Plmnb's Never Ending OSA Journey (Data)

[ApneaQuestions]

I hinted at it in #227 when I said approximately in red bold

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...#pid325851

... but maybe I should have said so explicitly. 

I realized that you were taking things too precisely at that point but didn't know how to tell you.

If you re-read that post and try again, you'll see you can do the whole thing in 4 minutes or less.
Oh well...

[Plmnb]

 Sooorrrry ApneaQuestions.  I tend to want things as perfect as can be with charts and stuff.  I believe I saw the approximately and it bothered me that one wouldn't be the same zoom level as the other.  (It sure would be nice to have a feature that says "zoom to level ??" or "View Level" or something like that).

Regards and appreciating your interest in my never ending journey. 
Plmnb

[sheepless]

" (It sure would be nice to have a feature that says "zoom to level ??" or "View Level" or something like that)."

see post #235 above.

[Plmnb]

Thanks Sheepless, but when I do have to hit the arrow key to move the chart just a tiny tiny smidge either right or left, it jumps/moves past where I want it to be EXACTLY.  I guess if it doesn't need to be exact that is fine.  But if you want to compare apples to apples of time, it should be exact.  But, that is just me I guess.

Appreciate your trying to help me again.  

Plmnb

[ApneaQuestions]

... it bothered me that one wouldn't be the same zoom level as the other. ....

Beating this dead dog right over next to the dead horse that bolted out before the barn door was slammed shut ..... ;-)

Actually they WOULD be at the same zoom level if you did what I said in that post.
They would BOTH have the SAME (but not quite exactly) 2 minute range.  (try it now that the pressure's off) :-)

Gotta watch out for perfectionism... it'll get you in the end.... analysis paralysis.
Just like a deer in the headlights and a baby in a bathtub.. or maybe I'm mixing my similes/metaphors/matadors  ;-)

Looks like you've crossed the Rubicon into BIPAP land.
I think we just won the "longest thread of the year award" too... Yay!
I believe I also won the trite cliché award for 2019.

Now for part TWO... tweaking the BIPAP settings (when it arrives).
There's light at the end of the tunnel (and it's not an oncoming train).

Looking forward to eventually seeing the sleep study report.
So happy that you finally got the attention you needed.

[Plmnb]

 ApneaQuestions,  (Ya know I am a little worried I'll get in trouble for too many of these emojis, but they are really   )

And I WAS going to use the quote thing, but decided....nope.  That has already been addressed.

Now, about the horse (darn a horse emoji would have been nice)...THAT'S THE ISSUE FOR ME, LOL...SAME BUT NOT  EXACT!! (I think there are a few things I don't look for perfection in, I guess this was one of them, I was told today I should try meditation).

Sigh, finally...the BIPAP machine...what I told them I needed in the FIRST dang place.  The sleep tech told me I probably went through this ordeal because they wanted to see if the CPAP would have worked....rrrrgh.  I told her about how ALL my previous records were supposed to have been sent, back at the beginning of November.  Those records show that CPAP was not successful for me from the start of this journey.  Those records should have been enough.  Now of course my patience/impatience will be tested.

As to longest thread award, I think JoeyWallaby might be in the lead.

What is the trite cliche award for 2019?  (How did you get the little line above the e?  This quote is not exact without it.  I'm on a PC at the moment.  I could look it up I suppose, but thought I'd ask you first).  Of course this could end up in some long, drawn out set of instructions....

 ApneaQuestions  (AND many others), for your patience and understanding.  I'll be reading threads and posts by others, maybe chiming in a time or so, as I have already.  I'll let everyone know when I finally get it and start posting some new charts.  (WITH zooms that are the SAME but NOT  EXACT).


PS. There was another patient at the sleep lab last night.  I met her this morning.  She commented that this must not be my first experience with all this.  We talked about it being her first time.  I wrote down the name of this website and told her how helpful everyone is.  I told her I felt very comfortable doing this, in big part to due to the fact that ResMed mentioned this board on their company site.

