Newbie and Confused

First of all, thank you to all of you who obviously work so hard to help all of us! Pugsy suggested I download SleepyHead software which I did. However all of the data is confusing and I admit I need to do more study. The info below is what is on the software for today but I'm confused about a lot of it. Does the leak rate mean my mask is leaking? Is it bad? I love my mask so I hope it's working correctly! I don't remember waking and I don't remember leaking bothering me at all. I'm assuming if the AHI is at 1.07 that is good since it was 35 without treatment. For those of you who know this great information, any suggestions or comments? Thanks so much.

Jaye

Philips Respironics
System One 560P
RemStar Auto with A-Flex
Mode: APAP 8-20cmH2O
Date Sleep Wake Hours
3/15/2014 02:11 14:03 09:18:55
AHIApnea / Hypopnea Index 1.07
HypopneaHypopnea 0.43
ObstructiveObstructive Apnea 0.64
Clear AirwayClear Airway Apnea 0.00
RERAResp. Effort Related Arousal 0.21
Flow LimitFlow Limitation 0.43
VSnoreVibratory Snore 0.32
PB/CSRPeriodic Breathing 0.00%

Event Breakdown


Statistics
Channel Min Med 95% Max
PressurePressure (cmH20)
W-Avg: 8.00 8.00 8.00 11.10 12.00
Minute Vent.Minute Ventilation (L/min)
W-Avg: 6.65 0.25 6.00 13.25 19.59
Resp. RateRespiratory Rate (breaths/min)
W-Avg: 13.49 8.68 13.40 16.00 17.60
LeaksLeak Rate (L/min)
W-Avg: 4.82 0.00 4.00 11.00 17.00
Total LeaksTotal Leak Rate (L/min)
W-Avg: 21.17 1.00 23.00 34.00 45.00
SnoreSnore (unknown)
W-Avg: 0.12 0.00 0.00 1.00 3.00
Insp TimeInspiratory Time (seconds)
W-Avg: 2.14 0.12 2.06 3.00 5.29
Exp TimeExpiratory Time (seconds)
W-Avg: 2.32 0.32 2.26 3.00 3.92
Tidal VolumeTidal Volume (ml)
W-Avg: 483.54 16.67 440.00 860.00 1520.00

Machine Settings
Pr. ReliefPressure Relief None
HumidifierHumidifier Setting x5

Session Information
SessionID On Date Start End
CPAP Sessions
00000289PRS1 CPAP 6h, 47m, 39s 3/15/2014 02:11 08:59
00000290PRS1 CPAP 1h, 56m, 19s 3/15/2014 11:29 13:25
00000291PRS1 CPAP 0h, 34m, 57s 3/15/2014 13:28 14:03

Welcome to the group.

Your machine will report total leak which includes the vent rate. Your numbers look low, so that is probably just the expected vent rate and not anything bad. When you see leak rates mentioned, be aware that Resmed machines only report accidental leak, so a number that is high for a Resmed machine may still be low for you.

When you have time take a look here in this thread as I have tried to explain the basics of what we see when we look at our software reports.
Pugsy's Pointers... understanding your data viewtopic/t88983/Pugsys-PointersSleepyH ... nding.html

All this information is a bit overwhelming at first. I suggest that newbies just concentrate on the very basics.
Events...AHI...and understanding them.
pressure (when using auto adjusting mode)
Leaks...where is large leak territory..and in your case with your machine and your mask at your pressure it is going to be upwards between 80 and 90 L/min.

jaye8898 wrote:AHIApnea / Hypopnea Index 1.07

This is excellent...generally we accept below 5.0 as being acceptable...you are way below that

jaye8898 wrote:Total LeaksTotal Leak Rate (L/min)
W-Avg: 21.17 1.00 23.00 34.00 45.00

Total leak is the mask's expected vent rate plus any excess leak...you won't ever see 0.0 when looking at Total leak because of the vent rate. 21.17 L/min is most likely all vent rate with minimal excessive leaks...this is a great leak number and I wouldn't be worrying about this average...heck the maximum/worst it ever got to was 45 L/min which is still well below large leak territory and most likely was just a brief reseating of the mask leak spike.

jaye8898 wrote:RERAResp. Effort Related Arousal 0.21
Flow LimitFlow Limitation 0.43
VSnoreVibratory Snore 0.32
PB/CSRPeriodic Breathing 0.00%

All these are well within acceptable limits...they would need to be much, much higher for there to be any concern.

jaye8898 wrote:I don't remember waking and I don't remember leaking bothering me at all.

On paper your reports look good. If the leaks don't wake you...that's great because even if they are tiny and they woke you up that might be a problem but since you are sleeping well the we don't worry about leaks.

There's nothing on the data here that is shown that points to anything needing work.
I would be doing a happy dance with that report.
How many hours of sleep are you averaging? Feeling decent?

Thank you both!

Pugsy, you are so knowledgeable! Are you an RT?

I am feeling great compared to how I was. I still have some sleepiness in the daytime but nothing unmanageable. I'm averaging 7.5 hours a night of great sleep. Last night was an exception. I kept waking up and then when I got into some great restful sleep I woke up with a feeling of drowning...lol! My mask and tube were filled with water. The mask made a noise every time I inhaled and I had to take it off and went back to sleep for a couple of hours which I hated to do without my Pap! I have extra tubing but not another mask. I can't afford to buy another one since I'm almost broke from being unemployed. I'm on Medicaid and they only pay for one mask. I love my AirFit P10 since I can't stand much on my face and used a nasal pillow mask in the past as well.

