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Hi from new member - Printable Version

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Hi from new member - Shin Ryoku - 10-23-2017

Hi all,

I'm new here - 43 yo and self-diagnosed with sleep apnea.  For a couple years now, I've known from my risk factors and symptoms that I had OSA (high BMI, large neck, witnessed apnea, fatigue, high blood pressure, brain fog), but I kept putting off the doctor's appt and sleep study.

Once I found out that I could buy the gear without a prescription and that it wasn't multiple thousands of dollars, I pulled the trigger on Amazon and am now in the process of figuring out settings that work for me.  I bought a Respironics DreamStation Auto.  

The Sleepyhead data shows plenty of obstructive events, and I already feel better with CPAP (or APAP), so I'm pretty sure the self-diagnosis was a correct one.  At some point I may get an in-lab study and see a sleep doctor, but I'm not in a rush to do so.

Looking forward to sharing my experiences and learning a lot from the folks here.

-SR

RE: Hi from new member - OpalRose - 10-23-2017

Hi Shin Ryoku, Welcome to Apnea Board!

When you are ready and wish to share your data, we would be happy to advise.

Follow the tutorials in my signature line. Especially pay attention to the “organizing” of your graphs, and use an outside source like imgur to post here.

Until you reach member status, just insert a space in the link from imgur, and we can figure it out.

RE: Hi from new member - Shin Ryoku - 10-23-2017

Thanks, OpalRose, will do!

RE: Hi from new member - trish6hundred - 10-23-2017

Hi Shin Ryoku,
WELCOME to the forum.!
Good luck with CPAP therapy.
Hang in there for more responses to your post.

RE: Hi from new member - Shin Ryoku - 10-23-2017

Thanks, Trish! Tons of good information here. I'm looking forward to feeling better. So far, so good!

RE: Hi from new member - Sleeprider - 10-23-2017

If you are having obstructive events, the problem is your minimum pressure is too low. The Philips Respironics Dreamstation is a great machine once you have adjusted the minimum pressure to within 2-3 cm of your therapeutic requirement, otherwise it will leave you gasping for air with OA and H events. Take a look at your median pressure, and set your minimum to at least that level and you will do better. If you are starting with 4-20 pressure, this may take a couple iterations, but it will work to reduce your AHI by about 50% with each adjustment.

RE: Hi from new member - Shin Ryoku - 10-24-2017

(10-23-2017, 08:38 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: If you are having obstructive events, the problem is your minimum pressure is too low.  The Philips Respironics Dreamstation is a great machine once you have adjusted the minimum pressure to within 2-3 cm of your therapeutic requirement, otherwise it will leave you gasping for air with OA and H events.  Take a look at your median pressure, and set your minimum to at least that level and you will do better.  If  you are starting with 4-20 pressure, this may take a couple iterations, but it will work to reduce your AHI by about 50% with each adjustment.

Thanks, Sleeprider.  That's what I am seeing so far.  I've been at it for a week and gradually raising my minimum.  Currently up to 8-20 and seeing fewer obstructive events but still have a ways to go.

RE: Hi from new member - Shin Ryoku - 10-26-2017

Here's what I got last night:

[Image: 37912135442_0f96cbed11_c.jpg]


My obstructive events are much fewer in number since I increased minimum from 7-8 up to 10, and I'm waking up less since I lowered my max from 20 to 14.  

Not sure where to go from here.  Should I keep increasing the minimum or see if I can tolerate a higher maximum?  Or leave things alone and see if my AHI continues to improve on these settings.

RE: Hi from new member - ajack - 10-26-2017

If it was my chart I'd raise to 12 and 16 max. I'd do this because the med is 13.6 and the 95% is 14. I think this will further reduce your OA

RE: Hi from new member - Shin Ryoku - 10-26-2017

Thanks! In general, is it best to try a setting for a few nights before making changes, or is one night enough time to see if something is working?