Apnea clusters - cause?

[elliotg]

I am attaching some screenshots from a session last night.  My normal setup is a Resmed machine (previously S9 and now A10) with a nasal mask (Mirage Activa LT). For some years this has given me reasonable results (AHI normally below 1, sometimes 0) but with some large leaks. On moving to the A10 I noticed that the pressures where higher, as were the leaks.  It was suggested that I try a full face mask there was some evidence that the leaks were due to me opening my mouth during the therapy.

These pictures were from a session with a Fisher & Paykel viterra full face mask and used with my second CPAP  -- a Philips Respironic travel machine.  On the previous night I had used the Resmed A10 with similar results - I chose this screenshot as it showed the problem more clearly (the Resmed run had more leaks which might confuse the picture a bit). Note the incredible number of Apneas that have occurred in a fairly short timespan.  Last week I did another test with an Resmed F20 mask and got a similar cluster but that one was in a large leak event and hence were reported as unknown type apneas.

I have never had massive apnea clusters before. Normally they occur in ones or twos - never in a cluster over close to an hour.  I definitely had a terrible night!! 

Why should a change to a full face mask cause issues like this?  I found it very disturbing. Any help in working out what is happening would be very mach appreciated.

[DeepBreathing]

G'day elliotg. Clusters like that are usually caused by poor sleeping posture - in particular tucking the chin down to the chest and causing compression on the wind-pipe. If it's come on suddenly, there may be a cause such as a new mattress or pillow, perhaps sleeping on your back rather than your side, etc. I think it's unlikely the mask has caused it.

There's a very detailed write-up of the condition here: http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...onal_Apnea and here: http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...cal_Collar

[70sSanO]

In early 2014 I had already lost a lot of weight and did a sleep study. I still had sleep apnea, but I aced it.

Before I even got my sleep report, my numbers went bonkers with clusters of long duration OA’s. I stumbled onto a suggestion that a cervical collar can help keep an airway open based on a theory that the neck is tilted back for CPR. Had never heard of chin tucking back then.

I tried one and it solved the problem with clusters. I can only guess that losing the weight caused it, but it just happened out of nowhere.

John

[elliotg]

These suggestions seem very helpful.. I will get a collar and give it a go!

Elliot