I keep my bedroom on the cold side so I know the hose needs to be warmer. I will think of something to make that happen and also lower the humidity setting a tad.

Once I find work and have the spare cash, I will buy a second mask. I actually have a second machine from when I was on CPAP in the past. It's a RemStar M Series with A flex. Don't know what the difference is between C flex (my new machine) and A flex, though. It's comforting to have the second machine in case of problems. I won't get my permanent machine for 3 months as Washington state's Apple Health (Medicaid) program makes you proove compliance with a rental for that time then they pay for a new one which really isn't a bad deal. I'm very pleased with my doctor, sleep clinic, etc., they do provide everything in house which is nice.

I really appreciate your taking the time to review my results and tell me about them. I will read the information you provided. I have a lot of health issues (diabetes, Grave's Disease, Fibromyalgia, hypertension, major depression, etc.) so knowing the CPap is working well is a comfort. I am blessed to be getting this therapy and with the help from this forum. I've always been a tax payer and it's nice to be getting something back for a change. I hope I get the opportunity to pay it forward at some point!

Thanks again and God bless you!

Jaye

Rain out...condensation in the hose or mask.
The model 560 machine you are using has a heated hose option that would greatly reduce the rain out potential but if it is not going to be a permanent machine then you don't want to go to that extra expense...assuming you don't have the heated hose already..
To check for heated hose...look at your long hose and see if the end that attaches to the humidifier is black or white/gray.
If it is black then you have a heated hose and we could maybe make some adjustments in settings to reduce rain out.

Rain out won't hurt us but it is annoying and as you found out...makes a lot of noise and wakes us up which is unwanted.

Flex options..CFlex vs AFlex...AFlex is for auto adjusting pressures..CFlex for single fixed pressures.
The differences are minor...you can read about them here
http://aflex.respironics.com/

If you don't have a heated hose..then we can use a hose cozy to help insulate the hose to prevent the cooling that causes condensation. There are store bought hose cozies but you can also easily make your own with some sort of light fleece material wrapped around the long hose (I secured with scotch tape) or you can even cut the toes out of some old tube socks and slide them over the hose.

You can of course reduce the humidity setting on the machine but your nose may not like it if you get it too dry.
You can also warm up the bedroom temperature and that will reduce the cooling.

It's simple physics...condensation is the result of the air cooling and no longer being able to hold the moisture...so we do what we can to limit the cooling...either warm up bedroom temp or try to keep the hose warmer.
Also...keep the humidifier lower than mattress so that gravity helps the condensation go back down the hose to the humidifier...I prefer to try to prevent it from happening in the first place though.

Will you be keeping the 560 machine once compliance period is satisfied or will they be supplying a different machine?

Are you wanting another AirFit P10 as second mask? Or are you wanting something else? Maybe I can help.

Thank you, Pugsy. I am working on making a liner for my hose as we correspond!

I would love another P10 but I am not unwilling to try a different one as long as it's a nasal pillow. I just can't take too much on my face since I'm claustrophobic. I used the old Swift nasal pillows back in 2007-2009 but really did not care for it that much. It left embarrassing marks on my face and I see a lot of people in my work (HR Director) when I'm working.....lol! Have to laugh so I don't cry at the prospect of losing my house and everything else! Instead of asking for another mask (I was woefully ignorant) I just finally stopped cpap for seven years! It was probably the worst decision of my life. I had no idea the damage the condition was doing.

I really can't see warming up my room since the Grave's Disease makes me intolerant of heat. I really love the cold because I feel better in it and that is why I moved here to the Pacific NorthWest. If Seattle wasn't so crowded I would move up there where it's even cooler! Hopefully, making a cover for my hose will help. Yes, I read my machine can have a heated hose. Mine is not but I will ask if Medicaid will pay for one when I go for my 30 day visit or may call the Technician sooner as she is very helpful as is my doctor. Their attitude is so positive; they really want their patients to succeed!

Finally, yes my "permanent" machine will be the same model. It will just be brand new I was told. This one is a rental and interestingly, it had other people's data on it when I downloaded mine. Can't do anything about wiping that out since I don't want to do anything to eliminate the last week of my data. I'm not a techie and feel I might mess it up if I try and it's not a big deal because I can see the separation of data.

Thanks again!

Jaye

Medicaid varies by state...so only way to know if it will pay for a heated hose is to ask.
There is a separate billing code for it but there is also a need for a different lid and power supply...so do ask.

Check your private message box please.

I understand about liking a cold bedroom...me too but for other reasons which included hot flashes from menopause.

I could help you remove the prior user data but since you won't be keeping this machine and you are able to easily isolate your data from the mix...we don't need to do it but if you think that whomever supplied the machine to you would care...they won't care and likely wouldn't even notice...so if you want to...it's easy to do.

Pugsy, I don't think it's necessary to remove the data but thank you!

I have found I don't have cravings for carbs anymore and even forget to eat until I start feeling my blood sugar getting low, This is exciting as I need to lose 30-40 lbs. However, I am taking a medication to slow down my thyroid function so weight loss will be a challenge! It's so good to feel better! Amazing what oxygen can do for your brain and body.