[Plmnb]

I was thinking, when I made my last post that I would try to give everyone a little break from my constant posting in this thread.  But after the "sleep" I had last night I thought maybe someone could guide me on the transition from CPAP to BIPAP?

My titration for BIPAP ended yesterday morning, so being this is the weekend it will more than likely end up being a couple of days (if I push things like last time), to maybe a week before I will be able to pick up my BIPAP.  My first thought was to not worry about continuing to use my CPAP because I didn't feel any better on it than I did without out.  But then I figured that even with the CPAP my AHI number was significantly lower. (Yes, I realize it isn't just about the AHI number).

So, last night I switched out my ResMed AirFit F20 for my original mask, the Phillips Respironics DreamWear Full Face Mask.  I did this because the sleep lab tech told me I did much better with this mask during the BIPAP titration tests.  Initially, when starting out with this mask instead of the ResMed, I like how it feels less cumbersome.

However, multiple times during the night I was awakened by a couple of problems.  The first problem was the strange noises I kept hearing.  It took me a bit to figure out it was coming from my hose.  I moved it around a bunch, checked I wasn't maybe sleeping on it and squishing it.  That didn't help.  I eventually disconnected it from the mask and water dripped out.  I shook it hard and a large amount of water came out.  Once I didn't get any more water out, I reattached it.  I went back to sleep and there was no more noise.

Unfortunately, a while later, the same problem occurred. I dealt with it the same way I had previously.  And then a third time.  I have not changed the humidity level on my CPAP.  It remains at 8 which is the level I need to prevent dry mouth.  Now, I can't remember if this level was set during my trying this mask originally or if the level was set during my use of the ResMed.  All I know is that with the ResMed I might get a little tiny bit of condensation, but nothing this annoying.

I believe I have read that wrapping the hose in flannel will likely help prevent this issue.

But what I am wondering is, I don't think I had the Max level up at 20 when I originally tried the Phillips so is it likely that because the CPAP is set with this high a level that this might be why I am getting so much condensation?  If this might be the reason, will the BIPAP with this mask still give me the same issue and I will need to wrap the hose?  Or are the BIPAP levels going to be different in some way from the CPAP levels and this will have bearing on condensation?  Is wrapping the hose NOW going to be beneficial until I get my BIPAP? OR, does the pressure level and humidity level have no bearing on each other?

The second problem is the mask seal and slipping/moving issue.  The Phillips mask worked very well during the BIPAP titration in that the tech did not detect leaks/moving of mask issues.  Is this probably due to the types(?) of pressures used with the BIPAP?  Because, this mask with my CPAP slipped and leaked air.  (Like I have said previously, I can't recall when I increased my pressure to 20 on my CPAP, before or after I switched masks).

Is there anything I should bother doing to not have any or all of these issues while waiting for my BIPAP machine?  Even the thought of having one more night, not to mention possibly many more nights of this discomfort, is unnerving.

Is it simply wrap the hose at this point?  Is it adjust the pressure again?  Is it, just deal with it until I receive the BIPAP and go from there?

Have I even made any sense to ya'll of my issues?

Thanks so much in advance for any help.

Regards,
an exhausted Plmnb

[Sleeprider]

I'm sure we recommended using a hose cozy or similar fleece cover. It increases comfort, makes it quieter and prevents condensation. Pressure has nothing to do with condensation in the tube or mask. Condensation occurs when the moist warm air in the tube touches a cool surface below the dew point. The options are to warm the tube or turn down humidification.

[Plmnb]

Yes, thank you very much Sleeprider.  I was pretty sure this would be the way to go.  I guess in my long drawn out way I was wondering what the chances were that I would have the same problem with THIS mask on BIPAP.

I don’t have this problem with the ResMed.  

Do you think a different tube type would be beneficial?  I suppose I should just cool my jets and wait and see.

Regards,
Plmnb

[snorybob]

I & many hose heads have realised that one of their best buy was the hose buddy (amazon) or a DIY gadget. I constantly was pulling, getting tangled, squashing the hose. Got the device, problem solved. Because the hose is coming down from over your head it will also prevent water dripping in your mask (rain out).
                                                       


                                sb.