12-15-2016, 12:50 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-15-2016, 12:55 PM by kacn6771.)
4 Days on first Smart Machine (Good AHI, but lots of events)
Grettings all,
I was diagnosed last year with untreated apnea AHI of 50. I spend the first year on a used Escape S8 brick. As noted in another post I just got a "new to me" smart machine Philips 560 Auto Aflex and am loving it. It is so much more comfortable than my old machine and I love getting the data.
The data is new to me, so I wanted to ask the experts for a little direction. I am happy with my AHI, but am seeing what seems like a lot of events compared to other screenshots I have seen on this site, but would love some help pointing me to which are ones to be concerned with and which are not of concern.
I reset the machine to factory defaults, and started out with a range of 5 - 20. Just last night after reading forums I upped the minimum from 5 to 8 and did appreciate getting more air at the bottom end. I also turned off the ramp.
Any other things I may do to improve my events?
Thanks in Advance!
12/12
12/13
12/14
RE: 4 Days on first Smart Machine (Good AHI, but lots of events)
As you can see, raising your minimum pressure has provided considerable relief in the number of snores, flow limitations and you have reached the point where OA is about gone. You still have a lot of RERA being recorded, and a bit of hypopnea and CA is present. You should note in your most recent results that most of the hypopnea occurred as your device reduced pressure towards the 8.0 minimum. Also note all the snores as your machine took time to reach therapy pressure from the minimum. From this it's pretty clear 8.0 is not sufficient as a minimum for you.
Your median pressure is over 11 cm and so I'm pretty sure you will end up with a minimum pressure around 10. It's fine to take your time and move up the minimum pressure at a pace you're comfortable with. I would look for continued reduction in H and RERA events as you do, as well as near elimination of VS.
What was your pressure setting on the Escape?
RE: 4 Days on first Smart Machine (Good AHI, but lots of events)
(12-15-2016, 01:06 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: What was your pressure setting on the Escape?
Thanks for the fast reply!!
My Doctor originally prescribed an 8 I believe to be adjusted as needed. Since I went the used machine route I was adjusting myself with little knowledge. I moved it up to a 10, and left it there for most of the year, trying 11 for a couple days just before I got the new machine.
I really liked having more pressure changing the min from 5 to 8, so I wont have trouble with 10, since I have been using that for a year with constant pressure and no aflex relief.
I will give that a try tonight, this is so much more fun and empowering having the data and all of the help from this site.
Thanks SleepRider
RE: 4 Days on first Smart Machine (Good AHI, but lots of events)
Hi kacn6771,
It's GREAT that you are getting your machine adjusted to meet your needs. You have a really good attitude toward your CPAP therapy and that will go a long way to getting better sleep, keep up the good work.
trish6hundred
RE: 4 Days on first Smart Machine (Good AHI, but lots of events)
Thanks Trish
Here is my first night on a Min of 10. Sleep was very comfortable, no problem going from min 8 to 10. My AHI went up a bit, and leak rate went up some, my RERA went down significantly like you said SleepRider.
I got a new mask yesterday a dreamwear that I was anxious to try, but decided to stick with my old mask so as not to introduce multiple variables. I am glad I kept the old mask, so I know the leak rate may have come from the higher minimum pressure and not the changing of masks. I will keep the old mask for a few more days and the min at 10 to see how it turns out.
RE: 4 Days on first Smart Machine (Good AHI, but lots of events)
Oops, forgot to add the link
RE: 4 Days on first Smart Machine (Good AHI, but lots of events)
This looks better and the improvements in RERA and snore is pointing to a lower obstruction with the pressure increase. AHI is essentially unchanged, and event distribution for obstructive apnea and hypopnea is pretty consistent. Give it a few days and get past the mask change and we can review again. I think a bit more minimum pressure is going to clean things up, but you're well treated here and can take some time to look at it.