Airsense 10 Autoset

Hopeing someone with more experience than myself can help with advice. New member and new cpap user, as in 5 days in. I am using the Airsense 10 Autoset with full face mask and mouthpiece to keep mouth closed. My sleep study showed 70 events per hour, each night I have used cpap average 6 events per hour. My energy is still off, but that is probably until I get more comfortable sleeping with equipment on, for now I will take comfort in knowing my internal health is improving. Anyone else used the Airsense 10 Autoset? I am confused about it features. I understand the Ramp feature, basically takes it easy for first 20 minutes then begins climbing pressure up to my prescribed number. I thought the auto part meant that throughout the night it was calibrating how much pressure I need an adjust accordingly, but this wouldn't seem true for when I awake sometimes the pressure has been full force and I can't get back to sleep. I also notice over the last few nights the pressure has not increased to what I consider full force, very mild and wondering if something is not working. Thanks

Hi. I've been a cpap user for about four years. I use an Airsense 10 autoset now and have been for about a year and also use a full face mask. First, when using the ramp feature, it initially climbs up to the minimum pressure you were prescribed. (mine is set from 10-15 so initially it goes up to 10). From this point the machine will adjust to your needs during the night, raising and lowering the pressure as needed within your prescribed settings. This is the main function of an autoset - it will only use the minimum pressure you need based on your breathing and whether or not you are experiencing an apnea at any given point of your night. When it raises the pressure, it is opening your airway. Once your airway is open, it will maintain that pressure until it is no longer needed, then lower it back down to the minimum setting your doctor prescribed.

As an example - when I mask up, it goes to 10. When I experience an apnea, it may raise it anywhere from 10.1 to 15.0 in order to open my airway. It won't go higher than 15 as that is my prescribed upper pressure. Once my apnea passes it could lower it back down to 10.0 or maintain any pressure between 10-15 in order to maintain my airway. (this is just a simplified explanation)

From your description, is could be that sometimes when you wake up, the pressure could be high due to a mask leak occuring, or you're experiencing an apnea and woke up during it.

At other times when you wake up and feel that the pressure seems lower, it means that you did not need a higher pressure at that particular time.

I suggest you use the resmed "myair" web site. It can give you the basic information on how you did each night; i.e. mask seal, time used, number of apnea events you experienced. Or, you could use a program called "sleepyhead" that is free and available for download on the internet. Sleepyhead will give you very detailed information on each minute of your night using a cpap machine.

I hope this helps, and keep up using your machine. It may take a while, but you will start feeling better, once you get used to using the device.

One more thing....I used to use a nasal mask but started breathing through my mouth while asleep, so I change to a full face mask. I have not had to use a mouthpiece to keep my mouth closed. If you have or continue to have bad leaks with your mask, you may need to try another size cushion or another full face mask. I use the F&P Simplus and the Resmed Airfit F20. They both work for me.....

The reason for the mouthpiece is to keep your jaw from going slack. Regardless of which mask you use, if you jaw slackens and the lower edge of the mask ends up in your mouth, the whole point of positive air pressure becomes moot. I have used the Simplus and the proper size cushion is critical to keeping leaks down.

I agree that you need to monitor for leaks via the myair.resmed.com website feedback to be able to gage leaks and AHI. This will let you know how effective therapy is for a night's sleep and in the long run will help you make smarter decisions on what to do and try to make your therapy more effective. Good luck!