Hello Guest, Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.

or Create an Account


New Posts   Today's Posts

  Should I look for an ASV machine?
User Avatar Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum
Posted by: Arik - 03-26-2024, 06:45 AM - Replies (2)

           

Hi, 
I have to replace my old, faithful S9 machine. I’m considering a ResMed ASV machine for the following reasons:
My S9 reported AHI scores are really low (last 6 months average is 0.68, divided as follows: OA 0.21, CA 0.31 H 0.16). Last week I had a full night PSG test that scored as follows: AIH 13, Mixed Apneas 0.4, and Unclear Hypopneas 12.6. Although I think they messed up the results, still there were a lot of Hypopneas there. CPAP machines are known to miss Hypopneas and RERAs.
Additionally, my breath pattern at night goes disruptive very often. My S9 is ignoring this.
What I’m looking for is a machine that will bring my AHI close to zero, treat my (missed) Hypopneas and RERAs and improve my breath pattern if possible.
Would an ASV machine come up to my expectations? (Disregard the price issue).
Thanks,
Attached are:
Screenshot A – Typical night report with all the settings.
(I’m using constant pressure after endless tries for better overall results).
Screenshot B – An example of disruptive breath pattern.
Screenshot C – another example that demonstrates what happened when I removed my mighty cervical collar at about 1 o’clock….
 
 

Print this item

  Do these waveforms represent an arousal
User Avatar Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum
Posted by: BigWing - 03-26-2024, 03:22 AM - Replies (2)

I'm wondering if these waveforms represent what the experts call 'an arousal' (or even a 'RERA')? I see this many times every night, and the key indicator of them (to me) is a spike in Pulse Rate (from my oximeter).

My breathing is fine and looks like normal sleep breathing, but then for maybe 10 seconds becomes very different....usually with slightly larger inhales and exhales but with a missing breath or two, sometimes returning to a normal sleep-breathing waveform straight away but often becoming more like awake-breathing for a while.

As you can clearly see in the image, at the same time as this sudden change to an odd pattern in Flow Rate there will usually be a brief spike in Leak Rate and in Movement (from the oximeter)....followed about 15 seconds later by a quick spike in Pulse Rate AND - sometimes - a brief blip in SpO2 (but this can go up OR down!).

I am sometimes awoken by these events, but not usually.

[Image: QOp3UTS.png]

Print this item

  Low AHI but still feel tired everyday
User Avatar Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum
Posted by: Abhi - 03-25-2024, 07:10 PM - Replies (5)

Hi everyone,

I would greatly appreciate some help. I have been using pap therapy for around 1.5 years but still do not wake up feeling well rested. 

Could someone please take a look at my most recent data from OSCAR to see if anything stands out?

Thank you in advance!


Machine: Resmed AirCurve V10
Mask: Phillips Fullface Dreamwear
Pressure Settings: 10 (IPAP). 5 (EPAP) (Bilevel)



Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
           
Print this item

  Help Interpreting Charts to ID Potential Palatal Prolapse - Deep Sleep Issue
User Avatar Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum
Posted by: reedro287 - 03-25-2024, 06:43 PM - Replies (5)

I've been using CPAP/APAP for over 10 years after being diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. I'm 100% compliant and use even during naps which are frequent. For the past 5+ years, I've experienced bad daytime sleepiness. Oftentimes, I "have" to nap at least once per day and often 2 or 3x per day ( I work from home). A number of other symptoms - poor memory, focus, mood etc. I didn't think my sleep was the issue because my AHI levels are typically less than 5. After talking to several specialists chasing other possibilities, I ordered an in-home sleep study using Watchpat which is supposedly 98% accurate. According to the sleep study with Watchpat, my AHI was 23 (moderate sleep apnea), but my ResMed data said 4.8 for that same night. Additionally, my deep sleep was 20 minutes vs. 1.6-1.8 hrs which I've read is "normal." So, that's a huge difference between my Resmed data and the Watchpat. I found a study, though, that compared the accuracy of CPAP machines to the Watchpat and they found nearly 50% of CPAP users' AHI event data is understated by their CPAP machines. Using a Apple Watch app the past week, it also says my deep sleep is only 20-30 minutes with only 11 minutes last night. From other symptoms experienced during sleep, I'm wondering if palatal prolapse could be causing the difference in the AHI's identified? Any thoughts, insights or suggestions on possible palatal prolapse, my settings, etc. would be greatly appreciated. I've posted the sleep study data vs. the Resmed/Oscar data from the same night. Thanks!


