Help for new user. Can't figure this out.

[JonHG]

Hi everyone, I can't seem to get my CPAP machine to work consistently. I've been using it for 3 weeks and apart from 3 near perfect nights, it's been making things worse than before. I find it very comfortable to use and I can feel it working in terms of the pressure inside my lungs. I go to sleep and wake up with the mask on so it's not coming off during the night. I use the Philips Dreamstation and the Dreamwear nasal pillow mask.

Interestingly the results from the device itself show very low AHI and no problems but I also track O2 saturation with a Viatom ring. Apart from the 3 good nights, the results from the ring are worse than when i don't use the machine. I also feel like total garbage during the day so I know it's not working properly.

I completed a sleep study recently and am just waiting for an appointment with the ENT on Friday to discuss the results but my O2 results from the ring show mild to moderate sleep apea.


The 3 good nights were at a presure of 8, 7.5 and 7. EPR 2, no ramp.

8-12 worked for one night and then the next few nights it was awful so I adjusted the pressure up by 0.5 twice.
8.5-12 and 9-12 were even worse so I went down to 7.5.
7.5-12 worked for one night and then a few awful nights so I dropped it down by another 0.5. 
Then the same thing happened with 7-12, one good night followed by three bad ones. 

I've also tried turning the auto off and just running 7.5 and 7 without the range but it makes no difference.

Last night I tried turning the EPR off at 7 and it was the worst so far. 18 drops per hour.

Not sure where to go from here, I'm ready to give up as it's making my life hell. It seems there's no rhyme or reason as to why it works for one night on a new setting and then stops working.

Would really appreciate some advice.



I've attached a few OSCAR results.

Thanks

[PeaceLoveAndPizza]

First, please read the link in my signature "Formatting OSCAR Charts". Initially, the graphs we need to see are:  Events, Pressure, Flow Rate, Flow Limitation (you will not have a separate graph with this machine), and the Leak Rate Graph.  Always include the entire left side bar, minus the calendar and pie graph. 

Once you have reposted with those graphs, folks will be able to offer suggestions. Also, when you have a shorter session (nap I assume), you can turn ir off by clicking on the short session in the lower left hand corner to turn it off and have it removed from the graphs.

[SarcasticDave94]

The Philips Respironics machines are slow to respond, acting in a reactionary fashion. This means your min pressure likely will need to be about 9-9.5. They don't seem to work well if your pressure is lower than what's needed for therapy.