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+--- Thread: JohnnyHotdog - Therapy Help (/Thread-JohnnyHotdog-Therapy-Help)
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JohnnyHotdog - Therapy Help - JohnnyHotdog - 06-24-2024
I'm struggling with CPAP therapy and just now about a month in. The first symptoms that I noticed that lead me to getting a sleep study was a "snort" that would wake me up when I would fall asleep. After a at home sleep study I was diagnosed with mild OSA. The prescription I was given was a 8 min 20 max pressure. I tried sleeping with these settings but I could not stand the pressure. I begun to do some research on how to adjust my own settings as I have no insurance. And I have made some progress. My AHI is in the 8's and I can't get it down anymore. On top of that my sleep has been horrible. I have downloaded OSCAR but I am not sure on how to interpret the data to improve my sleep. I believe that I am dealing with mask leak and mouth breathing. The last couple days I have woken up with really bad dry mouth.
Waking up a lot - JohnnyHotdog - 07-05-2024
Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Still waking up a lot. Sometimes I will have a lot a hypopneas or OA's. I'm pretty sure I've gotten my settings down now. I've regularly keep my AHI below 5 but still struggling to feel rested. I sleep on my side or stomach with a flat pillow. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.
RE: Waking up a lot - Deborah K. - 07-05-2024
It looks like you are using ramp, that sometimes you are hitting a little too often against your upper-pressure limit, and that you sometimes have high flow limits. I suggest the following:
Turn ramp off, as you get virtually no therapy while using it.
Increase your upper-pressure limit to 14.
Set the highest setting on whatever the Dreamstation version of EPR is.
I think those should help.
RE: JohnnyHotdog - Therapy Help - Crimson Nape - 07-05-2024
JohnnyHotdog - I have merged your 2 threads that relate to your CPAP journey. It makes it easier for those that offer advice to see your history in one thread. To provide a more inclusive title, I have renamed it to "JohnnyHotdog - Therapy Help".
Going forward, please use this thread to post your therapy related questions and OSCAR charts.
Thanks!
- Red
RE: JohnnyHotdog - Therapy Help - HalfAsleep - 07-06-2024
If you're waking up with a dry mouth, your mouth is popping open while you sleep. You'll have to evaluate whether you need to open your mouth to breathe. If you do, consider that in your mask choice. For instance, if your nose is blocked, a nasal mask might not be optimal, since you'd be inclined to open your mouth just to breathe, and tape would be a very bad idea.
Even if you have a FFM with no leaks, you might still get a dry mouth! This won't be a therapeutic issue, but definitely a comfort one, and isn't great for your teeth. So, you'll likely want some strategies to minimize your jaw-drop.
Among the strategies: adjust the humidifier, use a supportive collar, lowering the pillow, using a different sleep position, etc.
RE: JohnnyHotdog - Therapy Help - Deborah K. - 07-06-2024
My husband and I use Xylimelts, little curved tablets that you stick to your gum, overlapping a little on the tooth. These dissolve slowly as you sleep and help a LOT with dry mouth. It's best to set them between two teeth, as there is more gum there.
RE: JohnnyHotdog - Therapy Help - Deborah K. - 07-06-2024
Also, your leaks are too low for you to worry about mouth breathing. That is not what is causing your dry mouth. I tape and still need the Xylimelts.
Alot of CA's and hypopneas/Still very tired - JohnnyHotdog - 07-14-2024
I'm not sure where to go from here. I believe I have taken care of my mouth leaks. However, my quality of sleep hasn't changed. Almost every night I wake up after about 4 hours. If anyone has any ideas or need anymore information please let me know. I feel like I'm at my wits end.
RE: Alot of CA's and hypopneas/Still very tired - staceyburke - 07-14-2024
A grouping of H events is a sign of positional apnea. PA can NOT be helped with pressure changes. You are sleeping in a position that cuts off your own airway. You have to find out why and stop sleeping in that position. Many people have problems sleeping on their backs or you may have to high of a pillow.
Is my pressure good? - JohnnyHotdog - 10-25-2024
I feel like I have my pressure settings are starting to get dialed in. My main issue so far has seem to been finding the right mask. I started with the dreamwear nasalpillow, but found that I was a mouth breather. Swithed to the F&P Vitera. I didn't like it as I could not fix the mask leaking. My best success has been with the dreamwear full face with a chin strap. My AHI is consistently below 2 but I don't get a good sleep. Still wake up throughout the night and don't feel rested. Any suggestions would be helpfull.