Rice95 Therapy

[Rice95]

Hi all

I have since really improved my AHI with my pillow change thanks to great advice last weekend. For the last 3 days they have been 3 , 4 and then 6 last night. Not sure why the numbers are getting higher. Maybe I'm  slipping onto my back? 

I posted the one from last night. 


(How do you zoom in a little more so I can get the rest of my chart to show?)

[OpalRose]

In another thread, it was suggested you look into wearing a soft cervical collar.  You have positional apnea (see the clusters on the graph).  It's unlikely a pressure adjustment will help.  

You should try the collar and if you don't want to wear that, then find a way to keep your chin from tucking into your chest.

Positional apnea can occur whether you are on your side or back.

http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...cal_Collar

One more thing... try to keep your therapy questions to one thread (preferably this thread).  Starting new threads every time you have a new question or a new chart makes it harder for folk to advise. I have revised your thread title slightly.

[Gideon]

Opal nailed it.
Chin tucking!!!
You need a collar if this happens regularly.
I'll guess your other charts, that I'm not going to chase down also show this so get a collar and read the links

[Rice95]

Thank you to you both!! I actually purchased a collar per advice from my original post. I haven’t worn it yet because I tried a flatter pillow first to see if it would help. It really helped but numbers started to rise the last 3 consecutive days. It’s my OA numbers that are messing everything up. I’m glad I don’t need to increase pressure.

So you are saying it wouldn’t help me to increase pressure in this situation correct? I could try going to 11 but the last time I tried I had some bloating. My bed is raised about 3-4 inches at the head of the bed. Do you think that could cause my head to tuck?

[OpalRose]

It's possible that the elevated bed could cause your head to tilt forward.

Please note, we aren't saying you don't need more pressure... we are saying that raising pressure doesn't normally correct positional apnea. What you are doing is cutting off your airway when you tuck your chin into your chest.

[Gideon]

We very likely will offer additional suggestions once you have eliminated the clusters of obstructive events.

[Rice95]

Hi all

I used my new collar last night. I made sure my chin was not able to fall inside the collar but it wasnt too tight, but tight enough to sleep. It was not all that comfortable but I toughed it out through the night. I tried it out with a new cpap pillow that came in last night too that was about 2 inches thicker than the plain old flatter non-cpap memory foam pillow I've been using. Maybe I should have just used the same pillow I was using before...all aside my numbers aren't impressive with the collar. My OA numbers ARE better than last night WITH the collar but my AHI is still at 5. 

I've attached last night's chart.

[Gideon]

Can you try your original pillow with the collar?
Right now ignore your numbers, just look at the clusters of obstructive events you are having. Your immediate goal is just to eliminate those clusters.

[Rice95]

Can you try your original pillow with the collar?
Right now ignore your numbers, just look at the clusters of obstructive events you are having. Your immediate goal is just to eliminate those clusters.

Yes, I’ll try the original pillow tonight and see how it goes and report back in the morning. Thank you so much

[Rice95]

Hi all 

Report much better this morning without the cpap pillow I bought, which apparently was too thick and too high. I used my traditional much flatter memory foam last night with my collar of which the latter I am getting used to after only 2 days using it. 

There are still obstructions present on the graph but not near as many. I am sleeping with the head of my bed slightly elevated(maybe 3 inches)to help with swallowing air which I am accustomed to do as well as my vertigo that always happens when I am laying completely flat.  

I welcome any comments on this morning's chart.

Thank you