How Long To Feel Better When Starting CPAP Therapy

[chuck29]

Hello All,

I'm a BiPAP user of many years. Pressure is 18/10. My machine was going bad (it was very old) so my AHI was 60 for several months, I later found out. Needless to say, I have been exhausted. I have new BiPAP that I started using last week. AHI is around 7 or 8. I feel worse than I did on old machine getting 60 AHI. I just found out from prescriber today that I was not supposed to be using VAuto mode, so today they changed it to Spontaneous. We'll see how things go starting tonight. I have used VAuto years back and it was ok.

I am HOPING that the reason for feeling so awful is 1) catching up on sleep debt, now that I have a functioning machine, 2) sleep cycle realignment, or maybe 3) VAuto was not sufficient.

I am curious to hear ANY thoughts/inputs anyone has regarding this. Does VAuto not do a sufficient job in providing the correct pressure? Does it simply take a while for body to adjust after having such awful sleep for so long?

Thank you!!

[Deborah K.]

I don't know why you feel so rotten, but I'm sorry that is the case.  If you download and use OSCAR, the charts you post will help us help you.  It's a free program created by one of the folks on this forum, and it does a wonderful job of reporting many things about each night's sleep that we can help you with.  Please use it.

[chuck29]

Thank you! I sure do use OSCAR. I will be posting those stats tomorrow with new S mode, if I still feel like this.

Thanks!

[chuck29]

Hello All,

Here is my OSCAR data for last night, 7/9. Currently, I can barely focus, think or keep my eyes open. When I walk, I feel like I'm drunk. Hopefully a big part of this is just my body adjusting to getting decent AHI numbers after having months of 60 AHI.


Thank you!

[chuck29]

I have an additional question. One of the metrics on my sleep report on machine itself is I:E, which I assume to be IPAP to EPAP ratio. My number was 50. Is this good?

[Crimson Nape]

You may wish to put your glasses on. There is no way that parameter is 50. It is a ratio and should display something like, "1:1.5".
- Red

[staceyburke]

Couple of things. To begin with you have a lot of central apnea. With your machine we have found out using the trigger to high or very high helps most people a lot. I would set the trigger to very high. 

The other problem is you have some positional apnea. You can NOT use pressure to help. Usually it happens when your chin drops down to your sternum cutting off your own airway. It also is worse sleeping on your back. Try a flatter pillow that could help.

[Deborah K.]

It would help us read your Oscar charts more easily if you included only down to the very bottom of Flow Limits.  If we need to see other parts, we will ask for them.

[chuck29]

   

[chuck29]

Thank you! Very helpful and very clear, much appreciated Stacey. I was not aware of how Trigger setting affects central apnea so I just now changed from medium to high and will increase to very high the next night depending. Appreciate that tip.

Question please, how can you tell I have positional apnea? I do sleep on my back as it's the only way I can sleep. As far as the pillow, months ago I was sleeping without one, I will try that again tonight.

Thank you very much!