Advice please; Am I doing everything right?

Thanks again for the replies. I copied and saved them for reference. I also figured out (from other threads) how to check the data on my machine (I wonder when they were going to tell me this). I've used it for 8 days now.

I'm still struggling with my machine. Last night, I couldn't get comfortable with it, so finally I took a Trazodone before I could get to sleep. Here is what the data say: (7-week average)
leaks: 28.1
AHI: 7.6
C-flex setting: 3
Ramp time: 20
Start pressure: 4
Fine Pressure Adj. 15
Mask Alert On; Auto Off

This is strange, because during the sleep study, my AHI was was lower than that. Am I getting worse with cpap?

Thanks again,
Jay

You list your start pressure as 4cm. Is that where the ramp starts? I ask because that is pretty low. Most people have trouble breathing at 4. What is your minimum pressure set at? What is your maximum pressure set at (if your machine is in auto mode)? If it's cpap mode, what pressure is it set at? One more question - What was you sleep study titrated pressure?
You may have mentioned all this earlier in the thread. I didn't go back so do you mind repeating the answers to these questions here?

What is your prescribed pressure? If your auto is set for beginning at 4, then you may need to raise tht pressure to near (like 2 under) your prescribed pressure. Otherwise it takes too long for your machine to raise the pressure enough to stop your apnea. The autos are great, but you need to help them out a little.

Bev

packitin wrote:Thanks again for the replies. I copied and saved them for reference. I also figured out (from other threads) how to check the data on my machine (I wonder when they were going to tell me this). I've used it for 8 days now.

I'm still struggling with my machine. Last night, I couldn't get comfortable with it, so finally I took a Trazodone before I could get to sleep. Here is what the data say: (7-week average)
leaks: 28.1
AHI: 7.6
C-flex setting: 3
Ramp time: 20
Start pressure: 4
Fine Pressure Adj. 15
Mask Alert On; Auto Off

This is strange, because during the sleep study, my AHI was was lower than that. Am I getting worse with cpap?

Thanks again,
Jay

I would AVOID use of Trazodone, get some MelatoninPlus from Costco. Trazodone has some serious side effects, like

Trazodone has been associated with the occurrence of priapism. In approximately 33% of the cases reported, surgical intervention was required and, in a portion of these cases, permanent impairment of erectile function or impotence resulted. Male patients with prolonged or inappropriate erections should immediately discontinue the drug and consult their physician. If the condition persists for more than 24 hours, it would be advisable for the treating physician to consult a urologist or appropriate specialist in order to decide on a management approach.

and there are many heart related side effects even more serious.

I'm not quite following your machine reported results especially the "fine pressure adj", there is NO feature like that on the machine you have, are you sure that is not the 90% pressure = 15 cm?

If you got the instructions, I would go through machine's settings again, it should have:

Therapy Mode=AUTO (CPAP or AUTO)
Comfort Type=A-Flex (C-Flex or A-Flex)
Auto:Max=20 (default=20, Only appears in AUTO mode)
Auto:Min=6.5 (default=4, Only appears in AUTO mode, set to 6.5 or higher)
Flex Setting=2 (default=1, Off, 1, 2, or 3)
Ramp Time=30 (default=0:05-45 minutes)
Ramp Start Pressure=6.5 (default=4 to Auto:Min, only appears if Auto:Min >4 cm)
Mask Alert Feature=Off (default=off)
Auto Off Feature=Off (default=off, should be off doesn't work that well)
Show AHI/Leak Feature=ON (default=On, you want this on to get LCD data)
Patient Reminder=Off (Off, 90, 180, 270,365 days)

above are the main settings you should have, you need to increase the Ramp pressure from 4 cm to 6.5 cm. You also need to increase Auto:Min pressure from 4 cm to 6.5 if that is at 4 also.

I assume from your data the machine is reporting the 90% pressure as 15 cm (not fine pressure adj, it doesn't have that parameter).

Note: You may have the Cflex version of the Auto, it should be the same but will have different Therapy mode.

Note: if your 90% pressure is 15 cm, you will need to move Auto:Min up higher like 10 cm then use the Ramp button if needed to go back down below that for falling asleep.

I would get some Melatonin and try that, it has no side effects compared to that Trazodone and doesn't contribute to ED.

Thanks a million. I have made the adjustments you suggest. Yes, I believe my pressure is set at 15.
Now I have a beginning pressure set at 6.5 and ramp at 35. I don't know what my pressure was during the sleep study.
I only have the summary sheet listing the data I showed.

I have not used the cflex mode at all. All I know about that is that it has something to do with the auto adjustment of the pressure as one is exhaling, but I don't know if I should be using it or not. Do you suggest that I should?

Also, I notice on my summary sheet that my AHI was close to 6 overall and that it was 9 when I was in the supine position.
I'm beginning to think that is part of my problem, along with all the jerks in my legs. Using the new machine I have, I've been exclusively in the supine, because of the problems I have with the mask when side or stomach sleeping.

The doctor wrote on my summary sheet that I have mild sleep apnea, and then he wrote:
UNKNOWN CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE (I'm not sure why he wrote that or what it means)

Thanks for the info on the Trazodone. I was not aware of these side effects. I don't think I want to use it any more, although I haven't been a very heavy user. It is those occasional nights that come upon a lot of us out of the blue, where it seems impossible to sleep, that it seems that I need it. Probably about twice of 3 times per month. Also, I like Zanax, because it works a little faster. But only as a last resort. I've never had any trouble with ET, thank goodness.

Again, thanks, Snoredog, (and others) for being willing to share your knowledge unselfishly. It's good for me.
See ya,
Jay