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Hi all, I'm still in the adjustment phase of treatment for sleep apnea. I've had my machine for about 2 weeks. Only 1 or 2 nights was I able to sleep through the night with my mask on. Otherwise, I try for a couple hours and then give up because I either can't fall asleep or I start to doze off and then feel like I can't breathe. I've attached an example of my Oscar data from last night before I took it off. I have a lot of airway resistance in my nose which is one of the main issues for me—I had a deviated septum fixed this year but it didn't move the needle much.
Any advice on how I should adjust settings or try something different? I use a nasal pillow with mouth tape.
A few things to try is being awake with your head gear on and getting use to the machine and mask until you feel comfortable with a good posture sleeping position or buy a good full face mask to help your breathing.
(Yesterday, 11:34 AM)Canuck 2 Wrote: A few things to try is being awake with your head gear on and getting use to the machine and mask until you feel comfortable with a good posture sleeping position or buy a good full face mask to help your breathing.
Thank you! I have been practicing during the day but it hasn't paid off yet. Also trying different pillows/positions. I did order a full face mask that should be here in a couple days—maybe that'll be the trick!
Your OSCAR is zoomed in to 3 minutes of your night. We can't tell anything from that. The arrows on your keyboard will zoom in and out. Up arrow will zoom in and the down arrow will zoom out while the left and right will let you move through a zoomed in chart.\
We need the whole night to help. Also please make sure all of the charts that I have listed in my signature are where we can see them.
(Yesterday, 12:20 PM)staceyburke Wrote: Your OSCAR is zoomed in to 3 minutes of your night. We can't tell anything from that. The arrows on your keyboard will zoom in and out. Up arrow will zoom in and the down arrow will zoom out while the left and right will let you move through a zoomed in chart.\
We need the whole night to help. Also please make sure all of the charts that I have listed in my signature are where we can see them.
Sorry about that. I didn't have much data from last night so I just zoomed in to around when I needed to take the mask off in case it was helpful. I took a screenshot of the last time I was able to sleep through the night with my mask on. This was my best night with it so far—every other night I wake up at some point feeling like I'm suffocating (usually it feels like it's because my nose closed up). Even on my best night, my average spO2 is 95%. It never goes below 90% but it rarely goes about 95%. I'm not sure if that's because I'm just not getting enough air in due to resistance.
You'd do better with a higher upper pressure limit too. I suggest you try 13. Also, turn your EPR up to 3. That will make your breathing more comfortable and lower your flow limits.
(Yesterday, 01:06 PM)Deborah K. Wrote: You'd do better with a higher upper pressure limit too. I suggest you try 13. Also, turn your EPR up to 3. That will make your breathing more comfortable and lower your flow limits.
The higher pressure works great for inhaling but it's uncomfortable on the exhale, even at EPR 3. I ended up consulting with Lofta (company I got my AirSense 11 from) and decided to do an exchange for the AirCurve 11 BiPap. My situation with nasal swelling/congestion apparently lends itself more to BIPAP than APAP. Hoping it makes a difference!
11 hours ago (This post was last modified: 11 hours ago by SarcasticDave94.)
RE: Can't use my APAP more than a few hours
That bilevel will be great for you. It's likely the VAuto, which will be more flexible. Post here when you get it, members can help with settings. OSCAR will work just as well.
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