Can Somone Please Explain Somthing To Me?

Why is it that Resmed machines record higher hypopneas and less leaks than there actually are?

I'm still wondering (yes, after nearly 9 months of therapy ) if I can trust the numbers I see on my machine each morning.

I don't feel 100%. I do feel better, but I know it could be better. ONCE I had an AHI of .1. I felt AWESOME that day. I don't know what was different.

I've increased the settling period a few times on my machine. I started with a prescribed 4-20. I felt I was suffocating at 4, so my DME increased it to 5. Then I still wasn't happy, so I increased it to 6.

Another CPAPer suggested I increase it more, so I increased it to 7.8. The first 2 nights, my AHI was 1.5 and the second night is was 1.9. I didn't really feel a difference.

I thought I would be feeling 100% by this time. I can still sleep 10 hours on the weekends, and I let myself do so. I don't wake up completely refreshed even after 10 hours.

What's up? Anyone have any suggestions?

Maybe you need a higher bottom pressure or try CPAP mode.
And, if you don't have the software to see what's going on while you sleep.......

Maybe your body is still in "payback" mode.
Been there......experienced that.

Den

Did you ever get a copy of not only the dictated results of your sleep evaluation from your doctor but also the full data summary report w/condensed graphs? That might tell you or indicate that you have something else going on besides sleep apnea.

Resmed devices don't record less leaks than you are experiencing, they just subtract the vent flow rate for your set pressure from the reported rate. W/the Respironics you have to do your own subtracting of your mask's flow rate.

Your Vantage has a Set pressure (for when in straight CPAP mode), a Minimum and a Maximum pressure (for a pressure range in Auto mode) and a Starting pressure.

For an example: your Set pressure could be 8 cms. Your Minimum pressure could be 6 cms, your Maximum pressure 10 cms and your Starting pressure 5 cms.

I believe the Maximum Settling time is 45 minutes, the Minimum Settling time could be set as low as 0 minutes, in effect turning Settling off entirely. The Minimum Settling time should be set to the length of time you estimate it usually takes you to get to sleep. The Maximum Settling time could be set from anywhere from that time to the 45 minute maximum allowed. Now that I'm usually able to get to sleep fairly soon I have my Minimum Settling time set at 10 minutes and my Maximum Settling time set at 30 minutes because if I'm not asleep w/in a half hour I might just as well get up and DO something for awhile as just lay there trying to do something I obviously can't do.

Not sure, but there probably would be differences in the numbers derived by most home machines when compared to a sleep lab. If you have the software you can however compare the numbers you get with your particular machine from one week to another. The other problem is that your breathing can vary nightly due to a number of reasons-so it is best to look at your number averaged aver time rather than just one or two nights.

Treesap, I agree that after 9 months I would be expecting some pretty significant results. There are so many variables from night to night, that based on what others have said here, I've not placed much stock in how I've felt day to day after making changes.

Ok, this is all secondhand and from memory, so someone please jump in and correct me if I'm incorrect. When I was using a ResMed auto, for a while my AHI was higher, being mostly HI's, and was advised to not be concerned about it since these machines read them in a way that counts more than some other machines (not that I was having more). And I was told that the machine calculates leaks based on the mask you've told it you are using.

Anyhow, at some point in my mask changes over several months, my AHI began to consistently stay between .06 to 1.7 while in the auto mode. My leak rate was always excellent. I now use a RemStar cpap and at a fixed pressure my AHI is pretty much in that same range. I can't help but wonder if my machine was reading more hypops when my sleep was so very restless and frequently interrupted (PLMD), so a lot of the time it had to read dozing in and out of sleep breathing patterns, with me tossing and turning (holding my breath as I did) and chronic coughing fits. Is there any chance you have wake periods that may affect the numbers but be negligible in meaning?

As far as wanting the AHI to be below 5, I wanted that too. My view is that even at 5, over a 6 hour night that's 30 - just doesn't sound so good looking at it that way. But that may not be the reason you are still tired. Have you ruled out other causes, like medical conditions or medication side effects or other sleep disorders?

Sorry no solutions, just been there.

Kathy