Newby with strange problem
Folks,
I'm after a bit of advice please,
Home based sleep study showed mild OSA, 14 events per hour (Epworth score was 17 as I recall)
Rented a machine for 4 weeks, (Resmed S9 and H5I humidifier) AHI reduced to <5 after 3 weeks, I felt great.
Bought a machine, the clinician set it up the same as the rental, but now can't get AHI below around 7. Nasal mask.
Had that machine now for 6 weeks.
Clinician says he is not worried and says settings are OK, however I am now feeling worse than with the rental. Constantly tired. Leak is less than 12 ltrs / min, pressure is 6-20, max pressure around 9, APAP mode.
I have the rescan s/w although not sure how to post the graphs from it to the board.
Steve
RE: Newby with strange problem
Hi Steve, welcome to the forum - If the clinician is not a doc than may suggest to find a sleep medicine doc. Your leak at 12 L/min is quite good but do you find yourself adjusting the mask during the night and not sleeping right through or mouth breathing?
RE: Newby with strange problem
Welcome, Steve.
We need to know the model of your machine. ResMed S9 isn't enough info. It should say Escape, Elite, Escape Auto, or AutoSet next to the power button. Please put that in your profile.
Get the free OSCAR CPAP software
here.
Useful links.
Click
here for information on the main alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check it yourself.
RE: Newby with strange problem
I would narrow my auto range and make the bottom number- the epap - your original CPAP prescription, and the higher about 4 above the lower number. Good luck. Sometimes we have an initial period where everything is fine, then the sleep debt comes due and we feel worse.
RE: Newby with strange problem
(07-01-2012, 04:57 AM)SteveC Wrote: Rented a machine for 4 weeks, (Resmed S9 and H5I humidifier) AHI reduced to <5 after 3 weeks, I felt great.
Find out what the pressure was set at on that machine, and set this machine to that same pressure.
Sleepster
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.
RE: Newby with strange problem
Some machines give different readings to other older models but it wont explain why you feel worse, see your doc as soon as you can and explain it to him.
DC
RE: Newby with strange problem
To post the graph as an attachment: (best option)
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...ttachments
To post it as an image:
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...13#pid3213
My suggestion is the same as zimlich's. Narrow down that huge gap in the pressure. Set the bottom number as what your pressure should be and the top number 4-5 points higher.
What was the first machine? Was it also an autoPAP?
Make sure you have the Autoset, not the Escape Auto. If you have that one, take it back.
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.
RE: Newby with strange problem
Hi SteveC, Unfortunately, I can't help you with your question but I would like to take this opportunity to say Welcome! to the forum. The best of luck to you on solving this problem.
trish6hundred
07-01-2012, 02:44 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-01-2012, 03:03 PM by zonk.)
RE: Newby with strange problem
The detective in me tell that Steve using S9 Autoset bc he uses an auto machine that report leak. (whats the breakdown of AHI?)
Narrowing the range is desirable but really should make no difference bc the leak is decent and pressure is not running away. The max pressure is 9 and the auto range is 6-20
need some more
RE: Newby with strange problem
(07-01-2012, 06:22 AM)zonk Wrote: Hi Steve, welcome to the forum - If the clinician is not a doc than may suggest to find a sleep medicine doc. Your leak at 12 L/min is quite good but do you find yourself adjusting the mask during the night and not sleeping right through or mouth breathing?
Leak last night went down to 8, I don't think I'm mouth breathing and I do not adjust during the night. I do wake up sometimes, that is normaly due to needing to go to the bathroom or the wife rolling on to me!
I did switch to a smaller nasal mask last night, I'm trying two sizes, medium and large. The smaller one tends to cause itchiness but has worekd well before.
