Noobie Needs Help

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Pugsy
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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Pugsy » Sun May 22, 2022 12:36 pm

Tonight do the mask fit feature check that is available on your machine so that you can make sure there aren't large leaks at the onset of the night.

Last night you started the night with a big massive leak for some reason (it got fixed later for some reason) and the leak was so large the machine couldn't compensate well enough for it and that's why so many events including the UAs which are unknown apneas...the machine when faced with that amount of leak knew something was happening but couldn't tell well enough what it was so it just called them "unknown apneas".

The 10:30 ugliness...probably masked movement again but not quite so prolonged and again fixed itself somehow.

More importantly though....even with the couple of ugly clustering...how do you feel today?

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Iamstumped
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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Iamstumped » Sun May 22, 2022 12:55 pm

For the past 4 weeks, I’ve been getting a green, happy face on the LCD screen for mask seal. This morning, leakage was 32 L/min.
I am not aware of any large leaks, but that does not mean that there were not any large leaks.

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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Iamstumped » Sun May 22, 2022 1:05 pm

Pugsy wrote:
Sun May 22, 2022 11:59 am
What happened that first hour (or a little more) last night where things are really ugly?
Awake and messing with mask to fix leaks maybe?
When do you think you actually went to sleep????

Same question for the around 10:30 beginning ugliness?
Unless my mask is getting pushed out of place by my pillow, I’m not sure why there is so much “ugliness”, as you put it. LOL.
It usually take me about 20 - 30 minutes to fall asleep.
I do feel a little bit better, a little bit more refreshed, this morning, than I have in the past.

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Pugsy
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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Pugsy » Sun May 22, 2022 1:15 pm

Iamstumped wrote:
Sun May 22, 2022 12:55 pm
For the past 4 weeks, I’ve been getting a green, happy face on the LCD screen for mask seal. This morning, leakage was 32 L/min.
I am not aware of any large leaks, but that does not mean that there were not any large leaks.
Are you talking about the green happy face on the machine in the morning??? You won't see Mr Frowny in the morning until you spend more than 30% of the night in large leak territory. Last night you only spent 16% of the night in large leak so yeah...Mr Smiley is going to show up despite the 2 times you were in large leak.

The 32 L/min leak number that is from the machine...is that correct? What that means is for 95% of the night you were at OR BELOW that number. 5% of the night you were above that number.
People tend to think of those numbers on the machine LCD screen as an overall average but they aren't...they are 95% numbers and people either don't know or they forget the "or below" part of the definition of a 95% number.
Same holds true for pressure numbers when using auto adjusting mode.

The mask fit feature is totally different from the numbers you see on the LCD screen.
Using the mask fit feature lets you verify that you at least have the mask sealed without large leaks at the beginning of the night. It's explained in the manual. If you had used it last night you wouldn't have seen Mr Smiley at all. You were well into large leak territory right from the onset. I can tell by just where the leak line starts on your leak graph.

Now if you are sleeping good and feeling good then maybe you don't have to worry about the numbers so much but your AHI is greatly elevated during the time of large leak and it's messing with your overall numbers. You can mentally ignore them if you wish but just understand what you are ignoring. I would be more inclined to ignore them if there weren't a truckload of events getting flagged....and since you say you went to sleep pretty quickly we can't blame them on awake false positives then I don't like ignoring that many real events myself. I might have a large leak but I don't have a truckload of events flagged in the process so since I sleep through the large leak I don't really care so much but if I was having events like you are having during large leak I wouldn't ignore them.

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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Iamstumped » Sun May 22, 2022 1:49 pm

Now if you are sleeping good and feeling good then maybe you don't have to worry about the numbers so much but your AHI is greatly elevated during the time of large leak and it's messing with your overall numbers. You can mentally ignore them if you wish but just understand what you are ignoring. I would be more inclined to ignore them if there weren't a truckload of events getting flagged....and since you say you went to sleep pretty quickly we can't blame them on awake false positives then I don't like ignoring that many real events myself. I might have a large leak but I don't have a truckload of events flagged in the process so since I sleep through the large leak I don't really care so much but if I was having events like you are having during large leak I wouldn't ignore them.


I will try the mask fit feature tonight.

I realize that your recommendations are NOT medical advise, but I am asking what are your recommendations?

I use a full-face mask even though I have a full beard and moustache, because I occasionally breathe through my mouth.
I realize that the beard does cause some leakage. But I've tried nasal masks/pillows in the past and have had problems with them in the past, extremely sore nose, sore upper lip area.

The Red and Green lines on the pressure chart, is that the because of the EPR?
Should I start a new thread, to post screenshots in, or continue on this one?

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Pugsy
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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Pugsy » Sun May 22, 2022 2:26 pm

Keep everything in this one thread for a little while yet. It just makes it easier to follow for everyone else.
Now in 3 or 4 months and a new question comes up then maybe a new thread.
Iamstumped wrote:
Sun May 22, 2022 1:49 pm
The Red and Green lines on the pressure chart, is that the because of the EPR?
Yes. Top line is inhale and bottom line is exhale and that's what EPR does...it creates 2 distinct pressures one for inhale and one for exhale.

Yes...facial hair does create extra challenges that using some sort of nasal mask doesn't create and maybe later you might want to revisit one of the nasal masks. You don't have to choose a mask now and have it be your forever mask.
Most common error people make with a nasal mask of any sort is they tend to crank that sucker down way too tight and they end up with pain and/or even abrasions on the skin. They are so afraid of not having it tight enough they really tighten things way too much. It's the most common error made with just about any mask. A lot of the time "too tight" is actually counter productive anyway. All these masks have to be able to inflate fully to seal and when we crank them down too tight they just can't inflate well.

As for recommendations...work on leak management.
I think your settings (14 minimum work well for the bulk of the night).
We just made that change...keep it for about 2 weeks and then we evaluate trends and patterns that we might be seeing and then decide if we want to make a minor adjustment somewhere or not. I don't like to make major changes to anything based on 1 or 2 nights of data unless there is an urgent need.

To my thinking....I have always put how I sleep and feel the next day above numbers because the best numbers in the world don't guarantee you much except for maybe a good math test score. My leak graphs are rarely very pretty. In fact sometimes pretty ugly but as long as I am sleeping decently (I have other issues that mess with my sleep besides OSA) and feeling decent then I really don't pay a lot of attention to any numbers I see. This is something that will come to you with time and experience and adjusting on your part. I have a friend who feels like total dog crap when his AHI gets over 2.0...but I can't tell any difference in terms of how I sleep or feel no matter what the AHI is. Everyone is a bit different and you will (in time) learn what it all means in term with your own personal feelings and expectations.
It's a learning process and always changing. I have been on cpap 13 years the end of this month. Lots of personal experience there to draw upon and I have learned a lot about myself over the years. What is important to me isn't necessarily what might be important to someone else. To be honest I rarely look at any of my data anymore...it never really changes much anyway.

I wouldn't let leaks slide if I had the events that you are having and I know I wasn't awake to blame them on.
That's why I suggest working on leak management as best you can.
Maybe at some point in the future you can think about revisiting a nasal mask and that will greatly help with leak management.

Most importantly though....remember that you are doing all this so that your sleep is of better quality and you feel better during the day and your body isn't under the stress that sleep apnea does to the body. An AHI of 0.0 means absolutely nothing if your sleep quality is crap and you feel like crap during the day.

Also...you have other things going on in your life that is going to impact both sleep quality and how you feel. Small children and shift work...not much you can do about it except to realize and accept that is is part of your life and you just have to do the best you can for this time in your life. Not everything in our lives can be fixed or changed with the cpap machine. Wish it were that easy. :lol:

Take things one day at a time and we can't undo what happened yesterday and learn about your own personal preferences, wants and needs.

It's not about perfection....it's about progression.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

Iamstumped
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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Iamstumped » Sun May 22, 2022 4:29 pm

Like you, I've been on CPAP 15 years since late Sept, 2007. Never had any help, (see OP). tried to learn as much as possible in the beginning. Have been "playing around with my settings" trying to dial in better sleep. Was successful, some times, other times not so much. now I'm in a not so much phase, i guess. Not getting very restful, or refreshing sleep.
I originally joined this site years ago, but never had the time to try to get help, like I am now.

Does anyone have any recommendations for masks, that I can check into, and possibly buy?

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Julie
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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Julie » Sun May 22, 2022 4:55 pm

Everyone's face is different... but why not look at the variety on Cpap.com for ideas (wherever you shop, tho' they're great to deal with).

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Pugsy
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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Pugsy » Sun May 22, 2022 4:56 pm

What all masks have you tried in the past years and why didn't they work out well?

I am sorry but I really have zero experience with full face masks beyond maybe just tying one here or there just for grins.
Never wanted one, didn't need them and don't particularly like them so never bothered with one except to try just to be trying for the "fun" of it.

