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+--- Thread: [CPAP] Unique finding? Looking for recommendations and any expertise. (/Thread-CPAP-Unique-finding-Looking-for-recommendations-and-any-expertise)
Unique finding? Looking for recommendations and any expertise. - gold3n - 11-03-2023
Good day all!
I have been struggling with keeping my CPAP therapy consistent. It feels like I find settings that work great AHI 1-2.5, waking up feeling okay, not perfect, but okay. Then all of a sudden, without any apparent reason, I start seeing an AHI of 5-7 and wake-up feeling truly, horrific with extremely high level of brain fog and dizziness that last throughout the entire day. I am currently using a full face mask, Resmed Mirage Quattro. As this could appear to be positional apnea I have tried a cervical collar in the past, which did help my AHI, but had a few days of waking up feeling the worst I ever have, I fear maybe it was putting too much pressure on my arteries in my neck? Don't think that possible, but I woke up feeling very *BAD* and didn't think I had it on that tight.
One thing I notice which I have no explanation for and can't find any information regarding. The vast majority of my events I have are CA events, I would say 90+%, often clustered, and when my pressure is starting to decrease. I never get them at peak pressure while hitting my max after a small OA or flow limitation, always somewhere on the decline of pressure in which the pressure is decreasing, I get several. It's like a flow limitation or small OA sets it off. This is a bit contrary to what I think I know about high pressure causing CA's due to C02 flushing? As I show in Night #2 example. I have tried lowing my pressure and keeping the pressure minimum and max fairly close together, this does help AHI most days, but again I get an odd night that my AHI is around 5 with a lot of CA events, and I wake up feeling absolutely dreadful. I did use a smartwatch that actively monitored my Sp02, and it looked fine, lowest of 94%. So I have no dang clue! I do believe how I feel when I wake up is linked to how many CA events I have. No, an AHI of 5-7 isn't severe, but wow! When I wake up, it feels worse than If I didn't sleep. