[Treatment] drowsyboy - Treatment advice

[UnicornRider]

If CA events increased after increasing therapy pressure it is possible it is "Treatment Emergent Central Sleep Apnea (TECSA). It that is so they will generally go away by their own in a few months. It took awhile for mine to go away when they started jacking mine, but I also had other issues among them was a serious compliance issue. The did go away and I am now a very compliant individual.

Some of your events still look a little clustered, as if you are still having some Positional Apnea, Yes that dreaded Chin Tuck we all fear. Keep using the SSC. I found that chin straps pulled my chin back towards my throat and I had more events with the chin strap than I did with mouth tape. Try going with mouth tape, no chin strap.    

   Your Median pressure has been running close to 13 cmH2O, you have not tried CPAP yet. Some people have issues with the changing pressure, perhaps you could try setting both Pressure Minimum and Maximum to 13 cmH2O, leave it in APAP for now.

To summarize:  Mode APAP
                      Min pressure 13
                      Max pressure 13
                      EPR 3 full-time
                      No ramp
                      Smart Start OFF

  Run that for a day or two to see how your body feels.

 We could drop EPR to 2 cmH2O in a couple of days, if your CA events are still up there.

  Post back with some OSCAR Reports and we will help you from there. 


.          

           


 





.

[UnicornRider]

What type of Pulse/Oximeter are you using? Do you import your Pulse/Ox data into OSCAR?

[drowsyboy]

Thanks for your reply, I can try those pressure settings and see if it helps! I am also extremely compliant fortunately I have no issues at all using CPAP.

Just wanted to add some more data here from last nights sleep. Basically had no CA events last night. I used a soft cervical collar with a good fit and mouth tape. I also tightened my headgear (to an uncomfortable level) to see if I could eliminate any leaks I was having if they might have been the issue, my nose is a bit sore this morning 

Typically i track my sp02 with my garmin even though I know it's not as accurate as my wellue o2 monitor, it's more comfortable every night and I can see trends in the data, I haven't been importing o2 into OSCAR so far. I am going to start bringing some data into OSCAR from my wellue o2 monitor.

[UnicornRider]

Generally I have found from past personal experience, that cranking the head gear to the point your mask is "Pig Nose Tight" is not a good practice.

The Mask Primer helped me out quite a bit. Especially the information contributed by Jeffy 1958, he really put all of the knowledge presented up to that point into practical application in his discription.

Good to see the CA Events have cleared on their own.

When you get a chance post back, it would be interesting to see what your Wellue could offer, once imported into OSCAR.

[UnicornRider]

• Mask Primer
  

   I forgot something. 

[drowsyboy]

Thank you! I will be trying the new settings that were suggested tonight, I was doing some travelling for work and didn't want to change anything just now. Also sorry I didn't see your reply. I'm wondering, would it also be helpful to try a full face mask to lower my AHI? I was looking at the resmed f40 as I am quite comfortable using nasal pillows so it might be a good choice. I think I should be able to tolerate a larger mask than what I have now, I am surprisingly comfortable using CPAP.

[UnicornRider]

Everyone is different, I have done very well with the F&P Evora FFM, very similar to the ResMed f40.

 Be sure to get a "Fit Pack" if they have it. The Fit Pack will have three sizes in it so you can try a size bigger or smaller than you measure for. Although the measure guide they have is good for most people, many will find a better fit with a different size than the guide suggests.

Most PAP users have gone through several masks before they get the one that really feels the best.

Then down the road they gain or loose weight and then they have to get a different mask.

[drowsyboy]

Thank you. I think I will try a new mask soon then also and see what effect if any it has on my AHI.

[insomeapnea]

It is odd that my greatest night happened to be on New Year's Eve when I went to bed at 3 AM drunk. Is there any reasoning behind this?

[drowsyboy]

Hello again. Wanted to check back in here and say I've been using the suggested settings of min / max 13 and I can keep my AHI around 3 with it but it's not really an improvement on the previous settings so far. I wake up a bit more frazzled feeling, you know that feeling when you know your heart has been pounding all night :-( 

Sorry it's taken me a while to follow up, it's been hectic around here. Attaching my chart from last night below. I'm going to start adding my wellue sp02 data here also, I just need to find the thing again