Tiredteacher- SleepHQ chart analysis

[tiredteacher]

Can you guys give your opinion on this chart from last night? I have been messing with these settings trying to lower leaks because my machine was originally set at a pressure of 20 max and I was getting massive leaks that would wake me and my wife up. I also had to strap the f20 mask I was using so tight to avoid the leaks that it was hurting the back of my head. Lowering the setting did make the AHI go up from around 2 to what you see in the chart. I wonder if that AHI was even accurate because of the leaks. What would you do based on that data? Go back to the old setting or try to change them to something else?

   


Older chart
   

[Dormeo]

Welcome! Instead of posting screenshots of the Sleep HQ data displays, could you post links? That way we can explore more than just what the screenshot captures.

[tiredteacher]

Thanks for the reply. 

Here is a link to my data from last night:
https://sleephq.com/public/7307fe4a-ff84...2c734b99cb


Here is a link to the other night data I put up a screenshot:
https://sleephq.com/public/f65e6e1f-3560...3624a63d16

Here is a link to another night with really bad leaks:
https://sleephq.com/public/4352191e-15d2...d644104446


Thanks for the help. I didn't realize I could post individual pages on here from SleepHQ. That is pretty awesome.

[Dormeo]

Thanks for the links. Your leaks are mostly below the level (24) at which your machine has trouble compensating, and in that sense they're mostly OK. But they're NOT really OK if they're waking you or your spouse up.

In theory you shouldn't have to cinch your mask tight to control leaks. Try watching a mask-fitting video or two on line for your mask and see if you can fine-tune the fit. Be sure to try it out lying down, turning over, etc. You might get a better or quieter fit if you use a mask liner; try vendor #31:

https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread...plier-List

I'm seeing clustering of snores, heavy flow limitations, and OAs, and this suggests to me that there may be a positional issue causing restriction in your airway. Please read this:

https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph...onal_Apnea

Do you sleep on your back part of the time? Do you sometimes tuck your chin down toward your chest? Do you use a high pillow, or several pillows?

More questions: do you have a stuffy nose? Do you breathe through your mouth during the day?

For now, leave your settings where they are. Instead of trying to change your settings, let's see what we can do with other interventions, once you've had a chance to answer the questions above.

[tiredteacher]

Thank you for your help. I have tried a lot of masks. I currently own the F20, F40, F30i, and the Vitera.
I have settled on the F20 with a large cushion. I couldn't use the F40/F30i because I would end up with the bottom of the cushion in my mouth with the medium cushion and the large cushions leaked air out around my nose. The Vitera makes terrible noises so I gave up on it pretty quickly. I will experiment with mask fit a little more. I have the large/medium cushions in silicone and the foam versions I haven't tried yet. I looked at that padacheek company. I'm interested in that strap they have that goes around the f20 to make it more secure. I will look into it.

I traditionally was a stomach sleeper with higher pillows. After getting on CPAP I have been forcing myself to sleep on my back because of the mask. I switched to a CPAP pillow to try and sleep on my stomach (lunderg) but it still pushed the mask up. After reading your link and doing a bit of searching I see that with obstructive sleep apnea I may have been making it worse by doing this. I will look into the collar, I'm not sure I can manage to wear it. I've never been a fan of things on my neck (ties, tight shirt, etc) What is a recommended collar to get?

I'm definitely a mouth breather which is why I only have tried full face masks. I had my tonsils/adenoids out as a kid and it didn't really help with that despite what the doctor said. I have had a cold, but that is pretty common for me (middle school teacher, kids are germy)

I also bought the VCOM attachment a few of the YouTube cpap reviewers talk about. I haven't tried it yet because I wasn't sure what settings to change on my machine before installing it.

[Dormeo]

I know some people here like the Caldera Releaf collar, though what works for one person might not work for another.

How would you do if you tried to sleep on your sides?

Here's a position that might work for you if you're really wedded to stomach sleeping:

https://www. a DME-owned forum .com/wiki/index.php/Sleep_Positions

It sounds as though you really do need a FF mask, so I hope you'll have some luck with a mask liner and the extra strap.

You're doing the right thing for the FLs and snores by using EPR of 3, so definitely keep doing that. If you can inch your minimum up a little without having your leaks go wild, you might give that a try. Your median is around 14, so you'll probably be comfortable enough if you bump up to 12 and see how that goes.

[tiredteacher]

Thanks again for the information. I bought that collar off of amazon to try.
To be honest I spent 35 years sleeping on my stomach but after getting the cpap I forced myself to sleep on my back due to the hose for the last 6 months or so. I could probably do the same with trying to sleep on my side.

I changed the settings on the machine from 10-15 to 12-15. I will see how it goes.

[tiredteacher]

Here is the data after changing the settings to 12-15.
https://sleephq.com/public/fd0818f7-007a...3e7209211f

Was it better this way or before? Should I change it again?

[Dormeo]

This one night at the revised pressure is marginally better, but I see your EPR somehow dropped from 3 to 2. Leave the pressures where they are but return the EPR to 3.

I think your main focus should be on resolving positional issues. Some people have good luck staying on their sides by propping a pillow on each side of their chest. The one in back discourages you from rolling onto your back; the one in front gives you something to hug, which can help to keep you in position. Another trick people try: put a pocket t-shirt on backwards with a tennis ball in the pocket. There are similar things available on Amazon; try typing "side sleep" into the search box.

[tiredteacher]

Thanks for looking it over. I must have accidentally changed the setting when I changed the pressure. I ordered that collar you mentioned. I'm going to try that first and see how it goes. I should get it tomorrow so I will try for a few nights and post the chart to see how it looks.