Trouble staying asleep

[cantsleep2017]

My biggest problem is currently waking up around 2-4 am and finding it difficult to get back to sleep.  I've had this issue for a number of years and diligence with sleep hygiene hasn't seemed to make any difference.  I've been careful about what I eat, when I eat, noise, light, caffeine.  I've lost and gained weight and it's been persistent.  

Wanted to see if anyone saw anything from my charts that might be off.  AHI is usually 2.5-3.5 so it doesn't seem glaringly wrong.  Here's last night.  Thanks for any help you might offer!

[Ockrocket]

I am not one to try to interpret your charts..

But I use the Dreamstation, and have done for the 4 years since I was diagnosed with SA back in 2016.
Up until the last 6 months to a year ago my AHI was in the 1.5 to 2.0 range, but then started to slowly climb to the mid 3s as an average (if I don't achieve 4.0 or below I lose my professional driver endorsements, and possibly my whole driver's licence)

I have often had disrupted sleep, and struggled to get back to sleep if waking fully.

Recently I changed from the F&P Eson nose mask to a ResMed AirFit F20 full face mask.
As it didn't help my numbers I started trying different machine settings.

I have found that no Flex, no Ramp, a minimum of 8.0, and a maximum of 15.0 works exceptionally well for me.
It seems over time my mouth became more relaxed during sleep and allowed air to escape when using the nose mask and waking me (originally on a fixed 7.0 by my respiratory specialist, which I bumped to fixed 8.0 due to starving for air).
When trying settings for the new mask I switched to Auto PAP, and then found 20.0 max also seemed to be disturbing my sleep when it kicked in at times.

My AHI for the last couple of weeks now has not gone above 0.8, and is generally 0.4 to 0.6
These are the best consistent numbers I have ever had on CPAP.

You may find your machine coming off Ramp to full pressure is partially disturbing your sleep, and you may also find your maximum of 17.0 could be disturbing it as well.
Whatever adjustments you make, allow at least four days before changing them again so can have the chance to get a proper idea if they are an improvement or not.

Sleeprider and others will be able to advise you better regarding the actual charts.

Be patient with it all, it can sometimes take quite some time to get it worked out to give you the best quality sleep you can achieve.

[Ockrocket]

I just noticed this anomaly compared to my own charts..

It appears for some reason your machine is stopping and restarting multiple times during your session. 

I would suggest you raise this point specifically with Sleeprider or one of the other more knowledgeable members regarding it.. your machine may have a fault if you are not physically turning it on and off yourself.

My Dreamstation only shows the two times I've actually turned it on and off in my session, compared to yours showing six times. 
(see screen snips attached)

[SarcasticDave94]

It may be an auto start/stop malfunction. It's an easy enough check by turning auto start off and seeing if that helps the multi-session scenario Ockrocket pointed out.

[Sleepster]

My biggest problem is currently waking up around 2-4 am and finding it difficult to get back to sleep. 

I have that problem, too. I take a trazodone and if necessary get out of bed and read a book or magazine (not a device) with the lowest light possible. After I started CPAP therapy it took a couple years for the problem to almost go away. But it still does recur some nights. Do a google search for "second sleep". There are some who believe that it's natural for us to sleep in two sessions, something that got stopped by the industrial revolution.

[martyedb]

When I have a bathroom break at night, I am sometimes awake for an hour or two.   Just awake.     Tonight I had a bright idea.    We could write songs!    I don't write songs, but I can think of a couple titles.  
" I've got the  CPAP blues"  or  "I've got the  CHIN TUCK blues",    perhaps to the tune of the country song,  "I've got the jailhouse blues", written by Bessie Smith.

Humor can help, some.  

In the meantime, I will look up  second sleep, since I am already on a device.

[Sleeprider]

For some reason the music in my head was Smuggler's Blues last night. t lease it wasn't Kars 4 Kids. I hate when that happens.

[Sleeprider]

For some reason the music in my head was Smuggler's Blues last night.  t lease it wasn't Kars 4 Kids. I hate when that happens.

[Big Guy]

I take an OTC sleep aid I buy @ Costco. I've been taking them each & every night like clock work. I can't even recall the last time I went to bed w/o taking them.

[SarcasticDave94]

Bob Dylan "Blowin' in the Wind" He's probably not thinking CPAP...