[CPAP] Looking for advice

[REPROMANDED]

I'm using an Air Med 10 Elite CPAP machine with full F20 face mask and have been doing so for a couple months. It's been a struggle to use, and I haven't got a very good 4+hours record. Skipping some days entirely due to hay fever symptoms and general lack of faith I guess, as I wake up so much more when using it. 

I have a bmi of around 23.5 according to the NHS website so i'm not overweight if that makes any difference.

I had a recorded OA of 66 seconds the other night, so just looking for advice really.

Regards,

AJ

               

[Sleeprider]

Increase minimum pressure to 10.0 and keep the EPR set at 3. All events are obstructive, and you need higher pressure to resolve these events. If you were using an Autoset machine, it would do it automatically, but since NHS wants to save 20 pounds of cost, we have to do this manually.

[REPROMANDED]

Thanks, I'll give this a try and see how it goes.

[CPAPfriend]

I second what sleeprider said. Pressure is far too low. Up the minimum, the repost your results and we'll go from there. The good news is the route forward is simple!

[Phaleronic]

Sleeprider and Cpapfriend are right on the money, I'd like to add though that you have ramp set for 5 minutes at 4cm, this is worthless in regards to your therapy, could you try turning off ramp completely and see how you do?

[REPROMANDED]

Thank you for the replies. I have increased the pressures but don't have a great deal of data to show for it it as haven't been able to use it that well. 

I struggle at times to breath out through my nose, there have been periods in the past whereby I literally couldn't use my nose at all while i've slept so had to resort to mouth breathing. I have had deviated septum surgery on my nose also, but these issues have both preceded and followed the surgery which was probably 4 or 5 years ago now. I have to wear the mask slightly up on my face too as if it pushes too much around my nose i struggle to breath through it.

As for the ramp up, it was set for 30 mins initially but I reduced that to 20 and recently decided because i keep waking up with a dry mouth and needing a drink, that I'd reduce it further to 5 so it spends less time ramping up, but it's just to give me a bit of a transitionary period really. 

         

[Sleeprider]

Things are improving with higher pressure. The fact you have very good therapy through the first part of the night, and increased flow limits and obstructive events after 3:00 AM leads me to suggest you look at positional issues. https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph...onal_Apnea

[REPROMANDED]

I've not been here for a while but i've been trying to use it more and just looking for some assistance.

Ive been using one of those nose magnet things to open up my airways a bit which seems to help and have a soft cervical collar that I wear also, although not for last night, I forgot.

I upped my pressure to 12, although for a few nights after I was waking up bloated, doesn't seem to be happening atm though.

Last night was the longest I've managed to use it for, images attached.

Any help, appreciated,

thank you

[REPROMANDED]

Last nights graphs while using the collar