Just Woke from First Night - Can't Believe It

[chef]

Hello! After being diagnosed with sleep apnea via Lofta (AHI 19.2, RDI 25.9), I ordered a ResMed AirSense 10 and N30i mask and configured it with some recommended settings from a mod over at /r/sleepapnea on Reddit. I woke up this morning (much earlier than I usually do) and was shocked at how... awake I felt. And also the fact that, for maybe the first time ever, I didn't feel the immediate need to go back to sleep! And I know for sure that I woke up multiple times during the night to fumble with my mask, but I believe I was able to keep it on all night.

If anyone might be able to help interpret my OSCAR results and let me know of any potential modifications to my pressure settings, I'd be deeply indebted to you. Thank you for taking the time to read!

[Sleeprider]

I think you would do a lot better with EPR (exhale pressure relief), which can remove the flow limitations and reduce the fluctuations in pressure. EPR needs to be turned on, full-time at setting 2 or 3. To compensate for the lower expiatory pressure I suggest a minimum pressure of 8.0 and no other changes. Flow limits will drop from the 95% average of 0.11 to less than half that, and your pressure variation will likely drop from 6.6 to nearly 13 (6 cm spread) to probably 8 to 10 (2-cm spread. Among other things, it should feel pretty good.

[chef]

I think you would do a lot better with EPR (exhale pressure relief), which can remove the flow limitations and reduce the fluctuations in pressure.  EPR needs to be turned on, full-time at setting 2 or 3.  To compensate for the lower expiatory pressure I suggest a minimum pressure of 8.0 and no other changes.  Flow limits will drop from the 95% average of 0.11 to less than half that, and your pressure variation will likely drop from 6.6 to nearly 13 (6 cm spread) to probably 8 to 10 (2-cm spread.  Among other things, it should feel pretty good.

You're telling me it can get even better than how I already feel? Thanks so much for the input - I'm looking forward to trying it tonight with EPR on!

[Deborah K.]

Good for you!    It's wonderful to find someone who feels a lot better after only one night.  Like you, I adjusted easily, but I didn't notice any difference in how I felt for some time, probably because I didn't feel bad before.  I just knew I needed to do it for my health.   Recently I had a night where I couldn't keep my mask on for a crazy, one-off reason, and I missed the therapy so much.  I felt miserable.  So I do know how you feel today.  It's a wonderful thing!