Adding two other images from sleep study...



Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
                   
Print this item

  Data Comparison - Cervical Collar vs No Cervical Collar
User Avatar Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum
Posted by: phoen1kx - 03-25-2024, 05:59 PM - Replies (9)

I decided to get a Soft Cervical Collar to test if there would be any difference in the CPAP data.  Here's the before and after. If someone would take a look at it, I would really appreciate it.

Before using a Soft Cervical Collar:

   
   


After using a Soft Cervical Collar:
   


From what I can see, the flow rate seems more flat and stable and the peaks look lower. But I'm not an expert and I would appreciate it if a sleep tech or someone who understands data would compare it.

Thanks!

Print this item

  Need help with Airsense 10 AutoSet
User Avatar Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum
Posted by: JonUK - 03-25-2024, 12:55 PM - Replies (2)

Okay, for years I have used a 560P Respironics RemStar which I really like. Less then 30 metres from me they have started building 60 new houses, I sleep during the day, so I have had to move to a spare room further in to the house due to the noise. But at weekends when they are not working I go back to my normal bedroom. I had a pre-owned AirSense 10 Autoset that I never really used as I got it for a back-up, but I have now decided to use it in the spare room so I don't have to move the 560p back and fourth, seemed to make sense given the AirSense was just sitting in a cupboard. 

Anyway, my problem is I think I need to config it better as I am not getting anywhere near as comfortable night sleep as I should be. The AHI shows good, under 2, but I keep half waking up, as though I am in limbo, and then I hear a noise, and when fully awake the weird noise stops dead. So I am assuming it is trying to wake me up, I then half wake, hear the noise, become alert and the noise stops as I am awake. Something like that perhaps. I am not sure if the noise is from my throat or the mask leaking, as I am half asleep, all I remember each time is a noise that cuts out suddenly when I am fully awake. By the way, when I say "keep", I mean once or twice a night, but it is every night so becomes annoying, I also randomly wake up for other reasons so want to reduce my wakes. I just don't feel refreshed when I wake up.

Now of course, I could just go back to my 560p and lug that back and fourth, but I want to try and get to the bottom of this as I am sure it is just configuration tweaking. What is also weird is it keeps saying I only used the machine for under 5 hours. Yet I go to sleep around 7am with it on and wake up around 3pm, but it never shows this. I have used it for about 5 nights now, and all have said to be under 5 hours. 

On the Oscar info I think it is an hour ahead as I wake up at around 3pm but it shows it ending at 4pm, but even if you take it an hour back it still doesn't explain why it would start at 11am instead of 7am. I got the unit second hand a while ago so no idea if this is a fault with the device or not.

So it has the tube temp (I have the heated hose) at 27 degrees Celsius (all my temps are in Celsius). It has the climate control on auto and has humidity on 4. It uses around 3/4 of a tank of water a night. My room is quite stuffy as I have to keep windows and doors closed while I sleep due to the noise, I open the windows when I am awake though to let fresh air in. The room is quite small, what we call a box room in the UK.

I have attached last nights (well, todays given I sleep in the day) result. As I say, I think either the software or machine is an hour ahead. I put the machine on around 7am and stopped using around 3pm. Even when I woke up each time I left the machine on.

You will also see a recent result there from my RemStar to compare it to. So my question really is, what should I try and change to stop the annoyance of waking up half awake and then hearing a noise and then becoming fully awake, this weird sort of effect doesn't happen on my 560p. I use pillows, P10, on both machines. 

Notice also how high the pressure goes on the Airsense compared to the Remstar (I upped the max pressure by 2cm on the airsense given I use EPR 2) ? Could this be as simple as just my sleep position ? I always sleep on my side but I am using a different bed and pillows.

