+- Apnea Board Forum - CPAP | Sleep Apnea (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Public Area (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Public-Area)
+--- Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum)
+--- Thread: Almost there... Waking early needing more air (/Thread-Almost-there-Waking-early-needing-more-air)
Almost there... Waking early needing more air - HonCoolRick - 03-16-2020
Made some adjustments after some advice here last week, results have been good.
Pressure was starting too low and I was having a hard time falling asleep at night, I upped it some and that problem is gone, but now I'm finding that I wake up an hour or more earlier than usual with the feeling that the pressure is too low for me to get enough air.
Here's my last 3 nights, if anyone has insight it would be greatly appreciated.
And by the way where do you learn to interpret this kind of stuff, is it just long term experience or are there resources out there where I can start to learn it myself.
Thanks
RE: Almost there... Waking early needing more air - OpalRose - 03-16-2020
The most detailed information is in the Beginners Guide to SH. Although we now use OSCAR software, it still applies.
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php/Beginner%27s_Guide_to_SleepyHead#Basic_data_interpretation:_Daily_Detailed_Data
You still have some Flow Limitation and RERA's, so it wouldn't hurt to inch up the minimum pressure a little at a time to see if that clears up. Raise it by .5cm at a time, it probably needs to be at least 8cm or higher, closer to your 95% number.
RE: Almost there... Waking early needing more air - SarcasticDave94 - 03-16-2020
Bump your low number up to 8. Do you have any Flex active? It could be adding to the suffocation feeling; it's not for everyone as I place Flex in the comfort category. BTW Flex isn't the same as ResMed and their EPR, because of how they operate.
RE: Almost there... Waking early needing more air - HonCoolRick - 03-16-2020
I bumped it to 8 last night after posting this. I do have the flex on at 3 right now. Should I be giving myself a few nights each time I bump to see how it goes or is one night enough before the next bump?
RE: Almost there... Waking early needing more air - Gideon - 03-16-2020
RERAs and flow limits. Your only took is min pressure you can keep bumping it up slowly.
Note: the best treatment for flow limits, RERAS, hypopneas, and snores is pressure support. Your machine is not capable of this. ResMed Will work up to 3CMW or a BiLevel machine will provide pressure support
RE: Almost there... Waking early needing more air - OpalRose - 03-16-2020
From experience, turn the Flex setting back to 2, as a setting of 3 seems to be uncomfortable for most.
Flex works much differently than ResMeds EPR, and will only give you up to 2cm exhale relief even if set to 3.
RE: Almost there... Waking early needing more air - Sleeprider - 03-16-2020
I think your sweet-spot is going to be at 9.0 cm, which is your current median pressure, with Flex at 2. There is a lot of flow limit in your results. Feel free to go up gradually or all at once. I think you will be comfortable and find effective treatment closer to your current median pressure.
RE: Almost there... Waking early needing more air - HonCoolRick - 03-16-2020
im looking around and not really seeing what "flow support" really does, would you mind explaining that please? Im trying to learn as much as I can.
also thanks for that link opal, lot to read in there.