CPAP TRIAL

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Permalink Reply by Javed Iqbal on July 7, 2013 at 0:54

Thank you Mary

Mary Zimlich said:

Javed, in the beginning these problems are common, but overwhelming.  EPR is respiratory relief which reduces the pressure on exhalation for 1-3 cm depending on the setting.  I don't know what type of S9 they have started you on...

When you're ready www.apneaboard.com has the clinician manuals for your machine and it may shed some light on things.  A review of the users manual now that you've a few days under your belt may be helpful.  Don't worry about this stuff until you're curious, except for the users manual. 

There is a lot of debate about something called "sleep debt", in any case your experience is not unusual and things should get better.  I think the ResMed line of full face masks are  hard masks to get a correct fit with.  They should not be too tight and should sort of float on your face with the cushion filled with air and molding to your face.  Even for experienced users this can be hard to achieve at times.  The main thing is not too tight.  There should be no marks on your face.  When you have more experience you may want to try a different mask.  The ResMed masks are fine in materials and construction, very heavy duty- they are very good masks.

Good Luck, please keep us posted on your progress.

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Permalink Reply by Javed Iqbal on July 7, 2013 at 0:59

Thanks for that symmit, personally I think the leaks are occurring when the pressure reaches a certain point. I can breathe through my nose but I'm pretty sure I'm a natural mouth breather but this was only a trial so I'll see where we go from here.

symmit said:

Well done on having a positive outcome! I am not a doctor, but from a look at your graphs it seems to me you are having large leaks during the night and the machine is hitting high pressures to compensate. Are you able to breathe through your nose? If so then you may find a nasal mask easier to seal and work with, also the machine is set for a wide range, it is likely that an increase in the minimum pressure may help even it out and reduce the need for it to vary as much in the night.

Take it slowly, speak to your clinic but it does sound like you are doing really well.

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Permalink Reply by Javed Iqbal on July 7, 2013 at 1:07

Hi Terry, I think they set a wide range of pressure due to it being a trial. When I took the machine back this morning I had a good chat with the technician and she said that when I am issued with my own machine the pressure will be fixed based on their analysis of the data from my trial. I assume this means they can tell from the data which pressure setting suited me best. For the 2nd day running I have felt more energetic so the trial has had a positive impact for me.

 I have attached a screenshot of the 'daily' tab and you will see a break in treatment, this is because the pressure and leak woke me up so I got up for a short while then went back to bed to try again.

Terry Vella said:

Jav, I think your high pressure is way too highyour low is 4 and high is 20, my AHI at my sleep study was 30 and my high pressure is 14, I only get to 14 when I have a huge mask leak. It is probably too late to do much about it now as you are taking it back.

Similar to what Symmit said, not sure if the high pressure is causing the mask leaks or the mask leaks is causing the high pressure.

Can you post me the screen from the Daily tab next to Statstics, that tab breaks up your data minute by minute for each night.

The best way to tell if your therapy is working is how you feel the next day, by the sounds of it you are getting good treatment but maybe not the best, but well done for have the energy to do the gardening.

It's hard when we are tired to do anything but staying heathly by exercising is extremely important to people with sleep apnea but any illness really.

Following on from Kath's point, I live in Australia and our system is different from yours, I know Kath had to buy her own machine so she could get the best treatment available but it does come down to money, good luck with your appt and keep us updated. 
 
Javed Iqbal said:

Hi Terry, I managed to import the data from the SD card and I have attached a screenshot (if it's worked). Not really sure if attaching pictures to posts is allowed but I noticed a link at the bottom of this page to 'upload files'. Anyway, if the picture will show then feel free to make comments about my statistics for the first 6 nights on trial with CPAP.

Incidentally, even though I struggled with the mask again last night I have today, for the first time in a long time, come home from being at work all day and had the energy to do the garden for 2 hours. This is significant to me because usually when I get home from work all I want to do is crash out and I usually do!

 

Regards

 

Jav  

Attachments:

• Daily.JPG, 235 KB

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Permalink Reply by Javed Iqbal on July 7, 2013 at 1:14

I think you're right Kath. I asked the technician how long it would be before I go back again and she said they will analyse the data on Monday and because I'd explained positive results regarding my energy levels in the last couple of days she would get me back as quickly as possible. I asked if I would be given the same machine (Resmed S9 autoset) and she said the machine I'm given will look exactly the same but it will have a fixed pressure instead of an automatic one.

Kath Hope said:

Don't worry too much about the pressures Javed at the moment, as you're just on the CPAP Titration so the hospital have left them at default so they can see what pressures to set you up with when you go back.  Early signs are that CPAP is definitely the way to go for you though, which is great, and once you're set up correctly you should be able to get longer times on the therapy which should help even more with this new energy you're finding.  When do you go back?

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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on July 7, 2013 at 1:17

Jav, the gap is fine we all do that, the CA's which are central apnea's are bringing you AHI up, the centrals are probably being caused by the high pressure or movement or the mask leaking. As Kath said probably not much use worrying about it now, but as long as you feel good that's all that counts. You will start to feel bad again unitil you get your CPAP, basically in the early stages if you don't use it for a night or two, you go back to where you were at the start. Did they say when your getting your machine and which one? Try to push them as much as possible and remember there are machines that are not data capable, that does not mean it doesn't record your data just that you can't use sleephead software to read it. Let us know when you get your machine and mask and what you get, I bet you can't wait now that you feel the energy you have. See it does work, just takes time and patience, good luck.

I just read your post to Kath, that doesn't sound too good, don't want to alarm you, maybe Kath has some suggestions

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on July 7, 2013 at 1:49

Yes, the system is certainly different here Terry.  Javed will not be without a machine, but when he goes back to the clinic they will no doubt swap him to a CPAP with no data   Some clinics do continue to supply APAP, but not many of them!  The thing is that here we get CPAP (sometimes APAP) free under our NHS, so unless people specifically want a better machine they have to get what they're given!

Javed.... don't worry if you're not in a financial position to purchase your own machine, as you will still be well protected with straight CPAP, as the hospital will have checked what pressures you need.  I do have to point out that there are some people who do respond better to APAP, but the majority are fine with CPAP.  It just means that you can't check your data via SleepyHead or other software.

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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on July 7, 2013 at 9:46

I think both countries yours and ours are far worse than the US when it comes to SA treatment, we pretty much have to pay for everything ourselves. If he doesn't get an APAP, I hope Javed can afford one himself, it is the best investment I have evr made, you can't put a price on your health. I'll be getting the same one next time but will be confident enough to buy it over the net next time, they are about a third of the $2,500 we have to pay. Anyway Javed, let us know what you get and push for an auto.

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