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+--- Thread: Lorrubdb Therapy Thread: Fine-tuning therapy with Oscar (/Thread-Lorrubdb-Therapy-Thread-Fine-tuning-therapy-with-Oscar)
RE: Need Help! AHI increasing, can't decipher Oscar - Lorrubdb - 02-12-2022
Sleeprider...my apologies, I should have told you upfront when I sent the chart this morning, and shouldn't have even used the oxygen in the first place. So sorry for all of it. You're right, it makes no sense at all to throw something new in the mix when my therapy is finally going so well. It won't happen again.
I did need supplemental oxygen awhile back-my oxygen was crashing even with cpap. I felt depleted the next day, no energy, felt like I couldn't breathe and wanted to lay in bed all day. I'm usually pretty active so got tired of not being able to anything and thought it might help. So it takes around a month to do the testing, get approval and deliver it. I qualified for it then but wouldn't now because sats have been great lately and am feeling much better. So it arrived yesterday, they gave me a plastic adapter and I just inserted one end of the oxygen tubing into the hose that attaches to the mask. I thought/heard it makes very little difference so I just thought well it's here, I'll try it. Clearly a big mistake and I don't blame you for being critical and irritated after working so hard with me to get the settings right. Not that you said you feel that way but anybody would.
I understand the importance of being constant-and I will be. But I'm not sure what you mean about changing my attitude that I control the variables not the machine. Do you mean in general or in reference to the oxygen. I reread that line several times and sounds like a long standing observation on your part. I know I do have a history of changing things on my own, but haven't changed a thing since you gave me the new settings-with the exception of the oxygen of course. Please explain -I truly value and need your help and don't want to be annoying to work with.
So I'll hold off on the oxygen and stick with our program. I'm talking to the doctor in a couple of weeks so will discuss it with him then and tell him I'm doing well now without it.
RE: Need Help! AHI increasing, can't decipher Oscar - Lorrubdb - 02-13-2022
Sending my chart, but for some reason it only shows it was on for 3 hours. Oscar reports it was on from 0030 to 08:14 but also says 3.16 hours, so since it gets the information from the machine does it mean there's a problem with it? I did get up but was pretty sure I turned it back on.
So I think what I did get looks petty good but guess it's hard to tell from limited data. Sats were okay (no oxygen) and feel better.
Thanks Lorie
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RE: Need Help! AHI increasing, can't decipher Oscar - Sleeprider - 02-13-2022
If you are using the smartstart feature for auto-starting it may have shut off the machine, however there is no evidence of a leak or reduction in flow that should have done that. What was recorded looks pretty good.
You don't owe me apologies for using oxygen, but it is a major variable, and my point is that the CPAP therapy was constant, so it was something else that was likely responsible for the change in therapy. Too often, something like that happens, and the first inclination is to blame the CPAP therapy and do something to the settings. Hopefully you see that is not the appropriate reaction.
RE: Need Help! AHI increasing, can't decipher Oscar - Lorrubdb - 02-13-2022
Thanks I’ll try it again tonight and call the dme company if it happens again. I just checked and smartstart isn’t on. Is it better to just disconnect the hose from the mask and leave it blowing when I get up and not turn it off-or does it matter?
You’re very gracious but I do owe you apologies for not telling you about it then complaining/asking you why the results are different. I think I see what you’re saying now- Don’t make a change on my own especially when everything is going well and then blame the machine when it messes everything up. Pls correct me if Im wrong-sometimes hard to see your own behavior, appreciate you pointing it out.
RE: Need Help! AHI increasing, can't decipher Oscar - Sleeprider - 02-13-2022
Looks like you're back on track. I use the smartstart and really like it. it turns the machine on as soon as I mask up and it turns the machine off when I remove the mask. You have my blessings if you would like to give that a try. You would be assured that the machine will be running when you are on it.
