Long Machine use Sleeping Hours?

[Reesche]

Opal or Deborah...

Attached is Wednesday nights numbers.....

Thank you!  Let me know....

Reesche

[Deborah K.]

I have two more suggestions.  Your flow limits could be a bit lower if you increase you PS to 5.

Also, you haven't solved your positional apnea yet.  That could drop your AHI nicely and improve your therapy and comfort.  Have you tried a soft cervical collar yet?  Whatever pillow you are using is not helping.  I bought a child size pillow some years back that tips my head back just slightly, and it solved my positional apnea altogether.  Mine is no longer available, but I found one that looks very similar, sold by TEMU.  Here's a link in case you are interested:

https://www.temu.com/1pc--pvc-gel--non-f...e_sn=22248

I have never bought from TEMU, but their prices are great. It looks like their shipping takes weeks to arrive though.

[Reesche]

Hello Deborah..... Reesche here..... I am confused..... 
Are you OpalRose or are you someone new?  I have been dealing with OpalRose recently.

OpalRose had me change 2 settings...

1. Trigger- From MED to Very High
2. Min. EPAP from 8 to 8.6

Can you explain what the PS setting on my ResMed AirCurve 10 BiPap?  
It was set at 4 and I now set it to 5 per your recommendation?

As I explained to OpalRose recently...
• I am a 70 year old male.
• I have had 2 Tongue Cancer surgeries.
• I wear a Bite Plate to protect my tongue

Cervical Collar?  What else can I add to my current regimen?

Pillows: A while back I used a soft/non-contoured pillow and I think my apnea's were less.  I now have a contoured pillow that is lower in neck and higher on the top of my head. So maybe I need to go back to my softer pillow?  Maybe the contoured pillow is forcing my head to create a chin-down position.

I will look into your suggestion of the TEMU pillow.

Should I send you another screen shot of tonight's sleep session tomorrow morning?

Thank you for all of your input.

Reesche

[OpalRose]

Reesche,

PS is similiar to using EPR as it's used to bring FL down. I don't see much problem with your FL. We normally look at the 95% number to gauge flow limitation and yours is only reading 0.01. So it looks ok.

I think some of the spikes on the FL graph line up with your Positional Apnea. You seem to experience this in the early morning hours and could be what we call Sleep Wake Junk. You're probably between asleep and awake. I don't think you need a cervical collar, but maybe a different pillow as Deborah suggested. The trick is to keep your head from tilting forward. This can occur even if sleeping on your side.

[Reesche]

Thank you...... so....your 2 different people!

I guess I will trust both of you.....

Thanks Girls!

Reesche

[Reesche]

Hello Opal and Deb!

Attached is a session from last night Thursday..... "I woke up this morning a little dizzy but has now resided."

PS setting change as of last night:  Deb.... PS 4 to 5

Let me know where we are at...

Reesche

[Deborah K.]

Yep, we are two different people and OpalRose has way more experience than me.

OpalRose is correct that your flow limits were not high enough to worry about.  In your case it seems raising your PS caused dizziness, so switch right back to 4.  Sorry for creating a problem for you.  

[Reesche]

Thank you Deb for your concern!

Reesche

[OpalRose]

Yep, we're two different people. Sorry, for the confusion. And for the record, Deb gives great advice!

Anyway, I have been thinking about my advice to you moving the Trigger from medium to very high... which seemed to lower CA's very nicely. But I'm wondering if we should back off and change that setting to High instead of very high.
At least for a night to two. Would like to pinpoint if it makes a difference in how it might affect your breathing.

I'm not sure if higher PS caused your dizziness, but want to be sure it's not the trigger setting.

[Reesche]

Well Hello Opal!

Yes I woke up this morning feeling kinda dizzy. I have changed the PS back to 4.  What does the PS actually mean to my therapy?

So, I will back off the Trigger to just HIGH (instead of very high)  and will send another screen shot tomorrow morning for you to look at.

Pillow:  My wife and I took apart my 3 teared Contoured pillow and removed the center section and it seems more like my old soft pillow now.  I doesn't prop up the back of my head as far up now.  So hope this addresses the my obstructive apnea's now.  Chin Tuck. Check out my screen shot tomorrow.

Again........Thank You Opal !

Reesche