I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea (AHI 35.3, which was very surprising) a few months ago via a ResMed ApneaLink Air Type III at-home device. BUT I slept rough when I used the testing device and it only recorded for 5 hours and 30 minutes (and I am sure most of those hours were not sleeping since it was a rough night). But, they did consider it a valid report so my Dr. wrote an RX for a CPAP machine.
I got a ResMed AirSense 10 Auto CPAP machine, but couldn't really adjust to it. The exhale pressure (even with EPR at the max) was too much for me, and I would wake up gasping or feel like I was suffocating. I spoke with my Dr. and he agreed to write an RX for a BiPAP machine, and I now have the ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto.
The dual level pressure of the BiPAP has made a all of the difference! I am able to use the machine comfortably and have been doing so for the past month!! I use a ResMed AirFit N30i mask and like the way it feels. I'm sized right in between S and M cushions, so I sometimes swap them on certain nights, but I think Medium might be a little more comfortable.
The reason for my post (besides saying hello and thanking you all for the great info to get me to this point!) is that I want to make sure everything is going well and my machine is dialed in.
Can someone help guide me on what I need to post for you to help me (I set up OSCAR and have my last month imported) and after I post my info, please let me know if everything is optimal or if I should tweak items?
3 concerns I have:
1) Is a higher or lower PS (Pressure Support) setting better? My RX for PS is 6, but I have been tweaking and adjusting that number and it seems like a lower number works better for my compliance, but I want to make sure that lower number isn't bad for my apnea. If a higher number is better, I can try to persist and adjust to it. But i want to know how much this number matters based on my reports.
2) Can you guys look at my report after I post it and see if I am mouth breathing? I *believe* I am, but I want to see if there is evidence from my reports to say I am or I am not? For example, last night the AHI was super low but I feel like I might have been mouth breathing. However, the leak value was very low, but I have no idea how to interpret the data.
3) Is there anything in my reports to indicate that I need to change some other settings like Ti or the auto detection sensitivity levels?
Thanks in advance! Being able to fix a life-altering problem with technology is very cool to me and having a community of experts who want to help each other is even cooler.