Why so many AHIs while awake?

[gardencat]

Started using my APAP machine early in March. It's been going pretty well lately, with OAs usually under 1. But every couple of weeks a have a night where the AHI jumps to around 10 or 12.

Last night, I realized I was fully awake at 1:30 AM. I think I started waking up around 1:00. Looking at my OSCAR data, I can see that there were continual AHIs -- mostly CAs -- the entire time I was awake. What would cause that to happen? I finally turned the machine off at 3:00 (because the mask was bothering me) and fell asleep right away. I've attached a screenshot.

I don't remember when I woke on those other high-AHI nights, but it looks like the same thing could have happened. It's not unusual for me to wake up in the wee hours and not be able to get back to sleep for several hours. Sometimes I get up and read; sometimes I don't, hoping I'll drift off again.

[staceyburke]

I don't have a reason for all of the centrals...  Centrals are recorded when you pause in breathing for 10 seconds or longer.  I have never experienced many when awake.  I have had some tuning over in bed or pulling up the blanket.  If you have a nasal mask you could be breathing in and out your mouth and it would not record you trying to breath through your nose.

[SarcasticDave94]

If you're certain you were awake, they're not actual Apnea. Breath pauses will be interpreted as CA, which I know I do frequently while awake. Breath pauses can be breath holding while adjusting body position, etc.

Awake breath patterns are quite irregular versus sleeping.

[Dormeo]

People often pause between breaths when they're awake, e.g., when they're concentrating.  In general, awake breathing is a lot less regular than asleep breathing.  Also, if you're drifting in and out of a light sleep, you may be having a lot of arousal breathing, which is fairly often followed by a pause of 10 seconds or longer -- voila, a CA flag.  Below are some zoomed-in examples of arousals followed by CAs.  Bottom line: don't worry about the CAs, but do ask yourself why you aren't sleeping well.

[gardencat]

I'm pretty sure I was awake the whole time because I kept wondering if I should get up. I don't breathe through my mouth at all... had to switch from a nasal to a full-face mask because I kept getting air leaking *into* my mouth from the pressure of the machine, which kept waking me and caused dry mouth. The only way I can stand the FF mask's silicone against my face is by using a homemade mask liner that completely covers my mouth. (That has worked out fine.)

I have been asking myself, for about 15 years, why I don't sleep well. Also asked my GP, which is when she ordered the sleep study.

Oh, well.... it's a mystery.  Thank you all for your replies.

[Dormeo]

It may take a while for you to benefit fully from CPAP, and I hope that with time you'll sleep better more consistently. Meanwhile, you might want to review these guidelines for sound sleep:

• Keep a consistent sleep schedule. Get up at the same time every day, even on weekends or during vacations.
• Set a bedtime that is early enough for you to get at least 7 hours of sleep.
• Don’t go to bed unless you are sleepy.
• If you don’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed.
• Establish a relaxing bedtime routine.
• Use your bed only for sleep and sex.
• Make your bedroom quiet and relaxing. Keep the room at a comfortable, cool temperature.
• Limit exposure to bright light in the evenings.
• Turn off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Don’t eat a large meal before bedtime. If you are hungry at night, eat a light, healthy snack.
• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet.
• Avoid consuming caffeine in the late afternoon or evening.
• Avoid consuming alcohol before bedtime.
• Reduce your fluid intake before bedtime.

[gardencat]

Thanks, Dormeo. Most of these I'm already doing. Need to focus on the few that I haven't managed yet.