Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.
Login or Create an Account
05-14-2024, 08:57 AM (This post was last modified: 05-14-2024, 08:58 AM by Shadowknight.)
Shadowknight - Therapy Analysis
Hi, I've been using a CPAP for over 11 and a half months now, and I'm still having issues using it. I have had a week i December, and a week in March, where I was able to get 5-7 hours of uninterrupted sleep using the machine. I'm generally only ably to sleep around 3.5 hours uninterrupted, then I can sometimes go back to sleep for another 2-3 hours. I went to the Neurologist recently, and their only comment was that my # of events was low, and it's considered normal to wake up in the middle of the night. I'm still having issues with feeling tired in the middle of the day, falling asleep on the couch, and having some mild cognitive issues due to struggling to get enough sleep each night.
My AHI was originally 26 when I had my sleep study done. I'm using a Resmed 11 with a pressure range of 4-15, and a memory foam f20 mask, with a quietflow F20 elbow. My jaw drops open when sleeping and I am using a soft cerifical collar to help keep my mouth shut. I usually keep my mouth taped shut as well, but have stopped doing that recently, it doesn't see to make a difference. I have use 3 mg Melatonin, Valerian root, a benedryl, and CBD gummies. I don't they make a difference, nor when I used Trazadone, which I had to stop due to side-effects I was experiencing. I do have a significantly deviated septum, and have been considering surgery. I had my adenoids and tonsils removed 30 years ago, so those aren't a factor. I also experimented with bumping the minimum pressure up from 4 to 8, and it didn't seen to make a difference.
If anyone has any suggestions on how I can stay asleep longer, please let me know. I'm having enough issues with crashing and fatigue it's still making it difficult to function on a daily basis.
05-14-2024, 09:31 AM (This post was last modified: 05-14-2024, 09:32 AM by BoxcarPete.)
RE: Need advice on getting better sleep
Don't assume that the adenoids aren't a problem. I had mine removed 25 years ago and went in to get scoped. Deviated septum, turbinate hypertrophy, and... significant adenoid tissue. It's uncommon, but the little suckers do grow back sometimes. If your septum deviation diagnosis was recent, then disregard, but otherwise it's possible that they are a factor.
Anyway, I had surgery (septum plus submucosal turbinate resection with another adenoidectomy) earlier this year and I will say that it smoothed out the CPAP charts a good bit and has helped with a bunch of other things as well. It hasn't made much difference in my off-pap numbers (according to home study, still waiting on confirmation via PSG), but it has definitely improved the way the CPAP delivered air to me and made it more tolerable. I am still looking to make my sleep more restful because I was always on the milder side of things apnea-wise, but I do think it was worth doing.
Look, I'm an engineer, not a doctor! Please don't take my opinion as a substitute for medical advice.
Need Help with dialing in CPAP settings - OSCAR charts attached
I'm reposting my previous thread with a new title, as the other one isn't getting any responses.
Hi, I've been using a CPAP for over 11 and a half months now, and I'm still having issues using it. I have had a week i December, and a week in March, where I was able to get 5-7 hours of uninterrupted sleep using the machine. I'm generally only ably to sleep around 3.5 hours uninterrupted, then I can sometimes go back to sleep for another 2-3 hours. I went to the Neurologist recently, and their only comment was that my # of events was low, and it's considered normal to wake up in the middle of the night. I'm still having issues with feeling tired in the middle of the day, falling asleep on the couch, and having some mild cognitive issues due to struggling to get enough sleep each night.
My AHI was originally 26 when I had my sleep study done. I'm using a Resmed 11 with a pressure range of 4-15, and a memory foam f20 mask, with a quietflow F20 elbow. My jaw drops open when sleeping and I am using a soft cerifical collar to help keep my mouth shut. I usually keep my mouth taped shut as well, but have stopped doing that recently, it doesn't see to make a difference. I have use 3 mg Melatonin, Valerian root, a benedryl, and CBD gummies. I don't they make a difference, nor when I used Trazadone, which I had to stop due to side-effects I was experiencing. I do have a significantly deviated septum, and have been considering surgery. I had my adenoids and tonsils removed 30 years ago, so those aren't a factor. I also experimented with bumping the minimum pressure up from 4 to 8, and it didn't seen to make a difference.
If anyone has any suggestions on how I can stay asleep longer, please let me know. I'm having enough issues with crashing and fatigue it's still making it difficult to function on a daily basis.
I have merged both your threads since they deal with your therapy. To be more inclusive, I have renamed the title to, Shadowknight - Therapy Analysis". Please use this thread for all posts regarding your therapy. This helps the reader see your history.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
I see a couple of issues that are causing you problems. Your beginning pressure is too low for most adults, leaving folks feeling a bit air-starved. I suggest that you raise it to 7. I can't see your flow limits but I bet they are high. Turn EPR on full-time, set at 3. Those changes should improve your therapy and your comfort.
You have another problem that cannot be fixed by settings. You have positional apnea which shows up when OAs and/or hypopneas are clustered together on your chart. This means that your chin is dropping towards your chest causing something similar to a hose that is kinked and does not allow air to flow freely. Most people find that wearing a soft cervical collar solves this problem. When I used one the Caldera Releaf Collar worked and was the most comfortable by far. You can try using a flat pillow to see if this solves it first. Others use special pillows that can solve it, but not what you see advertised as CPAP pillows. They are too high to help with positional apnea. I use a child-sized pillow that is flatter and has a raised front edge that keeps my head tipped slightly back and it solves PA for me. Good luck!
I have been using a cervical collar, and have experimented with the pressure. Last night, I set the pressure to a minimum of 8, adjusted the positioning of the collar slightly to slightly further down my jaw, and propped myself up with two pillows, and was able to stay asleep for 6 hours, 45 minutes last night. I will try a different collar, and perhaps a Knightsbridge chine strap. I appreciate your insight on the jaw drop, it's probably the greatest issue affecting myself. Thanks again,
I'm still having problems with sleeping, even after setting a minumum pressure of 8, and the EPR to full-time 3, and using the Caldera Releaf Collar (which was higher than my old collar.
Any other ideas? Should I set the minimum pressure from 8 to 9?
