Help reading VPAP III data

Hi,

I posted before but I dont think I was logged in. I have a VPAP III machine. I have checked the daily results
Leak .10l
vt 350-700
Resp Rate 9-18
MV 5.2-9.8
AHI 49.8
AI 33

Should I be adding the AHI plus the AI then dividing by the time I slept which is 6:50 x 60?

Or is this math already done for me?

I have only been using it for 55 days, and I have been through a few masks, the pressure is high 19/10 which feels really high to me, I have to reset it everytime I wake up because I cannot go back to sleep with it going full power, I feel like im hanging my head out of a car window.

Do you think I need more time to adjust? I so badly want this to work

Sorry about the no named post, I will make sure I am logged in from now on.

Also, I went into the clinicians menu and it looks like I can change all the settings they told me I couldnt change, is this true? I dont want to mess with it until I know what Im doing, but I cannot afford these visits to the doctor anymore, my insurance doesnt cover it.

Thanks

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI, Power

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI, Power

Please add your machine and pressure to your profile, that way you won't have to mention it each time.

The math is already done for you, the "I" stands for index (meaning average), AI is "apneas an hour" "AHI is Apnea and Hypopneas an hour".


Simply and bluntly put - those results are dreadful. With an AI at 33 you're still in the severe apnea range.

Do you have your PSG data? Can you post it? Are you sure the machine is set up as the PSG recommended?

Since your results are that bad (sorry, but they really are) I think you should do your utmost to get the Rescan software. It will give you more of a sense of what is going on through the night.

Since getting Rescan in the States in impossible for non-physicians, if you live in the States you may want to consider switching to a company that take better care of US cpap users. If the machine isn't yours already, consider switching to a Respironics Bi-Pap Automatic machine.

If you already bought the machine, try obtaining the software through non-US sites, Resmed is an Australian company.

You'll find another, recent thread discussing the VPAP III, its data and its settings - viewtopic/t28590/New-to-this-Husband-vp ... eaths.html
see if it helps you understand your results better. You probably can change you settings from you clinicians menu - but before you make any changes, write down all the present settings so you can return to them.

Simply getting used to the therapy will not create the necessary drop in your AHI data. It may make the pressure more tolerable - but that is not enough.

I change my own settings, and many other here do that too, so don't take my next comment as a warning:

In the long run, the damage caused to you by sleep apnea at the level you still have it may turn out to be far more expensive than another visit or two to a good doctor's office. I'm saying this because I'm truly worried by the results you're getting, and your doctor should be too. If he/she knows, and is not concerned, then you need a new one, ASAP.

Good luck!
O.

Thank you very much for your prompt and honest response. I can tell by how I feel that this machine isn't doing anything. Honestly I am really feeling like something horrible is on the horizon. I am so exhausted I break down in tears for no reason and lately I have had this feeling just below the surface that I am ready to throw in the towel, in the worst way. I don't have any more money, I am going to try to do what I can to deal with this. I'm so angry at this disease because its destroying my life.

The exhaustion, caused by OSA can make everything look and feel much worse.
You've come to the right place - many of us have experienced the exhaustion and despair, we know what you're talking about.

Try to read the thread I've pointed at. It can be difficult to pick up new information when you're so exhausted - so ask and ask ask as much as you have to. And tell us everything you can about your PSG (sleep test) and its results.

Many of us has have been there, done that in one way or another. Some of (Nodzy, Ripvanw) have spent a long time (months or even years) struggling with badly set up machines. We're here to help - and we're here from all parts of the globe - there's lots of knowledge spread out among us - hang in there.

O.

I am going to spend what time and energy I have getting this worked out. I am contacting the Hospital here in Milwaukee to get in for new treatments. The sleep center in Mequon was decent to me and knocked quite a bit off my bill because of lack of insurance, but after two sleep studies, and a bunch of money out of pocket, I am not any better. I'd rather go heavily into debt than have a heart attack at 37 years old. You're right, being so tired makes everything seem so futile, but in order to deal with all the other crap thats piled up, I need to take care of this first. Thanks for your help. I will let you know what happening.

I have also been in contact with the nurse mentioned in another post on this board about taking part in some interviews about OSA. I hope that my experience might help them accomplish whatever it is they are trying to accomplish and prevent other people from having to go through what I, and many others, have.

Thanks again. Ill get my info in my profile when I get home

Hello again. I am understandably a little freaked out. I am going to be reading up about the machine settings quickly. I have a question that someone might answer. In your opinion, what would be the settings that I might want to try to adjust. I will not use this as a substitute for finding a new doctor, but in the very near interim, what might be the best idea to try to adjust?

