New User - Early Side Effects? Pressure Related?

[ShapeShifter2]

Hi all!

New CPAP user here with an auto set AirMini. I am currently waiting for my main device, which will be the Airsense 11.
My starting pressure is 4, and therapy pressure range is 6-15 autoset.
The average pressure ranges from 11.5 to 11.7 throughout the night.
Unfortunately, the Airmini doesnt allow me to extract the data, to get any further significant analysis.

The first 2 nights I was having a lot of bloating and felt pressure in my stomach which I was reading about could be aerophagia.
I also have been having a lot of pressure in my ears, which feel like I need to pop them and even when I do pop them, there is some soreness that resides.

The nasal mask I have been using is the N30, and I really love how comfortable it is.
My real concern is the pressure in my ears along with the bloating and chest soreness I am experiencing the next day.

Is there anything I can do to alleviate the ear pressure/pain, aerophagia, and chest soreness I'm experiencing?
I realize that it's only a few days in, and my body could just be adapting still, but I have a friend that did not experience these things.
For reference, my AHI was 80 during my sleep study, so I am feeling pretty good despite these side effects!!

I did try to turn EPR from 1 to 3 (full time), soft response, and auto ramp but noted that there were several people that mentioned it can cause centrals. AHI did increase a bit, and my sleep study did report some centrals so I want to be careful with the EPR settings. Considering going back to standard pressure and EPR 2 to see if this helps this evening.

Any feedback is deeply appreciated.

[BoxcarPete]

The centrals from EPR are something you will most likely adjust to within several weeks or a couple months. Aerophagia is something that's a little more difficult to get rid of, though for some there is a link between OSA and GERD that will improve in time, which may reduce your symptoms.

[OpalRose]

Most folk that experience aerophagia do much better by using Cpap mode at a lower pressure, plus EPR.

If you wish to try it, set your machine to CPAP MODE with a pressure set at 9cm.  This is lower than your average pressure.  Set EPR to 2.  

Try for a couple nights and make note of the results and how you feel.  If ok, raise the pressure to 9.4.  Repeat and note how you feel.  If no aerophagia, continue this by raising the pressure to 10cm or until you find that sweet spot that treats your apnea and doesn't cause discomfort.

You may find relief at around 10cm or less.

[ShapeShifter2]

Thank you so much Opal Rose.

I will give those settings a try this evening and report back after a few days!

Sleep well

[Phaleronic]

I agree with Opal on this too as I moved off APAP and bipap to CPAP mode and it was much better for my ahi/rdi and aerophagia, please let us know how it feels after a few nights

[nh00]

Here is my trick for the ears popping: right after I put my mask on, I exhale and cover my ears (basically close them by pushing on them with my finger), then swallow. This helps avoid a jarring change in pressure.

[ShapeShifter2]

My side effects have mostly subsided over time -- need to start a new thread though because something is up with my data!

Thank you for all of your help.

---

After a few days, it looks like I have overcome many of the side-effects I mentioned previously.

Would anyone mind taking a look at my chart and explaining exactly what is going on with my AHI?
Most of the nights this week, I seemed to be below 2 AHI with as low as 0.7. 

Today is my highest AHI since starting CPAP and wanted to see why my AHI seems to be rising and what exactly is causing it?
I thought maybe I was opening my mouth during sleep?

Thanks!

[ShapeShifter2]

Giving this a bump to see if someone is around to help possibly review my data and make a suggestion.

Thank you everyone!

[staceyburke]

Only thing I see is you have quite a few flow limits.  FL are apnea also they are just not long enough (10 seconds) to be classified as O or H events.  FL stop you from getting into deep sleep and can wake you up.  The down side of trying to reduce the FL is treatment emergent central apnea.  We won't know if that is a problem for you until you try turning up the EPR we use it to reduce FL.

I would suggest the following settings for a night or 2 and see if it helps.

Min 8
EPR full time
EPR 3

[ShapeShifter2]

Thank you Stacey!

I did previously try EPR 2, and found that I felt like I was waking up and not breathing well throughout the night.
do you think the min pressure increase alone might be enough?