[CPAP] Feeling Worse After Treatment

[notherenothappening]

Hi, I'm new to this, so this might be too much information, but want to make sure I'm as clear as possible about my situation.

I've been using my CPAP consistently for about 2 months now. I feel like I've been feeling worse than before using the machine and I just wanted to see if I was on the right track or there genuinely was something wrong with my sleep that I need to get fixed. I started on a 5-15 pressure range as prescribed by my doctor and I started getting fairly consistent results after a bit as pictured in the attached images. (AHI ~3, barely any OA events if at all) But when I first wake up in the morning, I feel particularly unwell, (like a slight hangover) which does slightly fade throughout the day. This was what sleeping without the machine was like, it just feels worse now.

Recently, because I was trying to figure out the way I was feeling, I got some advice to lower my max pressure to 8 and see if it was the pressure that was interrupting my sleep at all. I did so, which ended up with me getting a higher AHI and consistently getting hypnogogic hallucinations every night. Tried to stick with that for a few nights but just recently switched to a 5-12 pressure range which has been slightly better, and the hallucinations have subsided as well. I'll post the readings for one of those nights as well.

I wanted to know if there was anything that stuck out that could be indicative of poor sleep, and if the clusters of CA events I get are the kind I should be concerned about. Because if the results of my original 5-15 pressure range look good, I'll go back to that and stick with it. I'll put some more images in the thread if that helps anyone.

Thanks

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[notherenothappening]

Added screenshots from one of the 5-8 pressure nights.

[SarcasticDave94]

Welcome to Apnea Board,

The Central Apnea events are a bit too high for comfort, especially the second posting. They are somewhat clustered, so I'm not sure if there's actually a Positional Apnea pattern going on. Just to be certain, is your pillow high or thick? This itself can push your chin into your chest, kinking the airway.

Another item to question, do you have your detailed sleep study report? You'll be wanting to post this attached as well. Two specific items help most, the doctor recommendation, and the table of events with type and count.

If you don't have it, you'll need to request it from the ordering physician for the test and machine. HIPAA law gives you the right to request and receive it. You'll want it just for your personal health files, but again to post it here to help with knowing the background on the Central Apnea. If the info on CA point a particular direction, a higher level machine may be indicated.

[notherenothappening]

Here are the details from my sleep study.

[notherenothappening]

(Forgot to reply to the rest of the message)

That second image was from after I had changed my pressure range so it might have something to do with that. My pillow is pretty flat. When I first started, I was using two pillows and then realized it was causing some extra CA events so I got rid of the extra one. I do wonder if my posture is pushing my chin towards my chest, since I'm not completely straight when sleeping on my side.

[SarcasticDave94]

112 Obstructive Apnea to 16 Central. So the CA aren't the dominant issue they could have been.

The Positional issue... Maybe try a corner of the pillow between chin and shoulder to block the tuck. If that's not helpful, you may need to look at a soft cervical collar to help.

[notherenothappening]

Ok, these are the results from my first night with a soft cervical collar. Looking pretty good so far. I am wondering, are those really small clusters of CA post-arousal? They look like it.