Help Analyzing Sleepyhead Data

[gj1980uk]

Hi everyone,

I started APAP therapy almost two weeks ago. Because of high insurance deductibles etc, I bought my own machine (Resmed Airsense 10 Auto) and have been having good results (AHI 3 or below). I currently have the pressures set wide open, 4-20 because that is what was on my doctors prescription, and have EPR set to 3 and auto ramp on.

I'd like to start dialing in the lower pressures so the machine can easily get to the required pressure when an event occurs - I think 4 is too lo a starting point.

Would someone be able to take a look at the below Sleepyhead screenshots (overview and last 4 days of data - I can post more if needed, or change layout etc) and let me know what you think? I was thinking increasing the lower pressure to maybe 7? And I would like to start weaning off EPR (one change at a time though).

Thanks for everyone's help!

GJ

[attachment=4761]
[attachment=4757]
[attachment=4758]
[attachment=4759]
[attachment=4760]

[trish6hundred]

Hi gj1980uk,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Hang in there for answers to your question.
Good luck with CPAP therapy.

[Gideon]

Welcome to the forum.

First you are having very good numbers, that means that you should adjust slowly.

You have 2 nights where I read the charts as saying IPAP pressure of 7-8 is persistent, 1 night of 9 and 1 night of 10.

I would set the minimum at 7 and verify the higher starting point is working for you.
Then I would increase pressure slowly .4 to .6 at a time (must do .2 increments so .5 cannot happen)  Always let it settle in for 5-7 days before increasing.
Yes this is a conservative approach, but your numbers are solid.
T would expect you to eventually settle between 8 and 10 as the minimum. 

Having said that How do you feel?  Once you have good numbers this really is more important than refining the numbers.

You have some leaks that need to be managed on only Feb 27 so you are good, just be aware if the pop up consistently.  

Fred

[gj1980uk]

Thanks Fred. 

The Feb 27 leaks were probably because I was staying at a hotel and the pillows were awful. I kept having the mask slide sideways off my face. 

All in all, I think I feel good. At least I feeling better than before started therapy. I’m still a little tired during the day but nothing like I was before (and not airing my drive home from work which is good). I’m sure I have some catching up to do before I’m ‘back to normal’. 

Thanks for the help. I’ll try starting at a lower pressure of 7 and see where that gets me.

[ajack]

yes start at 7 and see how it goes, if you are still having snoring, OA and H. I would raise the pressure till they clear. Going by your median number, you may finish up around min 11. Post charts as you go. As you know, you need to fix the leaks. As well as the link ion my signature, there are youtube videos on mask fit and the machine will blow higher pressure with the mask fit function.

[Walla Walla]

Welcome to Apnea Board. I think ajack is right about you ending up at 11cm. I'd go ahead and change your minimum pressure to 10cm right away and than adjust it if needed. No need to waste time.

[gj1980uk]

Hi all again,

So I changed my lower pressure a week ago and have had my AHI kicking around 2 or lower, so things are looking good from that perspective. 

My issue now is with the upper limit of the machine. I have had at least three nights recently where my machine really upped the pressure which felt like it was smothering me and I couldn’t breathe. This woke me up and no amount of calm open airway breathing could make the pressure drop again. Last night this happened at a pressure of 15 or so, but one night it went all the way up to 20 and stuck there. I basically had to turn the machine off and back on again to start again. 

Anyone have any ideas what is happening here? I would have thought on Autoset mode it would drop the pressure back down when it detected there were no more events happening?

Thanks
GJ

[Walla Walla]

Probably reacting to leaks or flow limitations. Can't tell without a chart.

[gj1980uk]

Probably reacting to leaks or flow limitations. Can't tell without a chart.

Thanks,

On mobile right now so I’ll post sleepyhead charts tonight isolating those incidents. It felt like the machine was trying to blow my mask off and making me swallow a lot of air. 

GJ

[Gideon]

Plus the full night please.

Fred