Hi,

i'm a new cpap user. I have technically mild osa (7) but severe during rem (48.6), with an o2 level as low as 88%, and my apneas averaging 23 seconds.

I just had my third night with my resmed machine and mirage quattro mask. Each night I've been able to wear it a little longer. Last night almost six hours.

But I have some questions that maybe you guys have suggestions for.

1. My face gets so hot and sweaty. I couldn't do the nose masks, as I am always a little congested. Probably vasomorot rhinitis. Last night I used a little baby powder, but I'm probably perimenopausal, and night sweats are an issue. It's actually the heat more than anything that makes it hard to keep it on. Any suggestions for managing the clammy, sweatiness of a full face mask?

2. I noticed last night that I woke myself up snoring, even with the mask on. Could this be because the mask isn't cinched tight enough? Or do I need a higher setting. I'm at 7 with cflex of 3.

3. Does anyone know if I can get the machine to let me know how I'm doing? There's a data card, but I have no idea what to do with it!

Thanks!

Michele

mkoven wrote:

3. Does anyone know if I can get the machine to let me know how I'm doing? There's a data card, but I have no idea what to do with it!

What model is your machine?


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Respironics Auto M Series, Pressure: 12 cm
Fisher & Paykel Opus 360 Nasal Pillows
My Sleep Blog

It's a S8 elite...

I think the sweating will likely stop as you get used to the CPAP, your body still thinks something strange and different is happening
tape record the snoring so you can play it back when you enquire about it, something is wrong, CPAPs can cope with some leaks


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respironics comfort gell mask,resmed S6 lightweight CPAP, pressure 10 no humidifier
NO DOCTOR EVER ASKED ME IF I SNORED

mkoven wrote:

It's a S8 elite...

You can get a card reader and software for the ResMed machines online. You should be able to find it at one of the online CPAP merchants. You'll need to buy both the software and the card reader.

I think there is also a way to get it to display more data on its screen. I have a Respironics machine, so I don't know the secret. Hopefully a ResMed owner can help you out with that.


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Respironics Auto M Series, Pressure: 12 cm
Fisher & Paykel Opus 360 Nasal Pillows
My Sleep Blog

It's easy to get the data from the elite. Just hold the left and right buttons down at the same time for a few seconds. You will see "effieciency data " on the screen.  then you press the left key to scroll through the data, the middle key to change the data, leak rate, to ahi to ai to hi.  If I can do it, anyone can. Sometimes the docs order this feature disabled , but you can usually get the dme to enable it for you.  good luck , Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

Michele,
Are you using a heated humidifier?  Have you tried a lower setting on that?  I do notice that the air in my quattro seems too warm at times but I think it is affected by how warm my face or skin temperature is. If I lie quietly for a while, the air on my face seems to get cooler.  Maybe it's all in my head.  I would talk to the doctor about the snoring.  When you check your efficacy data on the Elite, you should get an idea of whether your leaks are excessive and if you are having apneas. You have to check the daily data before noon or it goes away and will be entered into the averages for the week.  I sometimes hear myself snoring during the ramping, as I am falling asleep, so I quit using the ramp and go right to my pressure setting of 10. Good luck and keep up the good work!


Virginia,
I have posted this question in a few different threads on this forum and sent an email to another forum as well as an PM to Crohnie Too but have not gotten any response. (I miss Crohnie, does anyone know why she's not posting?)  Anyway, do you or anyone know if the efficacy data (Leaks, AHI, AI and HI) numbers are a per hour average or the total for the whole night?  
HELP!
Thanks.
Grandma


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ResMed Quattro Full Face Mask
ResMed S8 Escape with heated humidifier
Pressure set at 10

The effiencency rating is per hour.  I have heard that hypnopeas have tendency to be over recorded sometimes on the elite, so take that it mind when you look at your scores.  I've been running around 6 ahi lately, but the apnea score has never been over 2, so I'm not too concerned. Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

My apneas (AI) have ranged from 1 to 7 over a period of 9 days, 7 being kind of untypical.  The first week's average for AI was 3.8.  Do I need to be concerned? Thanks for your help!
Grandma


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ResMed Quattro Full Face Mask
ResMed S8 Escape with heated humidifier
Pressure set at 10

I don't know.  I guess it depends upon how you are feeling, and if you have other health issues , like high blood pressure, or diabetes.  Make sure your doctor looks at the download after you are through with the trial, and ask him what he thinks.  Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

mkoven wrote:

I'm at 7 with cflex of 3.

mkoven wrote:

It's a S8 elite...

