First time therapy, settings and progress

[Schernenk]

OK, thanks.  I feel like I have to start my learning curve all over again but I really feel like part of my issue still feeling drowsy had to do with not being able to get enough flow through my nose.  It's wild how I thought my nose was good (I have had life long allergies etc) and under control, but I really think good for me is still constricted like 30%.  That tracks with some of those unsettling feelings of not being able to get breath too.

I suppose side sleeping isn't as easy with a full face either?  I am a side sleeper so that could be the cause of the mask getting dislodged.  

Not sure about all those CA events, but it is likely too early in the process of trying the new mask to tell anything.

[UnicornRider]

I suspect the majority of people are side sleepers. I am a back sleeper. I imagine most side sleepers hang their mask off the side of the pillow.

[Schernenk]

Last night was a bit better on the leak rate front, though I am going to try a different mask, I am finding this one finicky.  That said, any ideas on these clusters of CA's?  Or should i wait until I become more accustomed to the full face?  I know the machine is kind of guessing at whether that is really a CA or not.  It just seems odd that they have always been there but are suddenly so prevalent with the full face mask.  

I hope to get an Evora full face today to try out.

Thoughts on the CA events?

[Schernenk]

Slightly zoomed in on CA events

[Expat31]

Looks suspiciously like positional apnea to me, so likely "false" central apneas.

[UnicornRider]

That Evora is a good mask, Do not over tighten it. The skirts are to float on the face and seal as they inflate.

The CA do suspiciously look like positional apnea. Rather than trying to capture both clusters in a single zoom screenshot, just capture a single cluster. the wave shape and amplitude of the Flow Rate graph leading into and recovering from a CA (or any) Event can aid in diagnostics'.

[Schernenk]

Looking closely the first cluster is triggered right during a peak leak event, maybe due to me changing positions causing a positional apnea?  (Just spit balling as I am trying to learn) and the second event was during some fairly consistent leaking. Did you want more of the chart or just the zoom of the flow rate?

What would make you think it is positional vs non?  Again trying to learn.

[Expat31]

This tell-tale clustering  has been witnessed by members for a considerable time, over and over again. 

I was astounded when I first discovered this, as it solved a big problem for me in the early days of my therapy. 

A real landmark in my learning curve. 

See this wiki link, where you will find all that you really need to know:-

https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php?title=Optimizing_therapy#Positional_Apnea

[Schernenk]

Interesting read, thank you for that.  It could definitely be positional, though I cannot duplicate any blockage by doing the tests mentioned in the article.  If I relax in a chair and let my chin tuck there is no real blockage, and I can't duplicate it by pushing on the soft part of the jaw in front of the throat.  I guess if it is truly positional the machine will have trouble coping with that I would imagine.  I wouldn't hurt to try a soft cervical collar if it persists, that's for sure, as pointed out they are inexpensive.  I guess the alternative is they could be CA events in which case I would be a candidate for a bi-level?

Last night was better and it was my first night with the new mask, also the clusters had almost dissipated on the nasal pillow but came back with the full face.  I don't think the nose pillows were particularly good for me though so perhaps this is a better indicator.  I will see if there is further improvement over the next few nights, I think the leak rate is pretty reasonable too, it is still there but didn't get above 17.  

I also kept the mask on for the duration, so all in all a better night. The cluster at the end around 5:10 would be right around when I was waking up so I wouldn't delve to deeply into those. 

I have been on *PAP therapy for going on 4 weeks now but I truly believe I wasn't getting the 02 I needed through the nose pillow due to my nose really not being very open (apparently open for me is quite constricted for the average person, another thing that has come out of this journey).  So really this is kind of like day 3 if you want to look at it in those terms.  I know I post a lot and hope I am not being a PITA.

[Schernenk]

Zoomed Oscars