I am a 44 year old female, overweight, living in the US. I had to have a surgery for a kidney stone a couple months ago and the anesthesiologist asked if I have sleep apnea, I said no. He told me, yes, I think you do! That's what started this journey for me. I've slept alone for > 15 years so no one to really give me feedback on my sleep. People have told me I snore in the past but I didn't think much of it. I breathe primarily through my mouth, I have my whole life. When I close my mouth and try to breathe only through my nose I feel like I must take a huge breathe of air through my mouth.
I did an online sleep study where they sent me a common disposable gizmo that I wore for one night and the results were emailed to me. The general findings were:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (G47.33) - Severe based on pAHIo=27.6 and O2 nadir of 85%
Central Sleep Apnea (G47.31) - Mild based on pAHIc = 11.0
I did not use the online company to purchase the CPAP, I got a prescription and went in person to a local DME so I could use my insurance. I got a ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet and a ResMed Airfit F30i full face mask in size small. They did set it up for me and show me how to use it. That was about 3 weeks ago. I need to go back to them in the next week or so for them to check for insurance compliance.
Since I started using it I have had pretty consistently high AHI each night (and nap) of ~15-25 (as shown on CPAP display). I downloaded OSCAR and took at a look at the data, but I don't really know what I am looking at. That's where you all come in (I hope!). I attached last night full night and some zoomed part for review.
I KNOW I need to get a sleep study done in a lab now. I just wrote to my PCP to ask them to put in the order for a sleep study, but that will take time to schedule and complete. Since I have the machine now, I'd like to try changing some settings to try and improve the current situation. I am willing to try any settings change, I just don't know where to start. I find the mask perfectly comfortable and I usually sleep on my side and stomach, but if a different mask might help, I am willing to give that a try as well.
On a positive note - I do find myself with more energy and I just realized this week that I've stopped planning my day around naps. So it is helping me, but I'd just like to get the maximum benefit possible since I have to wear this thing that my kids have to laugh at each night
Thanks for reading all of this and thanks in advance to anyone that has any recommendations.