Thanks for any advice. 

Airsense 10................

   

REMStar Comparison.................

   

Print this item

  DreamStation 2 vs ResMed S9
User Avatar Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum
Posted by: gonzalo - 03-25-2024, 11:47 AM - Replies (3)

I'm currently using a DreamStation 2 but I'm not very happy with it. Will it be better to go back to my old ResMed S9 machine? Oh-jeez Oh-jeez Oh-jeez

Print this item

  New Member with new BiPap question
User Avatar Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum
Posted by: Pbeth1 - 03-25-2024, 09:22 AM - Replies (9)

Hi. I have experience with board etiquette but do please tell me if I am stepping out of line here in any way. I have searched posts for content I am seeking to no avail.  I will hope that is a similar result anyone would obtain. 

Pertinent data.  
* 74yoF, apnea dx 2019; untreated events=64
   Originally fitted with CPAP but pressure  became too high
*BiPap is ResMed AirCurve10, S mode
  * settings = 17I/13E preasure;  humidity =1
  * time in service = 4 years

ISSUE and actions:
Suddenly about 4 weeks ago,  I wake in the morning to congested sinuses and accumulated moisture in outer ear canal. It’s literally wet.  Over time it has created severe itching in outer ear. I have attempted to self medicate with steroid cream for itching, decongestant, to no effect. I have adjusted humidity from 3, where it has been for 2 years, to 1. I tried no humidity but woke up so dried out I couldn’t stand it. A setting of 1 helps.  

I hired a consultant who seems entirely capable and who reviewed by OSCAR data. The current settings are his suggestion.  We will huddle sometime soon to see what has developed since our discussion. 

My pulmonologist is willing to be my sleep doc but not very interested in steering anything. I think I have a dme provider but not one provided by him. It was in the same group as one I had when first diagnosed over an hour away. So I think I am self managed. 

THE ASK::  have any of you experienced this?  If so can you describe how you successfully addressed ?

Many thanks for your time. And apologies for challenges in formatting text here. 

Pam

Print this item

  New- CA CA-Tired help with settings advice
User Avatar Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum
Posted by: jenjabba - 03-25-2024, 09:17 AM - Replies (8)

           
I have symptoms of being tired all the time. Waking up feeling like I haven't slept. My doc ordered a basic sleep home test. Came back positive for apnea. Sleep doc ordered a bipap. I don't have good insurance so I bought a used one. AirCurve 10. The sleep doc said use it and that will show what kind of apnea I have. From what I see it looks like CA only.

I have a full face mask I couldn't sleep in. I bought the nasal pillow but it pushes on my nose and bothers me. Maybe I will get use to it. When I loosen it, it leaks. I am a side sleeper only, I don't snore, (as far as I know) . I had my deviated septum and tonsils out years ago and I'm normal weight. I am not financially able to keep going to docs or pay for a full study. I would like to figure out what to do. Docs don't seem to do much.

What should I have my setting at. I have been changing them but don't really know where to start. I've watched many videos /leftylanky/ and read up but I'm not sure.

Thanks.


       

Here are a few more screenshots. I wasn't sure what to include for best interpretation. Thanks.

Print this item

  New Machine and settings not working
User Avatar Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum
Posted by: snapperzz - 03-25-2024, 08:32 AM - Replies (3)

I had been on an auto cpap for years that avergaged a pressure of 16. I had a sleep study that showed oxygen desat so they wanted me on bipap. I just got a Resmed Autocurve 10 with the setting of 13/17. The results have not been good. I am wondering if I should change the settings a bit to let it auto adjust? I think in the split night study it didn’t not capture my normal sleep position or deep sleep long enough to be accurate. What would be the best way to set it to figure out better treatment? My data from Oscar last night is attached. I haven’t woke up with a sweaty neck and apnea symptoms like this in years. Any other recommendations? Thank you in advance. I am very grateful for your help.



Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
   
Print this item


About Apnea Board

Apnea Board is an educational web site designed to empower Sleep Apnea patients.