18mo of success, now trouble (elevation?)

[maineiac]

Hey folks,

Turned to this forum when I first got diagnosed about 18mo ago. I don't have my stats handy anymore but I was really high on the scale before treatment. I now use a resmed 11 w/ nasal pillows and I mouth tape. I had been sleeping pretty well - ultimately with no complaints and happy to use the cpap nightly - until I got back to high elevation after a summer down at sea level (I'm in high mountain NM, about 8200ft).


I noticed I was opening my mouth at night again, no problem - I'd just start mouth taping again until I regained that muscle memory. But it didn't seem to be happening, and the last few weeks I've started drooling a lot - resulting in the tape failing and ultimately kind of 1/2 way mouth breathing again... The drooling part is totally new and frustrating.

Sometimes, I wake up thinking I've been rained out - but I'm not. I just can't quite seem to get enough air for a few minutes, then things go back to normal... almost like the cpap is offering significantly less pressure than usual... I can't decide if this is in my head or not.

My O2 this morning was 87%, but my AHI only 1.6. I've attached some Oscar screenshots at the end here.

My first instinct would be to go get another sleep study, but the last one was an absolute joke so I don't see that happening - and it's also at half the elevation of my location (see every complaint everyone's ever made about these facilities and stack them together...)

Really don't know what to do next.

Thank you!

[Deborah K.]

It looks like you are still using ramp as you start at 4 pressure.  You don't need it, so I suggest you turn it off.

Your pressure range is off.  5 is too low for most adults.  Change your range to 7 to 13 because you are also bumping up against your top limit and need more headroom for sure.

As to your tape, you need to use good quality tape and enough of it.  Lots here like Cover Roll Stretch tape or Hypafix tape, both of which are good tapes.  I prefer kinesiology tape as it stretches nicely and conforms to facial contours better.  I need to use 2-inch wide tape cut to 5-1/2 inches long or I still leak.

P.S.  I like your username.  Are you originally from Maine?  In college, I knew kids from there who called themselves Maineiacs, and I got a
kick out of it.