Results of Latest Study - Pressure Up from 10 to 14

My Sleep Doc's office just called with the results of my latest study.

I had my first sleep study over 3 1/2 years ago. Diagnosed with Severe OSA back then with RDI of 76.

Titrated pressure = 10.

I also had "Periodic" leg movement of 21.

Latest results. = RDI the same with 76 per hour.

New titrated pressure = 14. Huge Jump !

And the office asked me if I was being treated for restless leg syndrome, which I am not. She asked becasue I had a PSG of 37.1 which she said was high.

I explained to her AND the Tech the night of the last study, that the toops of my feet were itchy for some reason and I kept scratching one foot with the other... hence the larger amount of movement. So I don't think I have Restless Leg, but I'll speak to my Sleep Doc about it at my follow up in about 8-9 weeks.

I tried a FF mask for the first time, and it was OK, but I developed leaks near the bottom of the mask as time went on. It was a Quatro. The Tech only had the one FF mask, so I could not try any other brands of sizes.

I have been using a Resmed Mirage Activa and been fairly Happy with it but wanted to try a FF mask.

I suspect that I may want to switch to a FF Mask in light of the higher pressure of 14 I am going to have to use now.

The Sleep Doc office is going to send over an order for a FF Mask fitting to the Evil DME ( Apria ).

I did have a slight cold that week and actually postponed my Sleep Study by a week becasue the week prior, the cold was severe and I figured it would throw off the study.

Additionally, I have gained 8 1/2 pounds since my last study and I guess that may have affected me as well.

I am concerned about the high pressure and hope I can tolerate it.

I am concerned about that high pressure due to all the posts from people who have a miserable time with pressure that high.

Oh well...... all I can do is try it.

The Doc said go straight CPAP, but I may use Auto and go 12 as the minimum and set to the Upper pressure to the Max pressure and see how I do.

Any suggestion on a Full Face Mask ? What's been the most popular or considered the best ?

Seeing as you're used to the forehead piece... try an Ultra Mirage or a Quattro

If you want a hybrid... try the Hybrid

Quattro's the most popular right now, but that doesn't mean it'll work for you - you must try different ones and sizes to find the right one. What concerns me more is your itchy feet - when's the last time you had a glucose test? Itching can be a first sign of diabetes (along with thirst and having to pee a lot) and you don't want to mess with that. Of course you could also just have dry skin, be allergic to your soap, who knows, but think about it anyhow.

Julie wrote:Quattro's the most popular right now, but that doesn't mean it'll work for you - you must try different ones and sizes to find the right one. What concerns me more is your itchy feet - when's the last time you had a glucose test? Itching can be a first sign of diabetes (along with thirst and having to pee a lot) and you don't want to mess with that. Of course you could also just have dry skin, be allergic to your soap, who knows, but think about it anyhow.

Hi Julie.

You hit the nail on the head. I am taking Metformin for Diabetes at this time. Not severe, but still, I am on medication for it. I never know it could make your feet itch ! Thanks for that info.

I see my Doc about every 4 months or so and she order the usual battery of tests.

Ya..... get up to go to the bathroom several times a night and I know that is not good for restful sleep.

Hmmm.. may as we let it all out.... High Blood pressure.... High Cholesterol..... Diabetes... overweight.... and go to bed too late at night. Oh... did I mention a slightly enlarged Prostate and occasional Gout ?

I know that just ONE of these things is not the end of the world, but when combined, it adds up to a poor nights sleep most of the time.

On a good note... The CPAP therapy has worked for 3 1/2 years but I finally started getting more and more tired in the last 6 months and finally had to break down and go back to the sleep doc.

Hopefully, with the new pressure, I can go last another 3 1/2 years before I have to go back again.

I just gotta find a FF Mask that works and I'll be set.

do you have the results of your latest sleep study?

Just wondering as to what positions you were sleeping in during the titration..

Maybe that jump in pressure can be explained besides eight pounds..

Your Activa should work well with a pressure of 14.

elena88 wrote:do you have the results of your latest sleep study?

Just wondering as to what positions you were sleeping in during the titration..

Maybe that jump in pressure can be explained besides eight pounds..

Hi elena88,

I posted the results in my original post. It's wasn't good..... I have to increase my pressure from 10 to 14.

The Sleep tech weanted me to sleep on my back. I usually roll from one side to another at home and found it very hard to lay on my side at all with all of the gear hooked up to me. So I was not feeling ready for the sandman at any point in time during the study. I thought it woul dbe better since I was used to sleeping wiht the mask on, but it was still a terribly night.

I think the increase in titration pressure is a combination of many things. 8 extra pounds, a slight cold, and who knows what else.

OutaSync wrote:Your Activa should work well with a pressure of 14.

OutaSync,

I hope so.... it may save me some aggrevation and a trip to the evil DME.

I'll find out tonight when I adjust my pressure.

Thanks.

I think the increase in titration pressure is a combination of many things. 8 extra pounds, a slight cold, and who knows what else.

Well, it was just one night, so there is hope maybe you arent stuck with that fourteen..

I know my pressure needs have changed a lot by using my auto, and they sure arent as high as I thought they were..

I hope it all works out, no matter what your pressure turns out to be....

I recently bumped my pressure up from 11 to 15 (per Dr suggestion) to try and eliminate some issues I've been having. Your mask should be ok with the pressure of 14, as my Swift FX handled the pressure of 15 just fine, thank you. Most of the nasal pillows are rated up to 20, so you shouldn't have an issue, unless you just prefer a FFM.

Good luck!

My high pressure is 15 and it's very comfortable with nasal pillows. I occasionally wake enough to notice it, but not enough to be bothered by it.

Deano wrote:Hey pratzert, I just had my 2nd sleep study and now I am at Auto mode 18 min / 20 max. The nasal mask I use is awesome with high pressure and I do not have any issues with leaks.. I did not get much REM at the sleep study and still having problems with sleep at this setting. Graphs from my software is showing that my machine is hitting 20 cm often. Going to a sleep Dr. next week to discuss my next step. I'm sure I will need another machine that can exceed 20 cm..

Deano,

Good to hear form a few that the nasal mask works fine with a higher pressure.

I just finished adjusting my machine without calling the Evil DME...... (shhhhh.... don't tell anyone)

elena88 wrote:

I think the increase in titration pressure is a combination of many things. 8 extra pounds, a slight cold, and who knows what else.

Well, it was just one night, so there is hope maybe you arent stuck with that fourteen..

I know my pressure needs have changed a lot by using my auto, and they sure arent as high as I thought they were..

I hope it all works out, no matter what your pressure turns out to be....

I've got to reinstall the Encore software and monitor the data to see what happens.

But I suspect you are correct and I "hope" it's not necessary to always stay at 14.

Thanks.

Tielman wrote:I recently bumped my pressure up from 11 to 15 (per Dr suggestion) to try and eliminate some issues I've been having. Your mask should be ok with the pressure of 14, as my Swift FX handled the pressure of 15 just fine, thank you. Most of the nasal pillows are rated up to 20, so you shouldn't have an issue, unless you just prefer a FFM.

Good luck!

Tielman,

I think I've had good luck with the nasal mask.... but I did have an incident of a mouth leak during the study. But, of course, it wasn't my mask of choice.

So I decided to try the FF mask and it seemed to be OK and felt better than I thought a FF mask would feel.

Maybe I'll pick up a FF Mask and since my Activa is still in good shape, I'll have them both if I need to switch.

Thanks