APNEAS AND LEAKS ARE SKYROCKETING!

[jennie54]

Hi - iIhaven't posted anything on here since last october 2019 but feel like i need some advice now.

I'm 65 and was diagnosed with OSA about 11 years ago and am 100% compliant with CPAP use. My numbers have gone up and down over all this time and I have posted my oscar data from time to time to get help. I still use the Phillips Respironics system one Remstar Pro Flex+ machine which i've had since early 2015.

I have had some health issues of late - like a bout of acute diverticulitis and recent discovery of a pancreatic cyst, along with my current copd, respiratory problems and irregular heart beat and gerd etc. Lots of health problems weighing on my mind! 

Now With this new covid 19 virus i'm wondering if the extreme added stress (staying in and isolating myself from the outside world and not seeing family, grandkids etc.) Could maybe have an impact on the numbers i am seeing this past week or 2 on my machine. My leaks are now constantly from around 39 and as high as 61 every night and my apneas stay in the 13-18 range with my mask use every night! Am I in the same boat as everyone else having more difficulty with cpap therapy not helping during these trying times in our country or should I be doing something different? I can't even get in to see my doctors (pulmonary or sleep medicine doctors) during this pandemic so I guess I'm pretty much doomed to not having a solution or new equipment or supplies.

Any advice or help would be appreciated. If needed I can put up data from my last few nights when I have more time later today. Thanks.

[slowriter]

Please don't post internet message all caps. It's hard to read, and generally considered rude (it's a convention that is equivalent to yelling).

[DeepBreathing]

Jennie I have reformatted your post to make it readable. As Slowriter said, please don't post internet message all caps. It's hard to read, and generally considered rude (it's equivalent to shouting).

We're all living under a lot more stress at the moment, and we need to be creative with our use of time. Please post a daily screenshot from OSCAR and we'll see if we can offer some creative suggestions.

[jennie54]

   
   
   
   

Last night's data, adding to today's post...

[Sleeprider]

Jennie, your problem is shared by many of our members, and there is an easy solution. Your apnea are very clustered showing us this is a positional apnea issue related to chin tucking. A high percentage of members have found the use of a soft cervical collar to maintain the chin and head position to align the airway can achieve AHI less than 1. Please read the Soft Cervical Collar wiki in my signature links. We wrote that wiki because this is such a common problem and so many have achieved success easily. Some eventually don't need the collar as they train to align the head and neck. The secret is to find an appropriate height and comfortable somewhat loose fit to keep the chin from tucking.

You might also want to think about what changed when your events started increasing. A new pillow, change in sleeping position, many issues could create this problem. Here is the link http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...cal_Collar

[jennie54]

Data from 3-17-2020 for comparison also attached...
   

   

   







Last night's data, adding to today's post...

[Sleeprider]

Jennie as I said above, you need a soft cervical collar. You have massive large leaks going on and you probably need a new mask or a change in model to better fit your face. Also, read the wiki on how to organize your OSCAR charts. http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ganization We need only one chart, but it should contain Events, Flow Rate, Pressure, Leaks and Snore.

[DeepBreathing]

Jennie, we have told you many times about using a collar - are you using it? If you don't take our advice about your sleeping position we can't help you.

I'm sorry to be blunt, but you've been coming to Apnea Board since 2015 and there is always some reason you won't take our advice. Do you really want help? Or do you just want some place to vent? Because if you really want help, please read what Sleeprider has written and act on it.