Getting worse..

[GTOdude]

I think things are getting worse for me. My data looks horrible. I woke up around 5:00AM and laid there a bit but fell back asleep for a while I think afterwards.

I dont know if the Dreamware mask is better for me than the P10. Still have that one too. Regardless, I feel like crap. Slight headache. Feel like a zombie. Dammit.

Mark
[attachment=2000]

[justMongo]

If you were awake at 05:00, they you can disregard all that clutter after 05:00.
An AHI above 5 is less than optimal; but your apneas are dominated by hypoapnea.

I believe how you feel lies in the other maladies.
And, if tapering off some meds, then your receptors in the brain have to upregulate.
That takes time; and can make you feel like crap.

Build a fire under your cardio doc's butt; get a full rock 'n roll cardio workup from him/her.

[Crimson Nape]

It appears that the pressure changes are disturbing you. Have you tried a straight pressure? I have a problem with variable pressure and setting it to a single value greatly improved how I feel. This is just a WAG but since your 50% is 8.7cm, it'd set the pressure at 9 and give her a try. If nothing else, this would give you a proof of concept.

[CHanlon]

Even disregarding the cluster after 5 am, you had a lot of RERA's - if SH is accurate and those are in fact respiratory effort related arousals, you could be fighting against the exhalation pressure - have you moved up the EPR to 3 yet? I know you were talking about that. Might help. If it doesn't, you might want to investigate other options... RERA's could indicate things like a deviated septum, or other restriction of the airway. OR it could be related to your anxiety - nocturnal panic attacks are a thing, and between the anxiety that you mentioned, and coping with this new and invasive CPAP stuff, it's not a big stretch.

I've no idea how to approach a solution if it's the latter, other than time - getting used to all this stuff is probably the best solution.

[PoolQ]

I share your experience of everything is going fine and then bam a step back. For me it was just the next CPAP "issue" coming to the forefront after I got the last one solved. I had to get the apnea's under control (which happened fast) and then all of the CPAP stuff that just bugged me enough to interrupt my sleep. If someone is poking you in the side during your sleep you may not notice that someone else is pinching your toe.

I personally had a major issue with exhaling into pressure and finally had to get a BiLevel machine to deal with it. I also had no choice but using a FFM because the nose only ones exacerbated this problem. Really wish I could use them, but no not for me.

[GTOdude]

It appears that the pressure changes are disturbing you. Have you tried a straight pressure? I have a problem with variable pressure and setting it to a single value greatly improved how I feel. This is just a WAG but since your 50% is 8.7cm, it'd set the pressure at 9 and give her a try. If nothing else, this would give you a proof of concept.

That sounds like a good idea to try. I set my machine to CPAP at 9.0 for tonight and im going back to the P10 mask for tonight too.

Mark

[GTOdude]

Even disregarding the cluster after 5 am, you had a lot of RERA's - if SH is accurate and those are in fact respiratory effort related arousals, you could be fighting against the exhalation pressure - have you moved up the EPR to 3 yet? I know you were talking about that. Might help. If it doesn't, you might want to investigate other options... RERA's could indicate things like a deviated septum, or other restriction of the airway. OR it could be related to your anxiety - nocturnal panic attacks are a thing, and between the anxiety that you mentioned, and coping with this new and invasive CPAP stuff, it's not a big stretch.

I've no idea how to approach a solution if it's the latter, other than time - getting used to all this stuff is probably the best solution.

I've been on Cflex 3 for quite some time now. I still have the anxiety and the desats when trying to fall asleep on my own. The 1/2 Ambien gets me over the hump.

My cardio gets back to the office Monday. Im gonna try and see him then. I could need another stent or two the way im feeling..

Mark

[GTOdude]

If you were awake at 05:00, they you can disregard all that clutter after 05:00.
An AHI above 5 is less than optimal; but your apneas are dominated by hypoapnea.

I believe how you feel lies in the other maladies.
And, if tapering off some meds, then your receptors in the brain have to upregulate.
That takes time; and can make you feel like crap.

Build a fire under your cardio doc's butt; get a full rock 'n roll cardio workup from him/her.

Mongo, I set my machine for straight CPAP at 9 as another good soul suggested. And Im going back to my P10 mask for tonight also. My cardio comes back to the office Monday so Im gonna try to get in and see him. A fire it shall be.

Mark

[Ghost1958]

Raising your min is good cuz 7 is too low.
Going straight pressure I think is a mistake at 9 because its to low to handle you.
I would go 9 min 13 max on auto.
You make more headway raising min rather than max when clearing OA and hypops.

[justMongo]

I have to disagree with Crimson "Red" Nape.
IMHO: Ghost has the better solution.