Hi Michele and Welcome!

Cflex is a Respironics machine feature, so not sure what you mean by "cflex of 3" and having an S8 Elite (which is made by Resmed, not Respironics)?  Would you please clarify?

As far as having a hot and sweaty face in the mask being caused solely by the CPAP, this can happen if your bedroom temp is warm and/or you're using a humidifier with your machine.  Try reducing the humdifier and/or try reducing your bedroom temp.  You may simply be getting too warm at night, so remove blankets, turn down any additional heat source like electric blanket or mattress pad, etc.  If you feel perimenopausal night sweats is a possibility, a visit to your doctor is probably in order.

As far as snoring with the mask on, this is sure indication you are not receiving correct CPAP therapy.  This could be because your pressure is too low, it could be leaking mask, or it could be due to other factors.

If you do have a Resmed S8 Elite machine, the smartcard is capturing 6 sequential sessions of detailed data (beyond the first 6, the oldest drops off and the newest is retained on the card).  You can give your DME or doctor a call (whoever gave you your machine) and ask them if they will download the card for you.  They will be able to see if therapy pressure is too low and/or your mask is leaking.  

I don't have the info for an S8 Elite but there is a way to see averages as long as the DME or doctor has unhidden/unlocked these displays (I believe they are disabled by default).  Call your doctor or DME and ask to be shown how to see your AHI and leak data each morning.  That will help you ascertain whether your mask is leaking excessively.  If it isn't, and your AHI remains high, your doctor will want to know this.

Blessings,
--pseudonym

Thanks for the tips, I've just gotten the data for the last 2 nights:

one night:

leak .08
AHI 11.0
AI 2.7
HI 8.3

second night:

leak .26
AHI 8.8
AI 2.3
HI 6.9

So how good/bad is that?  On my original study, I had an AHI index of 6.9, so the numbers don't look impressive here, though I had more apneas to hypopneas during the sleep study.

My pressure is at 7 with a relief of 3.

Thanks!

Is this a Resmed S8 Elite as you mentioned earlier?  

If so we also need to know what make/model mask you're using and what mask the machine is set for ("standard", or a certain mask).

Resmed tries to be 'helpful' by attempting to take some of the guesswork out of knowing if leak is excessive.  There is a normal amount of 'leak' for a given mask at a given pressure (the "port exhaust" -- steady stream of air coming from the mask), so Resmed attempts to remove that from the display based on the mask setting.  (I prefer Respironics machines in this respect, they give you the actual total leak and let you work it from there).  

So we need to know your specific mask and also machine setting, so we can see if Resmed's 'helpfulness' has indeed been accurate, or if we need to recalculate the leak figures.

Blessings,
--pseudonym

I have a quattro mirage mask. I think it just has a standard setting, but am not sure where to check that.

To set your Elite for your Quattro Mirage mask, push the left button. Then use the down arrow button until you see "Mask:    ". See what mask it is set for. If it doesn't say "MIR FULL", push "CHANGE" and then use the arrow buttons to find the correct setting.  Then press "apply". The Elite I am using doesn't have a specific Quattro setting but the only setting for full face masks is "MIR FULL" so I am assuming that is the correct one. Maybe someone else knows more about this.  I believe the Standard setting is for nasal masks.  
I hope my instructions are clear enough.
Grandma


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ResMed Quattro Full Face Mask
ResMed S8 Escape with heated humidifier
Pressure set at 10