British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

I posted this on another forum and the reply i got was "That is so bad that I don't believe it!
I'd call your clinic and talk it through with them."

I have been using cpap since the 10th of Jan , I have just downloaded the data from my machine but don`t really understand what it all means last nights readings for example are -

clear airway apnea 4
flow limitation 1
hypopnea 88
obstructive apnea 36
periodic breathing 4
pressure pulse 111
rera 3
vibratory snore 168
What do you think ?

Thanks in advance .

Do you feel better since you started CPAP?
Do you still feel tired or as bad as you did?

Firstly I am not a Doctor and I bet the reply you got on the other forum he/she is not one either.

Yes to first question? Don't panic, you have improved from what you were.
No to first question? Then I would phone the clinic you got the machine from and ask advice.

Yes to second question? Though it is early days you should be feeling better if you are getting good use from the machine. By good use I mean using it for most of the night, if not all night. Then you need to get in touch with the clinic asap. Explain you don't feel any better.
No to second question? Then don't panic, you should have a follow up appointment, discuss it then. Should you feel worse or no better than you did when you got the machine phone the clinic for advice.

If you have any doubts, phone the clinic for advice.
Most clinics are only to happy to help, talk to a nurse in the first instance.

Hi ,

I can tell you 2 things from your last nights readings -

Hypopnea is episodes of shallow breathing so you had 88 episodes of this ,

Obstructive Apnoea - episodes of obstruction in your airway 36.

Not very good figures you are looking to get under 5 for the night.

I think you need some adjustment with the pressure on your machine or perhaps try another mask.
Either way you need to contact your sleep clinic and get this sorted .

Regards,

It IS early days for you in your CPAP treatment, but it's important to feel secure in what you're doing.

Manyzzzs and Nuneatonman 37 have given you good advice, and I'd just like to say that your apnoeas should start to drop if your machine is doing what it's supposed to do, and you are wearing your mask every time you go to sleep. (Yes every time you go to sleep, not every time you go to bed ... so that means 40 winks on the settee after a good meal too!)

If things don't seem to be dropping as regards the apnoea numbers in a month, go back to your sleep clinic and get them to check your machine and your mask fit. Or if you feel that it's something you don't want to leave so long, contact them NOW.

Only they are medically qualified to interpret your results and compare them to your baseline results and then alter your machine if necessary.

But CPAP is not a 'one-size-fits-all' therapy. You need to have a dialogue with your clinic/technician, and, rather like with a newborn baby, until you get used to your new lifestyle, don't hesitate to contact them for help as often as you feel you need to.

Do keep us posted, and all the very best. x

Thanls for the info , i do have a follow up appointment on the 27th , should i just wait until then ?

Give the clinic a phone and ask advice if you can, failing that the 27th s just a week away. It will also give you time to get more used to the machine. I think this machine you have is just to see what pressure you require. A call to the clinic would confirm this.
When you do go to the clinic do tell them you had problems, wright them down as it is all to easy to forget to ask something.

S2S

Phone the clinic if you need advice from them. They may not be able to see you before the 27th, but worth a try and if nothing else you may get some advice.

Well i went to the hospital yesterday, they only seemed interested in making sure i was using the machine.
They downloaded the data and said " that`s very good , you are managing to use it everynight"

I asked about leaks and she said " oh i did see a couple , i will check your mask" so she turned the machine on ( starts off at 4cm) well it`s not leaking if it does just tighten the straps ".
She gave me a gaget to wear overnigth on my wrist, which i returned this morning.
That`s all , i did mention that i could not breath against the pressure when it goes right up
She just looked at me like you would a poorly puppy.

No mention of AHI`s or anything !

Fed up ******

I have great sympathy for the way you're feeling! Sometimes you think that as soon as you start xPAP therapy all will be well instantly! But sometimes it does take a bit of time to get used to your machine and for a trend of results to show.

Please do try to persevere, but if you are still feeling that you are having to fight the pressure go back to the clinic and see if your machine has a feature that reduces the pressure on the 'out breath' (EPR or expiratory pressure relief) ask them to see if it can be enabled. (You didn't say what machine you've been given but a lot of the ResMed products have this feature.)