[CPAP] Newby not sure if CPAP is the right machine for me

[tcinoz]

OK, I'm reloading one day's data but modified from my previous effort. I still can't get the vertical tags to appear so that they're not superimposed on the y axis numerical labeling, though. If anyone knows why it appears like this and how to correct it I'd be thankful for directions.

[SarcasticDave94]

I think you'll benefit by increasing min pressure to at least 6, 7 maybe better. Also try flex 2 if it's not on.

I'll wait for others to clarify the Philips leaks chart, I'm out of practice. It may be of concern, but I'm not at all certain if it is or not.

[tcinoz]

I think you'll benefit by increasing min pressure to at least 6, 7 maybe better. Also try flex 2 if it's not on.

I'll wait for others to clarify the Philips leaks chart, I'm out of practice. It may be of concern, but I'm not at all certain if it is or not.

Thanks. At the moment it's a sleep clinic making all the adjustments from afar so I don't really have much control at this stage.

As for the leaks, I blew that data sky high (almost literally) last night. I tried again the face mask they had loaned me after I expressed concerns about the results of using a nose mask. It wasn't long before the ask filled with air and was flapping around my face for most of the night. Strange as it might seem, after 3 or 4 almost sleepless nights this seemed easier to sleep through than the periodic (every few minutes) wake-ups I experience using the nose mask. But no one is going to be able to make sense of those leak stats! Not that I think that's the issue preventing me from getting proper sleep.

[PeaceLoveAndPizza]

You can adjust your own machine, there is no reason why you should not. If you need details, start with getting the clinicians manual and we can walk you through type settings as I did earlier in this thread.

https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p...tup-manual

[tcinoz]

You can adjust your own machine, there is no reason why you should not. If you need details, start with getting the clinicians manual and we can walk you through type settings as I did earlier in this thread.

https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p...tup-manual

Thank you. I shall look at that at leisure. Still plenty to learn. For now, my clinician is doing her best and I'm reluctant to rock the boat. As it happens, she's just put me on a fixed level of 7, as you suggested. Could you please explain what's meant by "flex 2"? I did a search in that set-up manual and nothing came up. Thanks again.

[SarcasticDave94]

If your DreamStation is a CPAP, it should have a comfort feature called Flex. It is supposed to modify the single CPAP pressure into a small difference between inhale and exhale pressure.

[tcinoz]

If your DreamStation is a CPAP, it should have a comfort feature called Flex. It is supposed to modify the single CPAP pressure into a small difference between inhale and exhale pressure.

Right, OK - that could be handy. I've passed on a request to my clinician. Thanks heaps - very helpful.

[CPAPfriend]

Your therapy is very inadequate, and there is a lot of room for improvement. Half the night is variable breathing. You do also seem to have a CA issue, but there are a lot of settings changes occurring, and it's better to comment to that end once settings have stabilized for a few nights.

[tcinoz]

CPAPfriend pid='501830' dateline='1707276263']Your therapy is very inadequate, and there is a lot of room for improvement. Half the night is variable breathing. You do also seem to have a CA issue, but there are a lot of settings changes occurring, and it's better to comment to that end once settings have stabilized for a few nights.

Thank you for reaching out - very much appreciated.

Yes, my sleep is all over the place. The main problem being that my breathing slows down to a standstill if I'm not paying attention to it, whether awake or asleep. When that happens, often the machine is providing me with more air than I can breathe in, hence the constant interruptions to my sleep. Lately I tie a bandage around my head to keep my mouth closed and that does seem to help (better than a headstrap).

I'll provide another graph screenshot (apologies for the less than perfect presentation, which I'm at a loss as to how to fix).

My clinician now has me on a fixed pressure of 6.5. The doc said I need to get used to it at a relatively low pressure before raising it incrementally. I'm on flex 3 with it.

My trial period officially runs out tomorrow (Although I've extended the rental for another week). Tomorrow I'll be buying a Resmed Airsense 11 Autoset with a nasal mask. I'm not confident that CPAP will ever work wonders for me, whatever the settings, but occasionally I do seem to wake up refreshed eventually, although I feel semi-awake most nights (but it doesn't feel like insomnia - I go straight back into a light sleep for a few more minutes at a time).

If there's anything you think might help, I'd love to know about it! Thanks so much.

[CPAPfriend]

If you're having issues with your breathing as you describe it, then trialing a more sophisticated model that augments or assists your breathing could help. Based off of the limited data I have available, I suspect your hypopneas might be central. Maybe you could share some up-close screenshots of a few examples. How many days into therapy are you now?