finally found a FFM, but can I improve?

[renoir]

            I hope I don't jinx myself, but I am very happy with the F20 full face mask (I am using the memory foam version) So far, it is comfortable and leaks are minimal. With this mask, my AHI's have dropped under 2, but other indicators have changed somewhat dramatically, including resp rate.
In looking at the charts (all for last night), are there any other adjustments I should make. I use a soft cervical collar.
Thanks

PS. Today is my first sleep doctor visit after getting my APAP, and I am going armed with Oscar charts.

[jaswilliams]

May be more minimum pressure so your machine does not try to work back down to EPAP of 8.4 but your numbers are good how do you feel.

[SarcasticDave94]

One day does not make a trend. Unless it's changed your therapy feel for the bad, see what tomorrow brings. Hope the mask helps consistently.

[renoir]

True. See what tomorrow brings and the next day, etc.
Honestly,  I'm a bit sleepy and have been ever since I started CPAP.
Prior to that, I used an oral device, which worked for a number of years, and I felt pretty good most of the time.
Toward the end, it stopped working.
Onward!

[renoir]

Went to sleep doctor yesterday, first visit since I started APAP. He said he only worries about AHI. Told me not to worry about flow limitation. See him in 9 months.

I continue to be very happy with my F20 memory foam mask. Leaks are small.

But my resp rate and flow limitations are way up from other masks I have used. The machine seems to go into overdrive when my flow limitations are up, and
that often springs a leak.

I realize this is a balancing act... but should I adjust pressure, min/max? Or EPR. At present I am at EPR 2.

Thank you as always.

[Gideon]

What did your doctor say about your RERAs? your RDI. RDI = AHI + RERAs. The issue with RERAs is that they end with arrousal. We treat RERAs by increasing your EPR, so set EPR = 3. Don't tell your doctor but RERAs are treated the same way Flow Limitations are, by increasing Pressure Support.

Honestly though your numbers are really pretty good and you don't treat numbers, you treat patients. So what are your symptoms, how do you feel? With your numbers you need to mostly put them out of mind and find reasons to make adjustments,. Doctors call those things symptoms.

[renoir]

Thanks for your input.

Essentially, the doctor said, 'see you in nine months'

I will put EPR to 3 and remind myself this is a marathon, not a sprint.

This morning it was exciting to wake up at 2:30, know the mask was on, and think, 'this feels pretty good.'

[70sSanO]

Thanks for your input.

Essentially, the doctor said, 'see you in nine months'

I will put EPR to 3 and remind myself this is a marathon, not a sprint.

This morning it was exciting to wake up at 2:30, know the mask was on, and think, 'this feels pretty good.'

When I was more obsessed with numbers my wife would ask me if I felt better before I knew the numbers or after I saw them.

There is some merit in assessing how you feel before the machine tells you how you’re supposed to feel.

I went 10 years without any numbers, not that I would embrace that today, but during that time it never occurred to me that things were not going well.  I was just living my life.

I’m better off today having the data so I can get better treatment, but when I finally got a data machine my AHI was just over 5.  I had no clue.

John