RE: Need Help! AHI increasing, can't decipher Oscar - Lorrubdb - 02-13-2022
Done! Smartstart on. Thanks, feels good to be back on track
RE: Need Help! AHI increasing, can't decipher Oscar - Lorrubdb - 02-14-2022
Wow woke up feeling really good this morning with a lot of energy so was a bit shocked to see my chart with AHI over 8 and a ton of centrals. Thought it would look super good. I did have a major problem with my mask-it's the same mask I've been using with good leak rate but last night the seal seemed almost completely gone. It's fairly new so I think maybe the foam got wet and tore although it grossly looks intact. Maybe microscopic tears. So lots of leaks and I just kept tightening and moving it around without much success. I think I hold my breath when I'm adjusting it and since I had smartstart on (which I really liked) maybe it recorded it as centrals?
Especially towards the morning 6ish-7:30 was really struggling with it and was half awake/asleep. So do the centrals at that time not count -is it sleep/wake junk?
Here's my questions - I'm not changing anything on my own anymore (see I can take direction!)
1. Clearly I need a new mask but do you think I should try to switch to nasal-or stick with the same for now but just a new one? So many problems with the face masks. I do have the F30 which covers mouth and nose but is more comfortable and when I did wear it, it leaked some but you said it didn't effect my flow. Should I use that one?
2. Why do I feel good when my chart looks so bad (to me). Does it look bad to you or is to be expected given mask problems.
My sats were fine (sans oxygen), didn't drop lower than 93. Was almost consistently dropping under 90 before.
3. Should I keep the same settings and just try again with a better fitting mask or do you want to change the settings since my centrals are so high?
Please let me know what you think and what to do.
Thanks Lorie
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RE: Need Help! AHI increasing, can't decipher Oscar - Sleeprider - 02-14-2022
I assume you were restless and had a number of mask fit problems during that last session from 06:20 on. The machine scores apnea anytime breathing pauses for more than 10 seconds, and there is a lot of evidence of movement and uneven breathing. Is your clock correct of are you really going to bed at 3:00 AM? With only 3:43 minutes in therapy, I'm surprised you awoke feeling good. It's a positive sign that you are considering your night before looking at the data.
RE: Need Help! AHI increasing, can't decipher Oscar - Lorrubdb - 02-14-2022
No, I went to sleep much earlier, around midnight- or maybe 12:30, I fell asleep watching tv without the mask then woke up and put it on around then. Which reminds me-do you think I should mask up watching tv since I usually do fall asleep? But definitely wasn't at 3am and the resmed reports usage hours of 6:18. The time is correct on my computer and resmed so don't know why it's so off on Oscar. Do you think maybe it's the SD card or Oscar glitch? I didn't even notice the start time but think it's usually right. Will keep an eye on it, that's the second time the recording has been off-remember last time it missed around 5 hours!
Yes I was very restless because of the mask and am surprised I felt good today too-usually need at least 7. Feel a bit tired now though. So when you say irregular breathing, is that from all the movement and exertion fighting with the mask? I probably did hold my breath for more than 10 seconds at a time, I've become aware that I hold my breath a lot when I'm stressed, trying to stop doing that, not good. I noticed my pulse kept shooting up too-had a busy night!
Thanks for noticing-after the oxygen disruption, am determined to follow each and every suggestion. I know I'm very lucky to have someone so incredibly knowledgeable (and kind) as you to help me. Would be really stupid of me not to take advantage of your expertise. Doing it my way didn't go too well. Hope I didn't backslide a lot because of it .
Anyway, you don't sound too concerned about the chart-sounds like it's mostly about the mask. So do you think I should make another attempt to get used to nasal masks? The face masks are just more and more of a nightmare with all the leaking, not to mention the big red marks and dents on my face. At least covered easily with my K95 mask! Or no big changes now?
Thanks Lorie
RE: Need Help! AHI increasing, can't decipher Oscar - Sleeprider - 02-14-2022
Sometimes there can be an import problem, that can resolve by purging the data for that day and then re-importing the data.
Don't worry about the oxygen disruption thing. I'm certainly over it, and it was all about the lesson that when therapy changes, it's usually not the machine when settings are unchanged.
Your results were fine for most of the night that we can see. Everyone has more restless sleep as waking transitions increase. That is why we often refer to it as "sleep-wake-junk".
Things are working well. If you must change masks due to damage or leaks, just make a note of it so we know about the changes.