WaveForm analysis Please explain how this works

Good thinking, Trish.
O.

you don't have to setup and use a Ramp, if you don't need it don't use it.

Some people when they increase Minimum pressure up to eliminate SDB events like to have a lower pressure for falling asleep, that is all ramp is. But if you don't need it don't use it, it won't change your results any. Some nights you may become annoyed at the pressure, and instead of turning the machine off then on again to lower the pressure just hit the ramp button.

If you are comfortable at 10 cm pressure , then set the Minimum and Comfort pressure to 10 cm. Set the Ramp latency timer short like 5 minutes. Then if the pressure is 14 and you awaken during the night hit Ramp it will take you back to the Minimum pressure setting where it resets and starts again at the Minimum pressure. It will show up in the reports as the yellow shaded area but the session will stay continuous.

Cycle States:
Note: Cycle States is something else you should look at on your waveform report. Cycle states indicates the presence of resistive breathing. Resistive breathing can mean airway is on the verge of collapse, it is highly sensitive to your breathing, it will indicate a change before even a Flow Limitation shows up. The more resistive your breathing comes the lower the cycle state line will trend down, if you are experiencing a "obstructive" event that line may drop down to the bottom. If you look at the report where there is AH you seen it dive. If you look at your 10/31 waveform report you will see the cycle state line is at the top with only tiny variations to flow. That is what you want to see. This has been there since the 420e and did the same thing, there may be another panel which tells you "Normal" cycle states, the higher Normal cycle states are the better. Obviously the therapy pressure can impact that, if you start getting resistive in your breathing increasing the Minimum pressure should reverse that trend. That cycle states line is kind of a global picture of your breathing.
Central events won't contribute to cycle states only obstructive events. You will notice on your 10/31 report the Centrals seen had no impact, the 10 cm pressure used virtually eliminated all the obstructive events which is what you want to see.

Snoredog wrote: Cycle States:
Note: Cycle States is something else you should look at on your waveform report. Cycle states indicates the presence of resistive breathing. Resistive breathing can mean airway is on the verge of collapse, it is highly sensitive to your breathing, it will indicate a change before even a Flow Limitation shows up. The more resistive your breathing comes the lower the cycle state line will trend down, if you are experiencing a "obstructive" event that line may drop down to the bottom. If you look at the report where there is AH you seen it dive. If you look at your 10/31 waveform report you will see the cycle state line is at the top with only tiny variations to flow. That is what you want to see. This has been there since the 420e and did the same thing, there may be another panel which tells you "Normal" cycle states, the higher Normal cycle states are the better. Obviously the therapy pressure can impact that, if you start getting resistive in your breathing increasing the Minimum pressure should reverse that trend. That cycle states line is kind of a global picture of your breathing. I have been trying to figure out the runs and cycle states. There is no clear info in either the clinician's or pt's manual or for that matter the software guide. That makes a lot of sense though. I am glad to know what to look at for fine tuning.
Central events won't contribute to cycle states only obstructive events. You will notice on your 10/31 report the Centrals seen had no impact, the 10 cm pressure used virtually eliminated all the obstructive events which is what you want to see.

I bet the reverse is true that the obstructive /lower cycle states can cause Centrals.

Having much success with the fine tuning. Feeling significantly better over all. I even scubbed the grout on my tile floor yesterday!

Thanks ozji and snoredog for your help

Trish

check out the last 3 day reports below

Trish,

Thanks for starting this thread and for posting those reports regularly! I've just been on the Sandman for a week after over a year on the Respironics M-Series APAP. On that one I couldn't get anywhere with AHI until I went to a fixed pressure of 13. With the Sandman last night my AHI was down to 0.9 (lower than anything I've had before) and my average pressure was 8.5 (starting pressure . I suspect it's the max pressure on apnea that's making the difference.

It's been really helpful to see the settings you're using each day and the results, especially along with all the helpful comments from Snoredog and Ozij. I'm just beginning to play with the settings to tweak my therapy and feel much more optimistic about a better level of success after this thread.

Mindy