[CPAP] Disappointing Auto CPAP Results

[chill]

The Resmed and Phillips machine prices are usually quite close, some Amazon sales being the exception.  The DreamStation is not a worse quality machine.  Both companies did research, testing, and made (different) decisions about how to best treat sleep apnea.  Some people find that the Resmed method is too aggressive and disturbs their sleep.  Resmed has recently added a "soft mode".  The Resmed algorithm will yield better results when the machine's lower pressure setting is further from ideal.  Personally, I'd rather have my lower pressure closer to my 90% so that I did have to experience large pressure changes.

I would not be too concerned about one bad night.  We all have them.  Maybe you slept on your back when you don't normally, or your head came off your pillow and you tucked in your chin, or you were having a slight allergic reaction etc.  It is the trend and average over time that is important.

[benjaminthurston]

Chill,

Thanks for the response. Yeah, it was the Amazon price I was thinking of, because that's where I bought my DreamStation Auto CPAP, for <$400.

My results do seem to spike up from time to time, but never to the extent of that one night. As you suggested, I'll watch long term trends. Also, now that I've figured out how to check results daily (with SleepyHead, and with DreamMapper once the Bluetooth modem for my older PR System 1 BiPAP Pro machine arrives), I'll be better able to detect problems when they occur, and look for causes.

Thanks again.

[trish6hundred]

Hi benjaminthurston,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck to you with your CPAP therapy.

[Sleeprider]

I agree with the above suggestion of a positional issue. We have some members that will have large numbers of obstructive apnea with snores and flow limits, and it doesn't matter what pressure they have. Some have totally solved the problem using a soft cervical collar or ergonomic pillow that prevents the chin from tucking toward the chest and cutting off their airway. It's amazing how common it it. I'd guess the same thing here, but you apparently don't do it often.

Glad to see you finally have the data rolling. Let us know how the DS works out with the higher minimum pressure. Also watch what happens to tidal volume and minute vent compared to BiPAP when you don't have teh pressure support. I will bet it drops.

[Melman]

I suggest that you compress your graphs a little vertically so the flow limit. graph shows in your screen shots. It was that data that helped pinpoint one of my major issues, which was head and neck position. I purchased a buckwheat chaff pillow which can be conformed to 0.0 to 2.0stabilize head position and my AHIs immediately improved from frequent fluctuations from a range of well under 5 to the mid to high teens to a range of 0.0 to 2. I still have the occasional bad night such as last night (11.8) but they are much less frequent. You will see in the flow limit graph a cluster of significant spikes in the range of  0.5- 0.9 that correlate with most of the apnea events. I suspect I tucked my chin or rolled onto my back and partially closed the airway. I also switched from CPAP to APAP shortly after getting the pillow, which also helped but I believe the stabilization made as much of a contribution.

The graphs can be compressed by placing the mouse pointer over the horizontal line under the graph to be compressed se o the double arrow shows. Then hold the left button down and move the line up using the mouse. It's just like adjusting the height and width of columns and rows in Excel and Word. Of course, you don't need to do that to evaluate the data yourself but seeing the additional graphs will help forum members.

Here is how I recommend you configure the graphs you post. You will see what I mean about the correlation between flow limitation and apnea events.  The first is from last night and shows a single cluster of flow limitations. I''ve also added an w\earlier graph with many more flow limitations which resulted in a forum member suggesting what my problem was.  

[OpalRose]

You can also turn off the Calendar when doing a screenshot, this way you include all of the information in and below the Statistics on the left.

[Melman]

You can also turn off the Calendar when doing a screenshot, this way you include all of the information in and below the Statistics on the left.  

Thanks for the reminder. I usually turn it off but overlooked it this time. I do it the same way I adjust the height of the graphs. There is no visible line but it is right at the top of the tabs for details, events, notes, and bookmarks, I find the calendar pops back again each time I open SleepyHead. I don;t know if there is a way to close it permanently.

[OpalRose]

You can also turn off the Calendar when doing a screenshot, this way you include all of the information in and below the Statistics on the left.  

Thanks for the reminder. I usually turn it off but overlooked it this time. I do it the same way I adjust the height of the graphs. There is no visible line but it is right at the top of the tabs for details, events, notes, and bookmarks, I find the calendar pops back again each time I open SleepyHead. I don;t know if there is a way to close it permanently.

I only turn it off if I need to do a screenshot, otherwise I like to see it if I need to go back and compare days.

[Crimson Nape]

Melman,
If you press the F12 key, it will temporarily turn off the calendar while SleepyHead performs the screen capture.  The screenshot will be stored in the SleepyHeadData->Screenshots folder.  The name will be screenshot-YearMonthDay-HourMinuteSecond.png.  

Here is the name as it really appears:  screenshot-20170228-085819.png