RE: Introduction, Leaks, Mask Differences and The Results
(08-09-2019, 04:54 PM)captainsteubing Wrote: Yay! I can't believe I'm excited about a CPAP mask. 
 Welcome to Apnea Board!
Check out the Mask Primer if you haven’t already done so. Lots of good tips.
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ask_Primer
RE: Introduction, Leaks, Mask Differences and The Results
(08-09-2019, 05:26 PM)OpalRose Wrote: Welcome to Apnea Board!
Check out the Mask Primer if you haven’t already done so. Lots of good tips.
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ask_Primer
Thanks OpalRose. Nice, indeed I see some great tips on the Mask Primer.
Geez! the "Run Mask Fit" setting puts out some serious pressure. Feels like every bit of air went down into my belly! Like I really need any more reasons for gas! 
RE: Introduction, Leaks, Mask Differences and The Results
Thank you Captain, I do appreciate the compliment.
I do understand Aerophagia but I would like you to understand how much pressure you are actually dealing with.
Get a tall glass of water and a straw.
Immerse the straw at least 8 inches deep
Now blow bubbles. Any difficulty? Didn't think so.
That is the maximum pressure that a CPAP is capable of. A bi-level, that's 10 inches
08-20-2019, 01:52 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-20-2019, 02:00 PM by captainsteubing.)
RE: Introduction, Leaks, Mask Differences and The Results
Howdy Nice Friends,
Well, now that I'm comfortable with my P30i mask, I thought I'd seek out some additional feedback on my treatment after making some of the suggestions that bonjour gave me. I switched to APAP with Max=9, Min=7 & EPR=2. So far I'm very pleased with my treatment, with low AHIs and my compliance. I'm just wondering if there are any further tweaks that I need to make.
I feel better and more rested now that I am 61 days into treatment, with some of my "sleep deficit paid" and getting more REM & Deep Sleep. I've started using a Fitbit, which I know is not perfectly accurate for determining sleep stages, however it still gives me an idea.
Here is just prior to making the changes to APAP & associated pressures.
[attachment=14680]
Here are my last 2 nights.
[attachment=14677] [attachment=14678] [attachment=14681]
Appreciate any feedback to ensure that I'm on the right track especially with Flow Limitations, although it seems as if the FLs are relatively low.
Thanks,
Captain Steubing
RE: Introduction, Leaks, Mask Differences and The Results
Without complaints, I wouldn't change a thing.
RE: Introduction, Leaks, Mask Differences and The Results
(08-20-2019, 02:46 PM)bonjour Wrote: Without complaints, I wouldn't change a thing.
Thank you kind sir. I certainly appreciate your feedback.
I've been somewhat focused on the FLs since they seem to cause problems that are not usually easily identified. Would you say that my FLs are sufficiently low? I'm aware that they can cause micro-arousals, so would like to put that worry out of my head.
On another note, I read somewhere that it is possible to use the Minute Vent. graph to give a vague indication of the sleep stage. I can't seem to find the article that I read, and wondering if I made it up or does anyone have any info?
Thanks!
RE: Introduction, Leaks, Mask Differences and The Results
On the FL try Ramp off, EPR=3
I would start you at IPAP 7 EPAP 4 which equates to Min Pressure =7 EPR=3 The EPR should help the FL out.
08-20-2019, 03:59 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-20-2019, 04:02 PM by captainsteubing.)
RE: Introduction, Leaks, Mask Differences and The Results
(08-20-2019, 03:37 PM)bonjour Wrote: On the FL try Ramp off, EPR=3
I would start you at IPAP 7 EPAP 4 which equates to Min Pressure =7 EPR=3 The EPR should help the FL out.
Gotcha, thanks! Will fart around with the settings tonight and evaulate the results after a few days.
RE: Introduction, Leaks, Mask Differences and The Results
(08-20-2019, 03:59 PM)captainsteubing Wrote: (08-20-2019, 03:37 PM)bonjour Wrote: On the FL try Ramp off, EPR=3
I would start you at IPAP 7 EPAP 4 which equates to Min Pressure =7 EPR=3 The EPR should help the FL out.
Gotcha, thanks! Will fart around with the settings tonight and evaulate the results after a few days.
Thanks again bonjour, made the recommended settings and this is what things are looking like now. I'm pretty pleased with more and more nights being better. Flow Limitations appear to be down significantly since my previous postings above.
In order to try and semi-quantify the way I feel each day, I've been tracking my sleep stages by Fitbit and comparing to Minute Vent & Tidal Volume. My goal is to see whether my Deep & REM sleep is getting better or worse depending on certain factors. I certainly realize that trying to quantify my sleep is not perfect compared to the gold standard of an EEG, but I'm happy working with the approximations. Pretty much the MV & TV match the Fitbit results, but the Fitbit seems to be more conservative with it's values.
I was following this thread and it got into some details about using FR & TV to estimate sleep stages. Would love to see a Wiki article with more details on how this works. Like I mentioned earlier I'd seen a post somewhere that delved into some detail, but cannot for the life of me find it again.
Another thing that I'm curious is how does EPR=3 reduce FL's? I was under the impression that a higher pressure on exhale would keep your airway "more" open than a lower pressure.
Thanks!
RE: Introduction, Leaks, Mask Differences and The Results
(09-09-2019, 03:13 PM)captainsteubing Wrote: Another thing that I'm curious is how does EPR=3 reduce FL's? I was under the impression that a higher pressure on exhale would keep your airway "more" open than a lower pressure.
No. If you look at my early graphs in that thread you link to, at EPR 3, the flow limit graph is much more active than what you see later at PS 4 or 6.
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