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+--- Thread: AHI climbing and need help (/Thread-AHI-climbing-and-need-help)
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RE: AHI climbing and need help - OpalRose - 09-30-2022
Ok, keep us updated on your progress. I wouldn't make pressure changes right now.
Two things to work on, your leaks and sleeping position to control positional apnea.
I suspect they go hand in hand.
RE: AHI climbing and need help - Rice95 - 09-30-2022
I ditto everything Opal Rose said. Get those leaks under control. I sleep with a DreamWear FFM(been discontinued for those with metal in their body because of the magnetic clips on the head gear, but I'm metal-free thankfully because its been a great mask)Getting the tension balanced is the key. Don't under tighten or over tighten the straps. "Comfortably snug" is the key.
RE: AHI climbing and need help - slushy - 10-01-2022
thank you again
RE: AHI climbing and need help - Expat31 - 10-01-2022
Watch out for back sleeping, as it can occur anytime during the night and effects can be pretty negative - from my personal experience.
(See Aussie's CPAP reviews on REM sleep on Youtube)
RE: AHI climbing and need help - Rice95 - 10-01-2022
Agree with Expat
Back sleeping I have found destroys AHI. I've since been a side sleeper for a year and have welcomed much better numbers, although it is tricky to stay off your back. Your body needs time to acquire the muscle memory needed to stay on your side. You need a comfortable mattress to absorb the shoulder pressure I've found and something like a sleep wedge to train you. I think I'm married to the wedges for a while.
Good luck
RE: AHI climbing and need help - Expat31 - 10-01-2022
Yes pretty negative impact on AHI.
The tongue can fall back under gravity, and block airways, result, higher AHI, increased flow limitations and general disruption of sleep, and especially apnea clusters in my case.
I had heard of the of the use of pillow wedges, but could not find them on the market here in France. I tried to fashion a buckwheat pillow to imitate the effect, but moved around too much, and very patchy results.
In the end I bought an expandable chest brace witha Velcro fasterer. Then slipped 2 tennis balls an one fairly hard plastic ball in the brace's lining.
For me, works a treat..
Result
In short,
RE: AHI climbing and need help - slushy - 10-02-2022
Took those suggestions on board with back sleeping and have been side sleeping the last couple of nights. Really paid a lot of attention to fitting the mask last night with really good results. Won't get too carried away until replicated a few times but feeling encouraged. Thanks to everyone who clarified the problems I was having with this. Feel like there is some light at the end of the tunnel. So awful when the therapy goes off the rails like that.
RE: AHI climbing and need help - OpalRose - 10-02-2022
Big improvement with the leaks. There is still some positional apnea, but not bad at all.
Let's see if we can make this a trend...
RE: AHI climbing and need help - clownbell - 10-02-2022
@Slushy - I see FFM has been suggested. Some folks have major leaks even with FFM because their jaw pops open when in deep sleep. So one other strategy is to try mouth taping. Although the last charts indicate large leaks are much less of a problem. Good job!
RE: AHI climbing and need help - Expat31 - 10-03-2022
It would be nice to see a screen shot in the "standard presentation" i.e.
1. Events
2.Flow Rate
3. Pressure
4. Flow Limitations
5. Leak Rates
These are the key graphs to start with that give a fast overview of a night's results.
It is worthwhile spending some time understanding these, and how they are inter related and how any changes effect sleep quality. Starting with n°1 Events, and working down the list to N°5 Leaks.
Impact