New User - Looking For Suggestions

[VeryTired]

I started using cpap last fall and it's been a rough time to say the least. After trying for a while, I threw in the towel in March or April of this year and haven't really used it since. I've used it a few times this month but it's the same struggles -- difficulty falling asleep and if I do fall asleep, I pull off the mask in my sleep. The longest I've ever slept with cpap in one night is 2 to 3 hours (3 hours probably only happened once or twice). I want to give cpap one last try before I pursue other options. 

I'm attaching one Oscar screenshot from a recent night but I can provide others from further back as well if needed. 

   

[quiescence at last]

try to make the charts not as tall, about 2/3rds of current, and fit the flow limitations in at the bottom, this could help us focus on certain timeframes that may give us clues as to success.

let's see if we can get the ranges on the charts as follows: flow +60 to -60. pressures 4 to 8 (just for fun). Leaks 0 to 50. flow limitations 0.00 to 0.50 even though 1.00 is 100% blocked.

there may be some adjustments that can reduce airflow issues since there are flow limitations and some hypopnea.

learn how to give us a 12 minute wide close up, as we may want to look at individual chunks.

more later.

by the way many of us would be glad to give you suggestions.

QAL

[VeryTired]

Pretty sure I changed things to your specifications. Let me know if I missed anything. 

Okay, I'll look into how to do the 12 minute close up. Thanks!

   

[theswerve]

I went through this a month ago trying to give cpap another shot. Someone posted a link to this blog post below and I found it very helpful. That and switching to a full face mask that rests under my nostrils vs over my nose. 

The forum is not letting me post a link. If you search for adventures in hose headland, taming CPAP induced insomnia monster you will find the post.

[quiescence at last]

that was done very well, thank you. It is much clearer that the flow limitations are variable, and possibly haunting sleep.

I wager some sleep occurred, but at this point we can't be real sure.

one way to get a close up is to click- -hold and drag from one spot on the flow chart... as you drag, it shows how long the window is, and when you release, that area takes the whole width (of every plot besides the event log at the top).

Try to drag a 10 minute swath from where you started to try to sleep. It should show each breath. post that.

nice job.

QAL

[quiescence at last]

theswerve is talking about some information in a blog on the internet, the terms they suggest looking for would need to be internet searched, not in the apneaboard forum.
RobySue, a former member here, and an avid writer of alot of help articles here on the apneaboard, wrote on other CPAP user sites, too.  You'll probably find some of her material, and at the bottom signature lines of the blogs there is a link to an article on taming the CPAP.

QAL

[VeryTired]

Here are two screenshots just in case. They look like they both have the style of breaths that I've come to associate with me sleeping when reviewing my OSCAR data. 

   

   

[VeryTired]

Thanks for sharing your experience and the suggested read, theswerve. I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in giving cpap another go. I hope you're having better rest lately!

Thanks, I'll take a look into these resources, QAL.

[quiescence at last]

I would like to see the transition from awake to asleep, so if you can pick a spot to start where you know you were awake, and hopefully I can see as your brain gives in and you sink into sleep.

It does look to me that you get resistance to flow in both directions. I would guess that about a third of us are in that situation. a mild or worse congestion could be responsible, but otherwise the shape of airways could be less than desirable, making it hard both ways.

In both of those clips you can see the undulating breathing that alternates between higher volume and lower volume, and not so much a different rate fast and slow. This is one of the things that can go a little overboard and be counted as a hypopnea, or alot overboard causing a plain stop (and scores as a CA if long enough.)

Thanks again.

QAL

[VeryTired]

I think I've got some awake breathing and then teetering toward sleep in this section.