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[CPAP] Brand new CPAP user, seeing results after 1st night
#1
Brand new CPAP user, seeing results after 1st night
Hello there!!


I'm April, I'm 29 years old, live in Philly and am BRAND NEW to the whole CPAP/Sleep Apnea world. About a month ago I did a sleep study and got the results of having Severe Sleep Apnea (I'll post the results from my sleep study too) and was prescribed a CPAP machine. Thanks to the subreddit r/sleepapnea I figured out the best way of getting a CPAP and mask squared away so I could get my treatment started ASAP. For the record, prior to treatment I believe I've had sleep apnea my whole life but only since I started grad school a couple years ago it's gotten really out of hand. I've been falling asleep at work and at my internship for my masters program (talk about embarrassing) and have had to pull over while doing long drives to sleep because I couldn't stay awake. When I'd wake up I'd feel indescribably terrible, like I didn't sleep at all and often woke up with a headache. It was really destroying my quality of life and I couldn't take it anymore, and since both my sister and dad had it as well (sister had tonsils removed, and dad was just mild) I knew this was the case.

ANYWAY - So I got the ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine With HumidAir (Card-to-Cloud Version) and the Resmed AirFit™ N30i Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear Starter Pack. Last night was my first night using everything and because I also breathe through my mouth a lot I taped my mouth shut to make sure I was mostly breathing through my nose. Honestly I was so pleased at how comfortable everything was, AND I didn't rip my mask off during the night!! It was all so easy to use, and even though I didn't wake up feeling worlds different, I did feel considerably more rested than before.

As I don't have a primary care doc right now (my insurance sucks and I'm having to battle with them for coverage of my sleep study), and there's SO much support and help online, I wanted to post my results here to get some feedback. I truly don't know what I'm looking at so I'd love any insight/advice/tips/guidance. I apologize in advance for the lengthy post as this is my first one and hopefully my pics all make sense!! (posting sleep study results and OSCAR CPAP results).


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#2
RE: Brand new CPAP user, seeing results after 1st night
well i got some sad news for you Dont-know , we cannot give you any advise cuz your a-ok there's absolutely nothing wrong with any chart and graph from oscar data you posted your ahi is near to perfect just keep continue using your cpap you'll feel better Well-done
SIMPLE ADVISE: keep your ahi below 5.0 and you'll be fine
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#3
RE: Brand new CPAP user, seeing results after 1st night
The large leak at the end of the night isn't major and nothing there to worry about.  But there are some small leaks throughout the night.  Besides mouth breathing, it could be the mask fit.  

The other thing is that a minimum pressure of 4 is a bit low for most folk.  It can cause you to feel "air starved".   For comfort purposes only, I suggest using a minimum pressure of 6cm with a EPR setting of 2.   Using EPR will help with breathing out against the pressure.

Let us know how it works out for you and remember that no two nights will be the same.
As long as you can sleep well and feel rested, that's priority.
OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

_______________________
OSCAR Chart Organization
How to Attach Images and Files.
OSCAR - The Guide
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing therapy
OSCAR supported machines
Mask Primer



INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.  ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA.  INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#4
RE: Brand new CPAP user, seeing results after 1st night
Glad to see you made it here.
Changes with your numbers should be focused on comfort. For that reason I like Opal's change.
Set min =6
set EPR =2, Fulltime
Also make sure you ramp is off. Your pressures are low enough that you have no need for a ramp.

Gideon, aka Beerdujour
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#5
RE: Brand new CPAP user, seeing results after 1st night
RE: @Psychotech: Thank you so much!! That's so good to hear, and I'm definitely starting to feel better already!! Will post more updated pics of OSCAR data from other nights too.

RE: @OpalRose: Okay!! That's good to know. The headgear that I got with the mask does feel big on me, probably cause I went for standard size instead of small size, so I think I'm going to switch that up. And even though I tape my mouth at night I know I can still breathe out of it too. How do I change the pressure to 6cm , and what's an EPR setting/how do I change that? But I am definitely feeling better and well rested so far so I feel off to a good start!!

RE: @Gideon: Good to know about the ramp!! I will figure out how to turn that off too!
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#6
RE: Brand new CPAP user, seeing results after 1st night
Order the Clinicians Manual.  This will explain all the ins and outs of your Pap machine.

https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p...tup-manual

In the meantime, press and hold the Round dial and the Home button for three seconds.
The Home screen is displayed with an unlock icon in the top right corner of the screen.

Once in the Clinicians Menu, you can make the changes needed.
OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

_______________________
OSCAR Chart Organization
How to Attach Images and Files.
OSCAR - The Guide
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing therapy
OSCAR supported machines
Mask Primer



INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.  ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA.  INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#7
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RE: Brand new CPAP user, seeing results after 1st night
UPDATE!

Okay, so it's been a few more nights since using the CPAP and for the most part, everything's been really good!! I'm pleasantly surprised with how comfortable the mask is, the only thing is it does feel loose around my head and I did go for the standard size headgear instead of small, so I may change that out.

Couple of issues tho, is sometimes I have had to take my mask off during the night because I felt like I couldn't breathe. One time I was awake (it was 5 am, I had to be up in a few hours, so I just took it off and went back to sleep) and last night I took it off IN my sleep. Now I know that this is common and this doesn't scare me at all, I'm just aware of it.

I've also been waking up very congested, and that's why I had to take my mask off at night too. On the subreddit someone recommended changing the Humidity level (it is currently at 4 so I am going to try changing it to 6 tonight).

I feel really good about everything so far, but it's weird because one of the nights I had a 0 AHI and 0 Apneas, but I didn't wake up that morning feeling as good as I woke up the NEXT morning, where I woke up before my alarm and practically jumped out of bed, a absolute and complete rarity for me.

I've attached pics from the last few nights and asked some follow up questions so I appreciate any and all help!! Thanks


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#8
RE: Brand new CPAP user, seeing results after 1st night
Someone already suggested this but your min pressure is at 4. 4 is the absolute lowest the machine can go and that setting is used for children. It is why you took your mask off to get more air. 

Again, as others suggested -
Set min 6
Epr 2 full time
Apnea (80-100%) 10 seconds, Hypopnea (50-80%) 10 seconds, Flow Limits (0-50%) not timed  Cervical Collar - Dealing w DME - Chart Organizing
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