AnxiousPickle - Therapy Thread

[AnxiousPickle]

Hi there! I am having all kinds of issues with CPAP therapy. 30 F 220lbs. I'm diagnosed mild hypopnea, so nothing even that crazy. I currently use an Airsense 11 with nasal pillows. I've been using this machine and style mask since August of last year. Just this week I finally got an SD card and downloaded OSCAR. Unfortunately, OSCAR is not giving me many answers so far but I'm just being impatient I suppose as I've only collected data for 2 nights now. 

My issues are I will often have mouth leaks, where I wake up and catch myself with them. I started using a chin strap which I hate but it seems to help. But my biggest complaint is... I wake up with a racing heart almost every single day. Yes I have had a full work up from my cardiologist and other doctors, so I'm believing it's a CPAP issue. Some days are great no issues.. but a lot of the time I wake anxious and with my heart elevated uncomfortably. I have to just lay there and not move till it calms. Then there are days where it's extremely bad. I wake and my heart starts racing so fast and beating so hard, uncontrollably. I start sweating, panicking, and have to down an anti anxiety med + beta blocker and wait it out or call the EMS. It's as if someone floored the gas peddle on my HR and won't let off. These episodes only occur every so often but I just had one recently and it's got me quite irritated and traumatized. Funny thing is AHI is always under 1. It's ALWAYS point something. Rarely above. This is why it took me so long to get OSCAR. 


TLDR:
I am waking with a racing heart. AHI is under 1 per hour according to my air??? Great mask seal every night too. I have only collected data from OSCAR for 2 nights and it has shown quite literally nothing. I would post it but my AHI last night was literally 0 yet I still woke with a racing heart. Anyone else out there struggling with this issue? I'm left to my own for now and when you have to sleep every night, you gotta try something so here I am. I have adjusted settings like crazy trying out different possible solutions. Nothing works. I have however woken up gasping for air several times and my HR definitely spikes then, every single time. Haven't caught that gasping for air on OSCAR yet. 

Current settings are 7-13 pressure, Oscar says pressure never even went above 8 all night. Level 1 humidity. 62 degree tube. 

Thank you for any and all input!! 

[Narcil]

AHI is only an indication. machines have strict parameters to detect apnea events and can "miss" some/a lot of them.

I have no specific experience with heart issues but if you post a screenshot of your oscar following https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph...ganization maybe someone will see something.

[G. Szabo]

You might wish to buy an HR monitor (with a ring sensor) to better understand your HR figures and their connections with Apnea events. 
There are a few similar observations on this forum with detailed discussions; it is worth searching for them.

[PeaceLoveAndPizza]

If you can, post some OSCAR charts and we can help see if anything shows up.

As was already said, investing in one of the many sleep measuring devices can show what is happening, but not why it is happening. I have no experience with oximeters, so will leave that for others.

[AnxiousPickle]

Hi all! About 3-4 weeks ago I found out I was pregnant. Since then, I have been experiencing such bad nasal congestion that my nasal pillow mask no longer works. My sleep apnea is out of control causing me to having a racing heart and anxiety 24/7. I'm also constantly tired between the SA and pregnancy, but sleep is a nightmare because I now wake several times a night with my heart racing gasping for air. I have been sleeping sitting up to help control it because if I lay down fully... it'd be the worst and I wouldn't sleep at all. 

My issue is, I instantly tried to order a full face mask after doing tons of research to find the right one. I paid for 2 day shipping. They emailed me after 4 days saying my mask is on backorder and there is no timeframe of when it'll be in stock. Great! Why is there no store I can just walk into and get a mask! I am suffering severely here, as that IS the mask I want and I don't feel confident with any others. I'm just stuck without cpap therapy now and I am struggling severely. I know there is no one size fits all... but what is your favorite full face mask and does anyone know where I can purchase one IN STOCK and receive it QUICKLY? Thank you so much

[Crimson Nape]

AnxiousPickle - I noticed your 2 threads are about your therapy.  For this reason, I have merged them into one thread.  I have renamed it to, "AnxiousPickle - Therapy Thread".  Please use this thread for all your therapy related posts.  This provides the reader with your history in order to form a better recommendation.

Thanks!
- Red

[sauerkraut]

AnxiousPickle;
If You go to the top of the page in the black strip find Supplier List ..
A little research should find one with the mask of Your choice in stock ..
Best of Luck

[AnxiousPickle]

Hello, please forgive me if I am not posting correctly in any way. I did my best to make sure I did this right but I am not great with computers and have no clue how to really use this site let alone OSCAR. I finally got my hands on a full face mask, adjusted the settings and all and COULD NOT sleep with it. I tried for as long as I could last night, but it was terrible. I felt completely suffocated and ripped the thing off my face a time or two. 

Is there any indication in my data of what is going on? I read there are only certain graphs needed but I simply can't figure it out on OSCAR and read it recommends taking away some of the graphs that show breathing which is where I'm having the issue at. So apologies if my data isn't correct. I'm doing my best and just want to sleeeep! lol.  Appreciate the help! Thank you!

[Crimson Nape]

AnxiousPickle - I have merged your new thread into your therapy thread. Please keep all posts regarding your therapy here. This prevents cross-posting and provides the reader your history in one place.
- Red

[nh00]

Hi AnxiousPickle, which full fask mask did you go with? Switching from a nose pillow to a full face mask is a bit change and it's probably normal to need a few nights to adjust. There are some hybrid masks that might be better (I love my Resmed F40)