advise on results of encore pro download

Being a user of a CPAP a few years and not having slept so well recently I purchased the and hardware on line and the software on Ebay (great deal). I keep waking up around 5AM in the morning. Last night's same story.

Background: Respironics Remstar APAP with Cflex - setting range 9-15. Ultramirage full face mask.

I downloaded the information from the smart card and would like your opinion as to what it means.

All from the 90% pressure which was 11 for the night

flow limitation 2.3
vibratory snore 15
OSA 2.3
AHI 2.3

I think the AHI is pretty good. Have no idea what the vibratory snore is.

Also the graph on mask leaks shows Average leak 36.26

It also seems that approximately 10 minue before I woke up the leak was much larger (60 LPM).

Anyone with any insight please let me know.

The snore numbers can usually be reduced significantly by shaving before you go to bed, washing the mask cushion, and scrubbing your face where the mask touches your face. Tighten the lower strap if you detect any leaks that you can feel by running your finger around your mask. If you have leaks, re-watch the dvd on adjusting the UMFF mask and use a piece of moleskin about 2 cm x 3 cm on the bridge of your nose.

Why would the snore numbers be reduced by shaving? Or, did you mean the leak numbers?

Less Leak = better treatment = lower snoring. Jim

Guest wrote:Why would the snore numbers be reduced by shaving? Or, did you mean the leak numbers?

Many of the snores registered by these machines is the "farting" noise made by the mask while it is leaking at a constant rate due to oils on the mask or skin (or lack of a smooth surface to seal to.

The main issue I have with the mask is leaks around the bridge of my nose. I think my nose bridge between my eyes is pretty high. the only way to stop the leaks with the UM mask is to really tighten it down. I quite often wake up with a very big indent/mark on my nose. even worse sometimes it is so bad that I wake up with a headache on the spot.

I do have some occasional leaking around my mouth. I personally would really like a fisher paykal mask which hold below the chin with an adjustable nose tilt. I had the fisher P without it and could never stop the leakage around my nose but had never leaks around my mouth even with my mouth opened.

Anyone know whether FP makes a mask with an adjustable bridge?

Snores can also come from too low of an auto starting pressure. For instance, in my chart below, my snoring goes nuts when I go under much under 10 cm H2O. By looking at a chart like this, you should be able to tell if the snores correspond to leak spikes, or if they correspond to lower pressures.

flopsoft wrote:The main issue I have with the mask is leaks around the bridge of my nose. I think my nose bridge between my eyes is pretty high. the only way to stop the leaks with the UM mask is to really tighten it down. I quite often wake up with a very big indent/mark on my nose. even worse sometimes it is so bad that I wake up with a headache on the spot.

I do have some occasional leaking around my mouth. I personally would really like a fisher paykal mask which hold below the chin with an adjustable nose tilt. I had the fisher P without it and could never stop the leakage around my nose but had never leaks around my mouth even with my mouth opened.

Anyone know whether FP makes a mask with an adjustable bridge?

The mask is adjustable (see DVD) hopefully to allow clearance to the nose bridge and a good seal for the eyes. My first UMFF was a Medium (DMV fitted), but it was too large and allowed leaks into my eyes that couldn't be stopped. Changed to a SMALL UMFF and worked fine except my forehead projects too far out and with the mask in the last adjustment, the bridge of my nose gets sore. A small piece of moleskin cut about 2 cm high and 3 cm wide with both top edges clipped and stuck to your nose bridge works wonders with this problem when nothing else seems to work!!!!!!!

TSSleepy wrote:Snores can also come from too low of an auto starting pressure. For instance, in my chart below, my snoring goes nuts when I go under much under 10 cm H2O. By looking at a chart like this, you should be able to tell if the snores correspond to leak spikes, or if they correspond to lower pressures.

Your data shows just the opposite! Snores are increasing at higher pressure. The reason for this is your mask is leaking an making the snoring noises due to oil on face, stubble on face, or oil on mask sealing surfaces or straps need to be tightened slightly. If you have someone else that can observe you while you are asleep, they can tell where your mask is leaking. A very small leak can be a very noisy leak. With the spikes you have, there seem to be quite a few sources of the leaks.

ww wrote:Your data shows just the opposite! Snores are increasing at higher pressure. The reason for this is your mask is leaking an making the snoring noises due to oil on face, stubble on face, or oil on mask sealing surfaces or straps need to be tightened slightly. If you have someone else that can observe you while you are asleep, they can tell where your mask is leaking. A very small leak can be a very noisy leak. With the spikes you have, there seem to be quite a few sources of the leaks.

Well, I can't speak for others, but that's not what was happening to me. The leak rates in that 0-1 first hour of sleep are consistent with the posted CO2 exhaust leak rate for my full face mask. I was snoring because the pressure was too low.

Did I have some leaks? Yes, I'm sure I did in those spots where I jumped up over 50 lpm.

Here is the same night, after I raised the low end pressure from 5 up to 10. Same night, same mask. No snores, no pressure spikes. Much better sleep.