jdougc - Therapy Assistance
Looking for some insight and advice, thanks in advance. I have been on a cpap machine since fall of 2018. I was using the Phillips dreamstation and I replaced the air chamber with one without foam after the recall notice. I got a ResMed AirSense 11 this past July 2024. Previously the dreamstation would not give me data on the sd card, but I have data now for Oscar and SleepHQ.
I switched from an Amara view to the very soft Resmed AirFit F40. Sadly I had to replace that with a N30 nasal cradle mask. I am having neck surgery in Jan 2025 and the neck straps seemed to aggravate my neck issues. I am a side sleeper and have experienced the leak battle, possible when I am aroused and switch to the other side. I presently use mouth tape and a chin strap and have tried the soft cervical collar, I am awaiting deliver of a new collar today.
My numbers appear ok, but the ResMed machine seems to “miss” events that may be causing arousals. I am on opioids for my pain, which doesn’t help my breathing issues. I am prediabetic and battle high blood pressure. I have to fight the urge to chase numbers, I need a better rest night, period. I have attached some Oscar screen shots with my fitness tracker sleep data. Not sure how accurate, but it seems consistent.
I use the CPAP mode and use the ramp feature only to emphasize my awakenings with the mask off. I have experimented with turning on EPR, but have increased the pressure to compensate, sorry for the long post.
10-26-2024, 01:17 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-26-2024, 01:21 PM by katbrat. Edited 1 time in total.)
RE: Sleepy, too many arousals?
Check out this video on leak rates. It might help you out:
https://youtu.be/FtRWhOgfY2A?si=sYXyneF38VSXYdwz
There are lots of other videos on youtube that address leak rates/mask leaks/mouth leaks that are helpful.
Also a look at some individual breaths:
https://youtu.be/XVscmoOW29U?si=EUqikYBXZSb4NTeQ
RE: Sleepy, too many arousals?
katbrat, thanks for the video links, my wife hates when I watch these as I replay parts and that disturbs her reading, haha.
My soft cervical collar shipment is delayed, ugh... I have one I was going to return as the velcro barely catches, it was mislabeled as a large. I may give it a shot again.
10-26-2024, 03:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-26-2024, 03:04 PM by katbrat.)
RE: Sleepy, too many arousals?
Haha! Yes, I get that! Get some ear buds, man! It's worth learning as much as you possibly can! And the cervical collar REALLY helps me. But make sure it's not too tight. Good luck!
RE: Sleepy, too many arousals?
My new cervical collar should arrive today, tried the old collar that I am returning, as it is too small, supposed to be a large. The night got better once I fell asleep, but after waking up the 2nd time, could not get the cervical collar to fit comfortably, so that part of the night went not so well.
RE: Sleepy, too many arousals?
Hello, this topic has been opened many times. Everyone experiences fatigue and sleepiness during the day. But for some reason there is no definite reason. The values in the graphs are great but the feelings are very bad. Even if you use the best devices and equipment, for some reason it does not change. It is very interesting why this situation is not examined by the manufacturers. I have the same problem, I tried everything but in vain, the situation does not change. AHI values are lower than 5 but the result is terrible.
RE: Sleepy, too many arousals?
Yilmaz EBEM,
Sorry to hear that you are fighting these issues also. Sometimes all of these numbers and charts can add to our anxieties. Our machines have algorithms that may under count events that do not meet the stringent criteria, often too short of time, thus giving us good numbers that don't tell the whole story. Plus our machines do not measure brain waves or o2 sats.
Keep sharing your data and the many knowledgably people can give advice. Please keep in mind that we are all different and settings and sleep items that may help one person may have adverse effects on you or me.
Keep you setting changes small and use them for awhile to let your body get used to the change, unless there is a drastic problem, of course.
I have a decent night according to my numbers, but we had family leaving around 5am and I struggled again early with my small soft collar, waiting for the new one still.
RE: Sleepy, too many arousals?
Still waiting on soft cervical collar. Just used mouth tape and my ResMed N30 nasal cradle mask, no chin strap last night. Strictly side sleeping, and I think i was trying to talk in my sleep though the mouth tape, when I woke a little past 12:30 AM. Very. very groggy this morning, but the typical good Oscar score. That is my fitness watch sleep data pasted in. I don't think i shared my SleepHQ data. Thanks again for advice. https://sleephq.com/public/teams/share_l...d8ea7e3c41
RE: Sleepy, too many arousals?
My sleep data is the colored bars that are showing up in the Flow Limitation graph, I hid the key in the bottom left and should have noted that, my bad.
I was not able to wear the cervical collar and seemed to have only one time of bad leaks surprisingly.
RE: Sleepy, too many arousals?
I woke up a few times last night, but was able to fall asleep rather quickly. More leaks, no chin strap used, but mouth tape was used. Sleeping on my sides Sleep data pasted in the flow limits chart area and the sleep data key is in the bottom left
My newer DME finally got the billing dept. to Ok my Dr notes and I am switching to a ResMed p10 nasal pillow mask. Anyone have tips on how to minimized irritation from the P10? Thanks in advance!
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