Help with Winter numbers?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
bap40
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Location: North Dakota

Re: Help with Winter numbers?

Post by bap40 » Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:55 am

I have changed out nasal pillows and do change them out every 2 weeks or so. I also wash them daily. I am due another whole mask next month. The other thing I end up doing at the end of the life of my masks is to glue on velcro strips to keep everything connected since that is the one thing that goes in the end. My numbers are getting a little bit better as are the mask leaks. It just gets so frustrating hoping every night that my morning numbers will be better than the morning before.
Brooke

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Muse-Inc
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Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Help with Winter numbers?

Post by Muse-Inc » Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:52 pm

Remember, how you feel is more important than your numbers. My numbers are all over the place daily but are pretty consistent weekly/monthly; for the most part, I feel pretty good.
ResMed S9 range 9.8-17, RespCare Hybrid FFM
Never, never, never, never say never.

bap40
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Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:43 am
Location: North Dakota

Re: Help with Winter numbers?

Post by bap40 » Fri Jan 14, 2011 11:27 am

I took some of your advice for trying to get my numbers down in the winter. My set pressure is 10.5. Since that number did not seem to do diddle sqat for me. I turned the machine to Auto and set my bottom number at 11 and top number at 14. For the last 2 days my AHI has come down to 6.4. The leaks were less also. Should I set my bottom number higher since my machine is running at 95% of the time at 14. What about upping that 14 higher or should I just leave well enough alone.
Thanks
Brooke

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kempo
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Re: Help with Winter numbers?

Post by kempo » Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:21 pm

I would try that for a week and then go from there.

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bap40
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Location: North Dakota

Re: Help with Winter numbers?

Post by bap40 » Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:14 pm

I will try that for a week and see what happens. It is still very odd to me that this occurred last winter also. I don't get it!! Last winter I took my machine in for a check-up to make sure the pressures were accurate. They were and I got you know what for changing the pressure myself. Won't bother this time. Hahah...
Brooke

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Muse-Inc
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Re: Help with Winter numbers?

Post by Muse-Inc » Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:50 pm

Reminder: increasing pressure can induce centrals in some, so be sure to check your sleep study to be sure centrals didn't emerge as they increased pressure. You don't want to increase pressure if centrals might emerge.
ResMed S9 range 9.8-17, RespCare Hybrid FFM
Never, never, never, never say never.

bap40
Posts: 879
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:43 am
Location: North Dakota

Re: Help with Winter numbers? UPDATE

Post by bap40 » Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:37 am

I took much of the advice on this board including taking my anti-depressants in the morning instead of at night. I turned my humidifier up.... I upped my pressure from 10.5 to 12. I turned on my c/flex on to 2 for the first time ever. I have never used it before. I actually ended up tightening my Swift LT for her..... and.... this morning for the first time in over 2 months my AHI went to 7.0. Not as good as my 1.7 but so much better. I will continue to tweak after a few nights on this setting.

Thanks for all your advice,
Brooke
Brooke

lakejumper
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Re: Help with Winter numbers?

Post by lakejumper » Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:58 pm

This is coming from a newbie, but could it be possible that your sinuses are more congested and perhaps you are breathing through your mouth in the winter? Would that show up as a leak? I use a FF mask so it may be a question from my lack of knowledge.