I recently tried the under the nose nasal cushion N30 mask and was really pleasantly surprised at how well it worked for me.
If interested in it I have a brand new still in sealed package I can make you a heck of a deal on if I have your size.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... h-headgear
Have you seen it or tried it?

Or if you wonder about nasal pillow masks...I have just about tried almost all of them at one time or another.

Or heck maybe even the Bleep???

Just a thought for down the road.....

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Iamstumped » Sun May 22, 2022 7:24 pm

Pugsy wrote:
Sun May 22, 2022 4:56 pm
What all masks have you tried in the past years and why didn't they work out well?

I am sorry but I really have zero experience with full face masks beyond maybe just tying one here or there just for grins.
Never wanted one, didn't need them and don't particularly like them so never bothered with one except to try just to be trying for the "fun" of it.

I recently tried the under the nose nasal cushion N30 mask and was really pleasantly surprised at how well it worked for me.
If interested in it I have a brand new still in sealed package I can make you a heck of a deal on if I have your size.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... h-headgear
Have you seen it or tried it?

Or if you wonder about nasal pillow masks...I have just about tried almost all of them at one time or another.

Or heck maybe even the Bleep???

Just a thought for down the road.....

I have tried 3, maybe 4 different ones, including the Dreamwear nasal. that one was the worst.
Because I sometimes have nasal congestion, and I breathe through my mouth, I use a full face mask, even though I have a beard.
The mask that I'm using now, is about 3 years old, and I have replaced the cushions about 10 times.

Yes, I've seen and heard about it, how much do you want for it. I'm willing to try just about anything.
Maybe I need to transition to a nasal mask, maybe that will help me to sleep better.

I am hoping that insurance will pay for a new mask, along with a new machine. I am on a waiting list for a new machine, as my AS10, which is <1 yo, needs to be returned for possible repairs. It started making wheezing, whistling, whining noises back about the first of the year. The reason that I'm on a waiting list, is that I am going to hold out for a ResMed AS11, or possibly the AC10, if that's what I need. I have another appt with a Pulmonologist, regarding my last sleep study. I'm going to ask them if I need the AC10.

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Pugsy
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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Pugsy » Sun May 22, 2022 7:51 pm

Let me check on the size of the N30. It's out in the shed right now. I think I have a medium and a medium wide.
I will let you know tomorrow. Today was strawberry jam making day and I don't think I can walk another 10 ft plus it's dark out in the shed (no power) and I gotta find the box it is in.

You know I sometimes mouth breathe but it's never for very long, doesn't wake me up, leaks are usually below large leak territory, mouth doesn't get horribly dry to wake me up...so I don't really care. I learned a long time ago that sometimes the fix for a problem ends being a bigger problem than the original problem was.
Also sometimes what little mouth breathing we might do might still be less of a leak than what we might see with a full face mask and facial hair combination.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Iamstumped » Mon May 23, 2022 11:37 am

OSCAR screenshot-20220523-122522.png
I used the Mask Fit last night. got a couple of angry red faces, which only lasted for about 1 - 2 seconds, each time, then then the machine started working as if I had hit the start button.
Other than the couple of times that I got those red faces, during the mask fit, the screen showed a green face throughout the mask fit test.

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Pugsy
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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Pugsy » Mon May 23, 2022 2:36 pm

You had a very brief time at the beginning of the night when the leak rate wasn't in large leak territory and then things went to hell. Same pattern as the other nights for whatever reason.
And yes...Mr Smiley will show on the screen in the morning because the time in large leak was 17% of the night and you must hit 30% before Mr Frowny shows up in the morning.

If you were sleeping great and feeling great I would tell you to probably ignore it but you aren't or else you wouldn't be here.

I am female...obviously zero experience with facial hair and full face masks either.

What do you want to do? Continue with this mask or try something else?

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Iamstumped » Mon May 23, 2022 8:06 pm

I am willing to try what ever it takes to get a good nights sleep.

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Pugsy
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Re: Noobie Needs Help

Post by Pugsy » Mon May 23, 2022 8:55 pm

How often do you experience nasal congestion that forces you to breathe through your mouth? Do you know what causes the congestion?

Do you remember the names of the masks you have already tried and failed with? I don't want to waste time thinking about a mask that you have already tried.

Just realized you are in KC area...I am down south about 45 miles east of Joplin.

All I can offer is lets try different masks. I can maybe help in that regard. Some donated masks that you can have for free and maybe the N30 if it sounds like you could get by with a nasal mask of some sort.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.