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I started wearing a cervical collar to get rid of my positional apneas which seems successful, but I am getting more CAs and RERAs now.
Lots of pressure changes and Large leaks over the course of the night. I have been struggling to get through the night with the F40 since I got it. Is this a fit issue or is something else happening?
Machine: Lowenstein Luisa Mask Type: Full face mask Mask Make & Model: Resmed Quattro FX Humidifier: separate F&P humidifier CPAP Pressure: Epap 4-20 PS 4-20; "auto" rate CPAP Software: Not using software
Other Comments: Using 45 degree angle upper body wedge (36"x36") and 4.5"soft cervical collar; 500 assured tidal vol
Your leaks last a long time (they are not brief spikes from movement, etc.). You get a leak and it stays a leak for a very long time.
Maybe try different headgear tensions? Try a little lighter or a littler stronger tension to see if one gives better results. Maybe try shifting the headgear around a little bit also to try to get a better seal. Also, try shifting the mask on your face to try to get a better seal. Maybe try shifting the soft cervical collar a bit. It could be pushing on your mask ever so slightly.
Advisory Members serve as an "Advisory Committee" to help shape Apnea Board's rules & policies.
Membership in the Advisory Members group does not imply medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.
Unfortunately I was having this issue without the collar. I really cannot get this thing to seal. I am attaching a few photos from last night.
That being said, I have a question. I am having these periods of really shallow breathing that is causing REs and Hypopneas. Could this be caused by the EPR changes? I recently went from an EPR of 3 down to 2, in order to better manage the CAs. As you decrease the pressure relief, is that likely to cause other breathing issues, and I just need to stick it out for a while - high EPR or low EPR - in order to adjust?
Machine: Lowenstein Luisa Mask Type: Full face mask Mask Make & Model: Resmed Quattro FX Humidifier: separate F&P humidifier CPAP Pressure: Epap 4-20 PS 4-20; "auto" rate CPAP Software: Not using software
Other Comments: Using 45 degree angle upper body wedge (36"x36") and 4.5"soft cervical collar; 500 assured tidal vol
08-12-2024, 11:46 AM (This post was last modified: 08-12-2024, 11:47 AM by Jay51.)
RE: Leaks, Pressure flucutations, and CAs
Good question. Lowering EPR should reduce any CA's that were increased by increasing EPR in the 1st place. The reason for increasing EPR is to decrease flow limitations. It is a balancing act. You want flow limitations low, but you don't want to increase CA's a lot either.
You have some pretty good charts with EPR 2 full time.
Keep experimenting with different EPR, and you should find the best combination for yourself. And post some more charts if you need to.
Advisory Members serve as an "Advisory Committee" to help shape Apnea Board's rules & policies.
Membership in the Advisory Members group does not imply medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.
Ok, I figured out my leaks. Apparently my mouth goes absolutely crazy at night. I have always been someone who grinds their teeth pretty hard at night, so I had a hunch that this was the problem because I do not toss and turn. So I used some mouth tape last night and that made a big difference - OSCAR chart is attached.
Almost all of my CAs seem to correlate with times that the mask is leaking which must be related to me moving my jaw. Is there an alternative out there for me to keep my mouth closed and not moving too much?
Machine: Lowenstein Luisa Mask Type: Full face mask Mask Make & Model: Resmed Quattro FX Humidifier: separate F&P humidifier CPAP Pressure: Epap 4-20 PS 4-20; "auto" rate CPAP Software: Not using software
Other Comments: Using 45 degree angle upper body wedge (36"x36") and 4.5"soft cervical collar; 500 assured tidal vol
Pretty good looking chart. I use a soft cervical collar (and 2 other harder collars at times) and that keeps my jaw from dropping and my mouth from opening a lot. I think it still opens a little bit, but not nearly as much as it did without the collar. Some people use chin straps, but if you decide to try one, get one that pulls your jaw upward and not backward. Most chin straps pull the jaw backwards, which is not good for sleep apnea. Some people even use mouth tape.
Advisory Members serve as an "Advisory Committee" to help shape Apnea Board's rules & policies.
Membership in the Advisory Members group does not imply medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.
