Struggling to Lower AHI Below 5

[terumi]

In supine position I have severe apneas, about 40 ahi, on my sides I have something like 6.
I was diagnosed with medium apneas (about 20ahi), that was the median that day.
I have ankylosing arthritis and thus I cannot stay on a side for too long. I've tried wearing a "backpack" to force me on one side, but it is a little torture for me.

[Jay51]

You might want to mention to your Cardiologist about the CSR breathing (since you have had a heart attack).   They may have some suggestions.

[terumi]

I will, but I wonder if it is misinterpretation or not, because it is the second time I see this pattern in my oscar analysis.

[Jay51]

Can you upload a 3 minute zoom right in the middle of the CSR?  Just click your cursor when the CSR starts; and drag your cursor to the right for 3 minutes of time.  Then upload that chart to examine.

[terumi]

Sure thing...

   
   



Thank you!

[Jay51]

Thank you for posting those.  Your 1st chart doesn't look like real CSR.  The 2nd chart kind of resembles true CSR.   

It would probably be good to show the 2nd chart to your Cardiologist at your next appointment.

[terumi]

It is the same set of events, with a different zoom level.
Of course I will show it to my doctor!

As for today...

   

It seems, those three days that I'm wearing the collar, the pressure doesn't go above 14.
Maybe I shall lower the pressure of the mask against my face

[Dodies]

Excellent, some progress

[terumi]

Yes! And I think I shall lower my ERP to 2 so I don't provoke the central apnea mechanism as much.
And I will try increasing a notch my lower pressure setting.
Next thing is to investigate the masks thing.
As far as I know, there is no company that has a mask exchange program here in Greece. I could go to the company that sold me my CPAP machine and try some masks there but whatever I buy, I'm stuck with that.

When I had me first titration, a few years ago, they gave me a nose mask and after a few hours they woke me up and changed it for a full face mask because I was opening my mouth.

My turbinates where somewhat enlarged and nose congestion was a daily thing.
Now I got my turbinates cauterized but my nose airways are not the best you could have. And I reckon that in a few months/years my nose is going to fall back to the previous state. So, I don't think I'll ever use a nose mask.

I will go and try the f40 mask so I can minimize the rash on my face left and right to my noise.


Thank you people for taking the time to help me out.
If I discover something new or better, I will report back!

[terumi]

Hello people again!
After a month of consistently having AHI below 5 (usually around 2-4) I feel obliged to thank you all for the interest and the recommendations you made.
I bought myself a f40 mask which, apart from the 4 first days that caused a rush on the tip of my nose, it is a pretty comfortable mask.
Now the next thing is to check how do my airways behave when not in CPAP therapy.
I don't plan to give up upon my therapy, I just want to know, if I go camping or in a place that doesn't have electric power, how strain I'm putting to body if I only have my collar.
I have a wellue ring which I wear each night in order to monitor my pulse rate and my O2 drops.
I'm planning to set the pressure of my CPAP machine to something like 4 or lower for it to monitor my breaths. If the result of the first day are good, I will sleep that way one extra day. Id not, I will abandon the whole endeavour. 
Is it a good plan (setting aside that missing one day of therapy is not a good plan)? Will the machine indeed record my stats in a reliable way? 

Thank you!

I'm including my stats from the previous two days