[Treatment] Making my own settings

[Lady Knitsalot]

Would turning up my minimum pressure by a point or turning off EPAP help limit my CA events? I'm down to just one level of pressure relief after reducing it from three over several weeks.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to wear the collar for long. I started waking up with an aching jaw, because I was clenching my teeth all night. Apparently forcing my mouth closed while I sleep will do that, though I don't think I was grinding my teeth. I haven't tried mouth taping, since I'm afraid the same thing will happen. I'm pretty well practiced with keeping my tongue on the roof of my mouth while sleeping, so I don't dry out too badly. I'm using a fairly flat travel pillow (stuffed with natural wool) and sleeping on my side much of the time.

My sleep has been pretty good on average, but my central apneas aren't entirely controlled. Some nights' sleep are much more refreshing than others, and several nights a week, I wake with a noticeable headache, or even feeling a bit groggy.

Any suggestions are welcome. I have had my 30-day follow-up video appointment with my sleep doctor, who basically said 'keep up the good work" and offered no real insights. I know a lot of people struggle with CPAP therapy far more than I do, and nothing is ever going to be 100% perfect, especially since I'm getting older, but it seems like there are still some elements of my therapy which could improve.

This is a typical good night.
   
And a couple of not so good nights, where I woke up with a headache.
   
   

[SarcasticDave94]

If these CA events are typical, they're high compared to the rest of the chart, but in practical terms they're not extremely high. Over the 8-9ish hours sleep, even 15 or so CA aren't terrible.

It is possible some CA might even be sleep position changes causing breath holds. I'd almost begin treating the other events more than operating in CA avoidance. Unless this means the CA multiply.

CA avoidance means settings like low or no EPR, minimal pressure range, etc. Treating CA versus the rest is like the teeter-totter effect. CA are on one side and the rest are on the opposite end. Acts to push down CA will very likely elevate the others and vice versa, also at the expense of comfort.

One possible action is to trial lessening the CA avoidance actions. See if therapy becomes better overall.