Hope2SleepGuide

Sleep Apnoea Forum Bringing Help + Support to the Patient

I have been successfully using my air sense 10 since OSA diagnosis, and my AHI is now under 2. I had an appointment with my clinic this week and have been told there is no need for further appointments and just to contact them if I need supplies or there is any problem with the machine.

I have used both full face and nasal masks and established which pressure settings are required for each.

I would like the flexibility of switching between masks as required. For example, I usually use the full face mask (and this is good when I have a cold etc), but I used the nasal mask when I had recent mouth surgery.

I know from experience that if I phone the clinic to ask them to change the pressure it can take ages for them to respond.

When I asked if it was possible to have control of the pressure settings, they advised that this is done centrally. Though they also said some people have found out how to do it themselves!

Has anyone had experience of having control of the pressure settings?

I understand that central control is important when titrating the pressures in the early stages of treatment, but I know what suits me and would love to have the ability to change the setting.

Alternatively would an APAP machine solve the problem?

Any advice?

Views: 186

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

This is NOT a recommendation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNUWhd2UgQM

Thanks Jonathan - I had seen the YouTube video. My question is really about the experience of people who have control of their pressure settings, for example those people who have bought their machines directly and not obtained them through an NHS respiratory clinic. Presumably they set the pressures themselves?

Ramble alert!  My history is that I spent part of each week at a different location, so bought a second machine identical to my fixed pressure NHS machine and set it up to match using the clinician menu.  This was a very long time ago.  The NHS discharged me as self-managing, and in time I bought a DeVilbiss APAP and set my own min and max pressures, and monitored the data just fine.  For example I increased the minimum pressure from 4 to 6 (max was 13) as on 4 I didn't feel I was getting enough air if I had a cold.  Recently following unrelated surgery, they wanted me back under the sleep clinic, who issued me with a ResMed APAP which they control remotely.  At one point I tried changing the ramp up setting, but decided to put it back to the original setting.  The machine checks in with ResMed daily.  I don't know whether it reports any changes I have made, or conversely whether it overrides any settings I have changed.  In the early days of the new machine I had regular contact with the clinic to check the settings were working for me.  (In truth, the DeVilbiss ran at a much lower pressure and ramped up occasionally, whereas the ResMed with the same parameters runs at a much higher baseline.)  I am comfortable using some software called Oscar which lets me download data from both machines and gives much more detail than ResMed's MyAir.  (I power off the machine, take out the SD card, operate the write-protect switch on the card, and read the data using Oscar on my laptop.  I then un-write-protect the card, put it back in the machine, and power it up, and the machine is happy.)  So in summary, my situation is different as the masks I switch between (Sleepweaver and DreamWear) are similar, and my NHS machine is an APAP.  I wonder why you need a different air pressure with different masks, if they use the same hose diameter?  One to discuss with your sleep clinic if you can get hold of them.  May be suggest an APAP would be better if you require a pressure change when you switch masks.   But at the end of the day, if it were me, I would take responsibility for my own health and make the changes I require.  After all, that's what the sleep clinic did when they originally discharged me.  Good luck!

A very helpful reply Jonathan. I found the pressure setting for the full face mask to be too high when I changed to a nasal mask, but perhaps I should have persisted?

I'll try again and I'll also discuss with the clinic whether an APAP would be better.

Many Thanks! 

Jonathan said:

Ramble alert!  My history is that I spent part of each week at a different location, so bought a second machine identical to my fixed pressure NHS machine and set it up to match using the clinician menu.  This was a very long time ago.  The NHS discharged me as self-managing, and in time I bought a DeVilbiss APAP and set my own min and max pressures, and monitored the data just fine.  For example I increased the minimum pressure from 4 to 6 (max was 13) as on 4 I didn't feel I was getting enough air if I had a cold.  Recently following unrelated surgery, they wanted me back under the sleep clinic, who issued me with a ResMed APAP which they control remotely.  At one point I tried changing the ramp up setting, but decided to put it back to the original setting.  The machine checks in with ResMed daily.  I don't know whether it reports any changes I have made, or conversely whether it overrides any settings I have changed.  In the early days of the new machine I had regular contact with the clinic to check the settings were working for me.  (In truth, the DeVilbiss ran at a much lower pressure and ramped up occasionally, whereas the ResMed with the same parameters runs at a much higher baseline.)  I am comfortable using some software called Oscar which lets me download data from both machines and gives much more detail than ResMed's MyAir.  (I power off the machine, take out the SD card, operate the write-protect switch on the card, and read the data using Oscar on my laptop.  I then un-write-protect the card, put it back in the machine, and power it up, and the machine is happy.)  So in summary, my situation is different as the masks I switch between (Sleepweaver and DreamWear) are similar, and my NHS machine is an APAP.  I wonder why you need a different air pressure with different masks, if they use the same hose diameter?  One to discuss with your sleep clinic if you can get hold of them.  May be suggest an APAP would be better if you require a pressure change when you switch masks.   But at the end of the day, if it were me, I would take responsibility for my own health and make the changes I require.  After all, that's what the sleep clinic did when they originally discharged me.  Good luck!

Reply to Discussion

RSS

About

Sleep Apnoea Forum

New to the Sleep Apnoea Forum? 

