OSCAR newbie, just statrted snoring with mask on??

[CanadianRob]

Hello all,

My first post here, please be gentle.

Hello, I am a male and just turned 60 years old and I am 6'2" and weigh 225 pounds.

I have had sleep apnea for about 20 years now. I first started using an oral appliance, that lasted about 7 years then it was not helping. I then got my first CPAP machine and used it with nasal pillows. I tried a full face mask and nasal mask, but made me too claustrophobic.

I am now on my 3rd CPAP machine, it was recently replaced due to recall, so I have a DreamStation now. I use Fisher Paykel Brevida nasal mask/pillow with a heated hose.

I have my pressure set at a min of 9 to a max of 11cm. I know its not always recommended but i tape my mouth as to not blow air out and sputter,  and disturb my wife and also wake up myself.

I put a small slit in the tape so i can breath if needed. 

All has been well up to about a week ago, when I started snoring, but internally if that makes sens. I cannot really snore aloud as my mouth is taped shut. 

This vibrating noise wakes my with, she tells me to turn on my side where it subsides  somewhat.

I am not sure what do do, as we both have not sleep well for the last week so tired during the day.

My AHI average is 0.76 according to OSCAR. I'm running out of options, can I get some suggestions to make this issue better?

I sleep on 2 pillows to make my head elevated, one firm pillow and one soft, cuz thats all i have around.

With respect to OSCAR data, I am not sure which screens are important so i did 3 screen shots. The gaps in the graphs are when i go to the washroom.

I contacted my cpap machine supplier, they can help on occasion, but they always say your AHI is good, your ok, but somehow, i am not satisfied with this answer.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks and Have a great day!


           

[Deborah K.]

Unless Philips reports leaks differently than others, there is a discrepancy in the reporting.  Your chart shows lots of high leaks, but the left panel shows none.  Maybe your snoring is leaking out with the air through the slit you make in your tape.  Try wearing your tape again, but don't make a slit in it.  Leave it whole.  I need to use 2-inch tape cut about 5-1/2 inches long or I still have mouth leaks.  This may be true of you as well.

It can't hurt to try, and it may solve your problem.  

[CanadianRob]

Hey Deborah, thanks for the reply.

So I tried 2 nights of no slit, and graph kind of show the same, its weird....

Same leak stats...

Is there a way to test if there is a leak somewhere else or some how else?

I appreciate your help so far!

Thanks and have a great day!

[Deborah K.]

The nasal pillows themselves may be leaking.  If so, you should be able to feel the leaks with your hand around the edges of the mask once you are hooked up and receiving airflow, especially since you are using a small range of pressure.  The pillows may be too small or too large. That can cause leaking.  I started with small nasal pillows, then switched to medium, but I was most comfortable with the large pillows as they set the most gently against my nostrils.  It's more art than science to find the right ones.  

[CanadianRob]

Hey Deborah,

There are only 2 sizes i am aware of for this nasal pillow, x-small/small and medium/large. I am using the large one.

Small is way to small. Maybe I should go back to regular nasal pillows?? But there again another expense.



I do not know what to do anymore...

[Deborah K.]

Your machine reported big leaks on your chart but 0.00 leaks on the left panel.  Both can't be right.  So, either your chart is correct and you have huge leaks or the left panel is correct and you have none.  Did your wife report that the unslitted tape stopped your snoring?  If so, that may be a hint that your leaks are nonexistent.

Hook up your mask and test the pillows.  If there are no leaks then also feel where the mask attaches to the hose.  You can also feel where your hose attaches to the machine.  Those tests should tell you whether you have huge leaks or none.

One way or another your machine is not reporting correctly.  This may provide you with a chance to get a better machine.  I suggest you request a ResMed AirSence 10 machine from your DME.  Or, if that won't work, you could request a properly working machine from Philips.