum might could be a little lower.

ajack · Post by **ajack** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 7:58 pm

dreamstation machines, don't raise the pressure, if the timing of the events are not what the algorithm is using. You can get events that the machine doesn't respond it. I would follow basic procedure and raise the min pressure 1cm at a time, till the events subside
http://c398534.r34.cf1.rackcdn.com/DOCU ... Canada.pdf

apap_user · Post by **apap_user** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:19 pm

To qualify the point about the min pressure, attached are 2 examples where all I see are fish fin action and otherwise it's just flat pressure line all through the night.

apap_user · Post by **apap_user** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:23 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑
Sun Jun 30, 2019 7:53 pm
If the machine doesn't want to move off the minimum then maybe that's an indication that the minimum might could be a little lower.

Thank you, I'll consider lowering it and see how it responds.

apap_user · Post by **apap_user** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:25 pm

ajack wrote: ↑
Sun Jun 30, 2019 7:58 pm
dreamstation machines, don't raise the pressure, if the timing of the events are not what the algorithm is using. You can get events that the machine doesn't respond it. I would follow basic procedure and raise the min pressure 1cm at a time, till the events subside
http://c398534.r34.cf1.rackcdn.com/DOCU ... Canada.pdf

I'll give this a try too. Try both ways. Either lower it like Pugsy suggested, or increase it to 11. I couldtry 3 days at each setting the review the results and/or post if I have questions about the results.

SDBud · Post by **SDBud** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:33 pm

raisedfist wrote: ↑
Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:47 pm
I would just try 10 - 20 and see what happens, but most likely your min will end up being increased as well.

Most of his events appear to cause an increase to over 12, a minimum of 11 would be a good starting point.

ajack · Post by **ajack** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:49 pm

There are also some clusters in the first chart, that may be positional and need pillow adjustment or a $10 foam cervical collar to get the head back and airway open

apap_user · Post by **apap_user** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:04 pm

I have this type of pillow and could use it if that would help.

https://www.amazon.com/Wonwo-Sleepers-C ... way&sr=8-6

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:07 pm

The "fish fin" thing I called saw toothed pattern.
It's the machine doing test pressure increases of about 1.5 cm just to test things out and for no special reason.
Explained in more detailed in this old thread.
Damn Photobucket.....stuff in my way. I got another one someone but can't find it.

viewtopic/t80875/Respironics-APAP-press ... se-up.html

Here's an old report of mine from years ago. The only real pressure increase starts at around 01:00...probably due to REM events being worse which is common for me. The airway tries to collapse more during REM and I need more pressure when that happens.
The rest of those little increases are just test pressure probes and really mean nothing other than the machine is doing what it is designed to do. Sometimes you see a lot of them and sometimes not so much.

Need Help with Better Sleep and Pressure Sets

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