Would you think that my high rate of apneas might be caused by too much pressure? Not enough? Or unrelated? I am assuming that I am not going to kill myself with the machine, unless I try to use it in the bathtub but I would like to try changing some settings to see if I can lower the numbers a bit.

Once again, I state, I am not looking to replace getting a new specialist, I just wont be able to do that for a week or so, and I would like to get some idea as to what could be done now.

I dont know if this question is appropriate for this forum, but Im sure you can understand my desire. I am also a computer tweeker so I enjoy messing with something to get it to work better.

HelpMeBreathe,

PM me so I can get some info, then I'll do what I can to help.

Cheers

DSM

Anonymous wrote:Hello again. I am understandably a little freaked out. I am going to be reading up about the machine settings quickly. I have a question that someone might answer. In your opinion, what would be the settings that I might want to try to adjust. I will not use this as a substitute for finding a new doctor, but in the very near interim, what might be the best idea to try to adjust?

Would you think that my high rate of apneas might be caused by too much pressure? Not enough? Or unrelated? I am assuming that I am not going to kill myself with the machine, unless I try to use it in the bathtub but I would like to try changing some settings to see if I can lower the numbers a bit.

Once again, I state, I am not looking to replace getting a new specialist, I just wont be able to do that for a week or so, and I would like to get some idea as to what could be done now.

I dont know if this question is appropriate for this forum, but Im sure you can understand my desire. I am also a computer tweeker so I enjoy messing with something to get it to work better.

HelpMeBreathe,

Don't get to hung up about the AHI numbers just yet. I have provided a link below to data from my past (using a Vpap III ) and if you think your AHI is high look at these #s *and* consider that at the time I thought I was doing quite well (until I got the software & saw the actual numbers ). The 2nd link is what I got those AHI scores down to with some smart tuning of the machine.

AHI 50 http://www.internetage.com/cpapdata/menu_0805.html
AHI 3 http://www.internetage.com/cpapdata/menu_0809.html

Point being, we can tune this box better than most others on the market & based on data I get from you I think we can make some rapid progress.

So - don't get to anxious about what you are seeing & hearing - lets work on it.

DSM

#2 corrected 1st link - the original one was not what I wanted to post but I accidentally put it in. Reason is I was using the machine when it was set to US time while I am in Australia & it did some odd things re reporting data until I set the clock to the right local time. The original link data was wrong because if you looked at the elapsed hours it shows 0 hrs - so the 68 AHI reported just wasn't well supported by other data. The replaced link shows the proper local time & 7 hrs use. and an AHI of 50.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI

I am trying to make sense of it. I am a computer guy with a hackers soul but this is all new to me. I did PM you. I also got a really nice note from someone who you really helped. Youre doing really great things and possibly saving lives. Thats a really big deal.

The PM reply will keep you busy

Cheers DSM

I'll also discuss with you what you want to make public as there are many who would like to know what gets done.

Lets hope this works

D

Friend.. you can make it all public. Im wide open. I think I sent you an avalanche of email about my current settings but my sent folder is empty.. so either you got nothing or you think I am a lunatic...

I wanted to check my settings with you before I changed yours becauyse i see they arent much different. is this deliberate?

I can post them:
My settings are
Mode : spont
IPAP 19.0
EPAP 10.0
RISE TIME 150
IPAP max 1.90
IPAP min .10
alarm on
smrt startt off
mask ultra but i use a hybrid and I dont see that choice in there
humid h2i
Max Ramp 45min
start epap 4.0


Once again I hope i didnt just bury you in mail. I didnt think any actually sent.

OK well its bed time. I going to give this a shot. Hope I have great things to report tomorrow

Suggested trial settings are ...

Mode : spont
IPAP 18.0 <=
EPAP 12.0 <=
RISE TIME 250 <=
IPAP max 2.5 <=
IPAP min .50 <=
alarm on
smrt startt off
mask ultra but i use a hybrid and I dont see that choice in there (don't worry about this yet)
humid h2i
Max Ramp 45min
start epap 8.0 <=


Hope you got most of this before tucking in.

Cheers & good dreams

DSM

Also,

Don't forget to get access to your data - ResScan 5.4 - null modem cable (9pin female serial plug at each end).

Cheers

DSM

HelpMeBreathe,
You should be aware that DSM is at the other side of the world in Australia- so your timetables might be very different - don't feel neglected or impatient....

I would appreciate it very much if you could keep your communications as public as you, HelpMeBreathe, feel is convenient. It may help other memebers learn, and it may in the future help other users in a similar predicament.

And further data you have, would be much appreciated.
O.