Sierra

With a PC it is quite easy to capture a screen of your daily report if you want to post it here. All you need to do is maximize the window to full screen and press F12. This will save an image in a SleepyHead data folder under your documents, and then in a sub folder called screen captures or something like that. When you post a message here, just left click on that file name in Windows Explorer, and drag it into the body of the message. It will upload and display with your message. Seeing what your typical daily reports look like will be very telling as to what the problem might be, and what may need changing.

Changing settings is actually quite easy. I believe the AirCurve is the same as the AirSense machines. You hold down the round knob and the home key at the same time for about 5 seconds. This will get you into the clinical setup menu, and you can change pressures etc. However, I would caution you to not do that until you have a good understanding of what you want to do. The other way is to get some input here as to what needs to be done, and then do it yourself or ask your provider to do it.

The main thing to look for in the daily report in SleepyHead is the events bar. Mouse over the obstructive apnea events, and make note of what your mask pressure is compared to your maximum pressure settings. (They should display on your machine screen each night when you start up the machine.) If all of your events are happening when the actual mask pressure is at the maximum pressure settings then it would seem your maximum pressure needs to be increase. If most of the events are happening when the pressure is at your minimum pressure setting, then it may need to be increased.

Hope that helps. If you can post your daily report screen shot it would be very helpful.

It is possible you now need more pressure than your maximum pressure setting in the machine allows. When you start your machine it should display for a few seconds while it is warming up the minimum and maximum pressure setting. It will be above and to the right of the circle.

Then if you go to your sleep report below MyAir, you should see some more detailed data like Period, Days Used, etc. If that is not there then you can go into the Clinical Menu and make it available. Just hold down the Home key and the round settings keep for about 5 seconds. That will bring up the Clinical settings menu. Select it, and go down to near the bottom where you will see Options. One option will be Essentials. Select it, and then set it to Plus. Push the Home key and then select to exit from the clinical menu. That will enable the more detailed sleep report from the user menu.

Once you have it then you can select different periods like 1 day, one week, one month etc. At each period you can go further down and see what the Pressure is. This is the 95% pressure which means that your pressure is below that for 95% of the night. Now if that 95% pressure is getting up near the maximum pressure set in your machine, the machine may be limiting the pressure you need to prevent apnea events. In the Clinical Menu you can change your maximum pressure. If you are not comfortable doing that yourself, you can ask your service provider to do it. They may be able to change it wirelessly without you having to take the machine in.

The other thing to check in the more detailed sleep report is central apnea index or CAI. If the last week value is much higher than the last year, it may be increasing. If that is the case it is something to talk to your sleep doctor about. However, the general goal is to be below an AHI of 5, and if you are under that, they are likely to consider you are treated, and nothing needs to be done.

This all said, the better way to monitor your treatment is to use SleepyHead software. It will tell you in much more detail what is going bump in the night. If you are interested, post back and I will give you more detail. It is free software to download, runs on a PC or Mac, and you transfer the data by taking the SD card out of your machine and plugging it into a card reader on your computer.

Hope that helps some...

Sounds like it is just normal movement of the mask.

It sounds like you have a machine that is out of the box and has not been set up. If you need any help doing that, just ask. My wife uses the ResMed S9 Auto machine, and I manage it for her. It will work in the out of the box default setup, but it usually can be made more comfortable and effective with a few setup changes.

I feel bad about advocating the ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto machine to you when it is not available to buy where you are. If you go with the DreamStation Auto BiPAP, here is a link to a technical manual on it. They are fairly complex to set up. If you have any questions just ask. I would also advise downloading SleepyHead and getting it set up. You need a computer and SD card reader. It will be invaluable in helping you get the machine set up properly.

Sleeptech has also confirmed what I was thinking, which was that you are unlikely to really need a BiPAP machine. If you want to go with an Auto CPAP which will be limited to 20 cm pressure, the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet does appear to be available in India.

If you post your sleep test results I can give a much better response when the degree and type of apnea is detailed.

In Alberta it is normal practice to do a free in home trial of the CPAP as a first step. That will quickly confirm a few things. One is how much pressure you need, and that a standard APAP is suitable. The other is more data on the breakdown of your apnea events, and the degree to which an APAP can normalize the breathing. There is no reason not to do that that I know of. In some cases treatment can increase the frequency of central apnea but it is most often temporary. Again that will be quickly determined by your machine. If you get a good APAP like the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet, it will wirelessly send your data to your provider and they can monitor each night. You can also monitor it with SleepyHead software, which I would advise. I would ask about doing a free trial.

The only issue I can think of may be your BC Heathcare system. From what I can see they cover the cost of the machine if your AHI indicates moderate or severe. If mild you may be on your own. Perhaps your results are not bad enough to qualify for a free machine, and the clinic doing the testing is trying to help you if the test results are only in the high mild category. Just guessing.

But like I say, your test results will be very telling as to where you stand now, and what next would be advisable. When you see your provider, be sure to ask about a free at home trial of a machine. And if there is a choice I would ask for the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet. Second choice would be a Respironics DreamStation Auto.

Welcome to the forum.

What is the brand and model of the mask? Sometimes the vent holes are in the tubing attached to the mask.

What is your EPR setting? If you press the Setup button (the one with the check marks on it), EPR should be the first one on the list.

That normally happens when you are using a larger full face mask and the pressure is fluctuating. There are a few possible causes, but the most likely cause is that you are using EPR. Are you? What setting? 1, 2, or 3?

The other possibility may be a flow restriction somewhere. Is the filter on your S9 Auto clean? There should be vent holes in the mask somewhere. Check them to make sure they are not blocked. Also what is the min and max pressures on your machine? Higher pressure can mean more mask flex.

Depending on the level of service they provide, they are probably getting your detailed data wirelessly, and should be able to see what is going on with the pressure. However, if you can get SleepyHead working then you will be able to see it also, and will be in a better negotiating position to get a new machine, assuming yours is defective.

When I had the power supply intermittent failure, I was dealing with an on line supplier in another province. I just sent them a copy of the screen capture that showed the machine stopping and starting all night, and they immediately agreed to ship me a new one. With a complete machine your supplier may have to get authorization from ResMed to replace it. Some evidence would be helpful.