Newbie, first several hours of data help

[jayc2]

Hey folks, first off, thanks to everyone here who helps others with this condition so damn helpful!.   

I've just started using a Phillips System One 60 for sleep apnea, and am getting used to the mask.  Last night I recorded about 4-5 hours of data and would love it if someone could look it over and offer any help interpreting the results as well as possibly any advice on pressure.   I woke up around 4 with leakage on the mask, so I'm guessing i need to tighten it some more (it was sealed when I went to bed).

I've attached my results from last night, would love some advice/help.

Thanks again

[Sleeprider]

Welcome to Apneaboard Jayc.  Your first night looks pretty decent with some residual obstructive apnea and hypopnea with your machine set to a range of 8-11.  It's better than it looks, and I suggest you turn off the VS2 events for now.  That can be done at the lower-left corner of the chart or in File/Preferences/Events, and uncheck VS2.  

You experienced obstruction through the night as shown by the snores, the fact pressure stayed near the top of your set range, and the number of obstructive apnea.  In fact, your median pressure was equal to your maximum setting of 15 cm, so you are going to need higher pressure.  There may also be some obstruction being caused by your sleep position.  If your head and neck are poorly aligned we tend to see persistent obstruction and clusters of OA.  This can often be reduced through use of a different pillow or soft cervical collar.

From what we see here, you will heed higher pressure, so a setting range of 11-20 may be needed to see where the obstructive events and vibratory snores (VS) are reduced. 

[jayc2]

Thanks so much, I'll try a different pressure setting tonight. Pillow i'm using a memory foam pill (good one). I'll see what pressure does, and then look at pillow.

[Walla Walla]

I agree with trying the pressure first. I don't think it's positional from what I can see. But it's only one chart so it's hard to tell.

[Sleep2Snore]

Hard to say if your machine is topping out at 15 or it requires mpre pressure I think maybe the latter, in any case, it will do no harm to open up the high end a bit to see if things improve.
It takes a while to get used to the machine, so things will settle a bit, but give it the option to go higher in pressure.

[trish6hundred]

Hi jayc2,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck as you get adjusted to your CPAP therapy.

[jayc2]

Thanks folks for the advice thus far, new recording from last night, slept terribly as the mask leaked and had a heck of a time trying to get it to stop.  Are these respironics masks always this difficult?

[Sleeprider]

Impressive reduction in snoring, but no improvement in OA or CA events. I think this pressure range is what you're going to need on auto CPAP, and the next step is to get the mask working for you. There is a lot of good information in the Mask Primer (last link in my signature) writted by Bonjour. Take a look there for tips. I'm not personally familiar with any full-face mask, and don't see many ComfortGel Blue masks on the forum. Statistically, your leak rate was a bit lower last night than the first, although both nights had a median excess leak of 8 L/min.

Your pressure needs are high enough, that if you don't get some better results and comfort in a month or so, a bilevel may be justified. BiPAP or VPAP machines offer much greater comfort at higher pressures due to the lower exhale pressures, and they are capable of producing higher (25 cm) pressure. It's way too early to judge if you should go this way, but be aware you are in the neighborhood of pressure that usually does better with bilevel.

[jayc2]

So, switched to my nuance mask last night, seems to be better.  Not sure how accurate ahi tracking is though as i'm quite sure I was awake at 5, also sleepyhead says 30 minutes of sleep which isn't right I know I slept better than that

[Walla Walla]

It's not the amount of sleep your reading there. It's the time you started the machine. I agree with Sleeprider about the need for a Bipap. But first it may be worth trying a soft cervical as Sleeprider mentioned. It's a lot cheaper if it works. Only costs around 10 to 15 dollars.