01-20-2020, 09:02 PM
Noob member here. Need help setting machine.
Hi, I've had my Philips Dreammaster a few years.. No sleep study, but I would like some help setting it up correctly. I have had issues with it in the past. First using a nasal mask the pressure would blow out through my mouth. I switched to a full face mask and I was able to tolerate the pressure a little better-but I am unable to sleep with the mask on all night. Its just so uncomfortable. So I switched back to the nasal mask and I seem to tolerate it a bit better, but I still have a hard time keeping it on all night. I'll post a screen shot of last night, but it is skewed because my nose is running and I am having a hard time breathing through my nose.
I'd love to get some help honing the machine in so I can wear it all night. I also track my sleep with my apple watch and my sleep is so much better and deeper using the APAP. How can I set this this so it doesn't blow my face off with pressure and it is comfortable enough to wear all night. It just seems I get frustrated in the middle of the night and just rip it off.
Thank you in advance for your help.
RE: Noob member here. Need help setting machine.
G'day Harlank. Welcome to Apnea Board.
First, can I ask you to re-post the daily page
in accordance with these instructions. That way we can get a much better handle on what's happening with your sleep.
I don't want to sound preachy (and I am by no means perfect myself in this regard) but if the mask isn't on your face, the machine is doing you no good at all. So you (like me) need to find a way to keep that mask in place all night long. Because everybody's face is different, so are their mask requirements - and it's really a matter of trial and error to get one which suits you perfectly. You've already tried nasal and full face masks but you may need to try different makes and models to get "your" mask. There is an excellent discussion of mask types in our
Mask Primer.
RE: Noob member here. Need help setting machine.
Welcome to the forum.
What I see from what you posted is that your charts are showing a high level of Flow Limits with everything else not being really bad.
What is your flex setting?
The best treatment for you is to actually with another machine because DreamStations do a poor job treating flow limitations. A ResMed AutoSet or a BiLevel such as the ResMed VAuto is better. These machines can effectively deliver a differential in pressure between the inhale and exhale that best treats Flow Limits, the VAuto provides a larger differential and thus is more flexible in approach.
Please show the left sidebar without the pie chart or calendar. When you post as per the organize link it helps us to see cause and effect.
01-21-2020, 08:34 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-21-2020, 08:37 AM by harlank.
Edit Reason: bad screenshot originally
)
RE: Noob member here. Need help setting machine.
Thank you! I did a little better with it last night. Hopefully this screenshot is better.
RE: Noob member here. Need help setting machine.
Hi, I posted a later screenshot as I was asked with the screenshot adjusted. My flex setting is 3. Getting a new machine is out of the question. I'd like to get more out of the masks and machine I own. It seems to be a problem with settings and with the machine coming to pressure and blowing my face off and annoying me while I am sleeping. rather than a mask issue. I would appreciate some help so I can use this equipment like it was meant to be. Thank you.
