Question regarding software

Hi, I would swear that I already posted this but maybe I failed to hit the submit button.

I see many people here discussing their sleep performance via their software. I am just now getting a machine that will gather data on my sleep but I am not sure what value it would be to me. Can someone please 'splain what use I would have for it?

Thanks,
New

For me, the software is really invaluable. I can see, every day if I wish, what my night was like. I can see what pressures I was at (I have an auto set at a narrow range). I can see what events I had during the night (apneas - central and obstructive, hypopneas, flow limitations, vibratory snore), how many and when I had them as well as AHI. I can see if I had any large leaks at also what my leak rate was during the night.

Knowing my leak rate helps me make sure the mask is fitting well and that I am not mouth breathing. Knowing my AHI shows me if I am below 5 and therefore getting optimum therapy. Knowing what events I had and how many helps me to see, given all the information, whether or not I need to tweak my therapy a bit.

You need to be sure you are getting a FULLY data capable machine to get all this info. Some machines do have a SD card in them but the card only tells you when you used the machine and for how long. It tells nothing about how the therapy is going.

I posted a tutorial on my blog http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/2010/0 ... -tutorial/ so you can see what kind of data you can get and how it might be helpful.

Not everybody has to geek out with data like this, but personally it keeps me engaged and motivated to make my therapy the best it can be, and my compliance is 100% because I take ownership of it. I almost refused CPAP because I hated the fact that it was thrust upon me and I felt that I had no control over the situation. When I learned that I could take charge, it turned my atitude around 180 degrees.

Buying a machine that doesn't collect full data, is like buying a car with the windshield painted black. If you buy a car like that you will have to have someone else direct you to where you want to go, and they may not see clearly either.

The ride is more fun if you can see where you are going. Jim