Newly-diagnosed. How am I doing?

[Mozammil]

Hi there! 

I have been recently diagnosed with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. At the time of diagnosis (10 Jan 2018), my AHI was 61. 

I used the device since then and I have struggled a bit with it: tight masks, leakage, dry mouth (you name it). I recently got a heated tube that control the temperature of the air that I am inhaling and also the humidity and as such things have been a little bit better. I am still struggling with having a mask on when I sleep and also with bruises a bit, but I suppose that will change soon. 

One weird thing that I noticed recently is the following: On the first few days of me using the machine, I remember that I felt the air being pushed through to me. Now it doesn't feel the same anymore. Most of the time, the air is coming when I am inhaling. Not sure if I am explaining myself right or the heated tube actually made this a bit better for me... 

In any case, here's my SleepyHead data from last night. I would appreciate your comments! 

imgur.com/a/tIfa4 

(Sorry -- it seems I need at least 4 posts to attach images) 

I am still going through the Beginner's tutorial on SleepyHead, but would appreciate your comments meanwhile. Quick note, I am also a mouth-breather, have been struggling with a deviated septum all my life. I can breathe through my nose but I tend to breathe through my mouth a lot more.

[ajack]

If you go to the full reply box, you can also use the attachment to upload now.
https://imgur.com/a/tIfa4
Lots of mask leak, I would have thought you had a nasal mask instead of a full face.
perhaps positional apnea, a $10 soft foam cervical collar from a drug store will tell you if this is the case. tucking your chin to your chest.
It is possible you have a breathing pattern that freaks the machine and it maximises the pressure. after trying the neck collar, I'd bring the max down to 10 and have a 2 hour sleep and see what happens.

If you really need around 20cm to clear your apnea. Your doctor will titrate you on a bpap, which you will find a lot more comfortable and enable the probable higher pressures needed. For now I would use the EPR function of 3.

A mask shouldn't hurt, the mask fit link in my signature and youtube videos, you may need another mask, I found the f20 suited my face.
The air push feeling is you getting use to cpap.
even with a full face mask you can get a dry mouth from mouthbreathing, you might want to get the nose fixed.

[Mozammil]

Hi Ajack,

Thank you for your reply. I am in fact using a F20 (medium). I tried to loosen it a bit and then the leak increased a lot more. Even during the mask fit mode, it started leaking if it's looser than it is right now.

I will try the Cervical Collar today evening and report back my results. I set my EPR to 3 on Full-Time mode. Let's see how that goes.

[ajack]

have the hose out of the way and going over your head. You can also use lots of hose keepers, some just get enough slack to turn and tuck it under the pillow a bit, on the way back to the machine. I use a pool noodle with a slit up it and two sections chopped out where the hose goes in and out, I have one end stuffed between my mattress and the head of the bed, the other droops above my head.

work the top and bottom straps separately, loosen the top strap off till it leaks badly, then just tighten a little till it stops, then do the same with the bottom strap. Then go back and do the top strap again, etc.

The f20 headgear doesn't have the stretch of the philips ones, but you can still pull it off the face a bit and reset it, you will see what I mean.

Ok so you found the mask fit function that blows pressure to fit the mask.
After a few rotations of the strap adjustment, give the mask a circular wriggle on your face. to sit it. The mask should be broken in enough after a week. They are stiff to start with.

There are two harder bits that sit on your teeth or gums, if that is the case, feel with your tongue that the mask feels square and equal pressure on cheeks. Then judge where is the air is leaking from. above your cheek bone it's the top strap, below it's the bottom to tighten. less tightening the better, you are actually trying to loosen the mask and let a cushion of air seal it. Blowing and sucking with the machine on, should get quite a bit of movement. The straps are just there to stop it blowing off your face.

The other thing is the f20 may not be the right mask for you, see if your supplier has loan masks to see if you find something better.

[Mozammil]

Thanks Ajack, I will give it a try tonight! 

Regarding the other results, is it good enough for a beginner? 

Considering my untreated AHI was 61, the machine reports a consistent AHI of under 6 day over day and I did notice an improvement in my daily life.

Edit: What do you think about the AirTouch F20 (with memory foam)? It seems, according to reviews, a lot of people prefer it over the AirFit F20. The memory foam helps with leakage and comfort.

[ajack]

You will feel better, you are finally getting some sleep, you may notice vivid dreaming. A lot of doctors will tell you 5 is good and send you on your way. Without even looking at the chart.
To be honest, the chart needs some work.

step one. Lets start with the collar, hopefully the apnea will clear, the pressure drops and the stats in the left hand column clean up.

I've had the silicon f20 for 9 months on the same cushion, the foam ones are 30 days, you might get 3 months if you used a mask liner and kept the face oils off of it.?
The leaks aren't that bad, they just need sorting. You are getting a sore face is the main reason I went on about masks
I'm also looking at the lower tidal volume and wondering where else you could be losing air. If it is being counted properly by the machine..they can be wrong.

[jaswilliams]

If you go to the full reply box, you can also use the attachment to upload now.
https://imgur.com/a/tIfa4
Lots of mask leak, I would have thought you had a nasal mask instead of a full face.
perhaps positional apnea, a $10 soft foam cervical collar from a drug store will tell you if this is the case. tucking your chin to your chest.
It is possible you have a breathing pattern that freaks the machine and it maximises the pressure. after trying the neck collar, I'd bring the max down to 10 and have a 2 hour sleep and see what happens.

Am I missing something the mask leak max figure is only 13 well away from large leak of 24 litres per min. I find a full face mask harder to seal due to the larger perimeter so more area for leaks to squirt out from.
 I would think it’s more about mask comfort that needs addressing. Which I agree would be to loosen the straps as they sound too tight.

[HalfAsleep]

I don't see the mask leaks, either. And there aren't any grey areas in the event graph.

The leak graph is misleading because of the scale....it's scaled to fit, rather than default.

Yeah....work on loosening up the mask! Since you've fixed the leaks, make yourself comfortable.

[ajack]

we all agree, as I said in my last post "The leaks aren't that bad, they just need sorting. You are getting a sore face is the main reason I went on about masks"

[SIRSnoralot]

Hi Mozammil,
I am new to a Sleep apnea diagnosis as well and have just started on CPAP. I wish to ask a question seeing as you are in Abu Dhabi. I have to buy my CPAP after my trial ends in 2 weeks. Luckily, I will be flying to Abu Dhabi after that for a week. Things are notoriously expensive in Australia. If you don't mind me asking, how much roughly would it cost to buy a APAP and a CPAP in the UAE? Hoping to get either resmed or phillips dreamstation. I have tried looking online but cant get a price.