1. Stop by our Sleep Apnoea Welcome Center to introduce yourself to the SleepGuide community.
2. Start a New Topic of Conversation.
3. Post your photos - of yourself, your old CPAP machine, your new CPAP machine, your pet, something about you!

Interested in advertising, have a problem or need to contact us? Click the Report an Issue page.

 

Latest Activity

Jonathan replied to Richard Smith's discussion air bubbles after weight loss
"Hi My sleep clinic discharged me, saying they were happy I was self-managing.  Roll on a decade and the cardiologists taking care of me were very unimpressed and I was re-enrolled.  I expect remote monitoring with current generation Resmed…"
Sep 1
Richard Smith replied to Richard Smith's discussion air bubbles after weight loss
"Hi Jonathan, Thanks again for the info.  My cpap *should* be monitored by the NHS though I haven’t had any contact from them since pre-covid.  I checked out the link you gave to access extra data and I think that’s going to be…"
Aug 31
Jonathan replied to Richard Smith's discussion air bubbles after weight loss
"Hi I have the ResMed Airsense 10 Autoset (APAP).  It's monitored remotely by my NHS sleep clinic and I believe they can make changes to the settings.  I don't know whether they are notified if I make changes, nor whether they…"
Aug 31
Richard Smith replied to Richard Smith's discussion air bubbles after weight loss
"Hi Jonathan, Thanks for the reply.  I'd say that I'm fairly technical.  I have the ResMed Airsense 10 Elite machine.  I've discovered that I can upload data wirelessly from my machine and having lowered the pressure by…"
Aug 30
Jonathan replied to Richard Smith's discussion air bubbles after weight loss
"Hi You don't say how technical you are, or what sort of machine you use.  However https://www.sleephq.com/ has software which allows you to upload data from compatible machines, and analyse your sleep "score", including a…"
Aug 29
Richard Smith posted a discussion

air bubbles after weight loss

Hi,I've been on Mounjaro for about 3 months now, not primarily for weight loss, but I have lost weight around my face and neck.  I've noticed that I am increasingly getting air bubbles in my mouth which of course is disturbing my sleep (and my…See More
Aug 28
Sally Gray posted a discussion

Micro plastics risks

I was reading an article in the I newspaper today written by a journalist who had her blood tested for micro plastics and was shocked by the results.…See More
Aug 3
Alison Mitchell is now a member of Hope2SleepGuide
Jul 2
John posted a discussion

job with the charity

Was wondering if there might be a job for me with Hope2Sleep?(I also just asked this of a group by mistake)See More
Jun 27
Tracey Tilley updated their profile
May 22
Sharon Sullivan posted a discussion

For Sale - Ventura Full Total Face CPAP Mask

I’m selling an Ventura Full Total Face CPAP Mask Large and two spare liners.  I bought it new from the Hope2Sleep shop, but it is not suitable for me.  Only used for about two weeks so I have washed it thoroughly.   Because of this, it is very much…See More
May 17
Tracey Tilley replied to Jim Scullion's discussion UK Attendance Allowance
"I put in a claim for PIP which was denied and now I am over 66 and on pension I tried for AA. Denied again.I have other health conditions ( Diverticular disease and Bile Acid Malabsorbtion ) which I consider hard to live with and they refused all of…"
May 14
Jonathan replied to Sally Gray's discussion ResMed AirMini for travel
"No personal experience, but CPAP.com review of AirMini The AirMini runs at about 30 decibels, which is about the same sound level as a whispered conversation. For comparison, full-sized CPAPs tend to run around 26-28 decibels. Due to their…"
May 5
Sally Gray posted a discussion

ResMed AirMini for travel

I am considering either buying or renting an AirMini for a forthcoming holiday this month where I will be sharing a twin room. I have read that they’re quite noisy and I don’t want to waste my money on either rental or purchase if the noise level…See More
May 3
Sally Gray replied to Nick Daniel's discussion CPAP Total Face Mask
"Hi, I use a ResMed F20 and had the same issue with the silicone full face mask causing red marks and soreness on my nose bridge. I switched over to the Airtouch memory foam full face masks which are expensive and not supplied by the NHS, but the…"
May 3
Kath Hope replied to Glassdaisy's discussion Soft Cap
"It's very much still relevant and we're getting closer to have them manufactured and has been no easy challenge. In fact we were speaking with the company working with us on this only yesterday. If you're not on our newsletter list…"
Mar 27
Glassdaisy posted a discussion

Soft Cap

some time ago I was told that Hope2Sleep was researching a replacement for the discontinued Soft Cap.. as I have seen nothing to indicate moving forward on this, would I be right in assuming you decided it is no longer relevant?See More
Mar 27
Glassdaisy replied to Nick Daniel's discussion CPAP Total Face Mask
"I expect others may have responded by now, but I use the Fitlife full face mask. I kept getting a hard lump on my nose when first starting out & it got so bad that I ended up buying my own masks as my clinic would only give the Fitlife to new…"
Mar 27
Wendy Anthony is now a member of Hope2SleepGuide
Mar 25
David McDade is now a member of Hope2SleepGuide
Jan 3

© 2025   Created by The SleepGuide Crew.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service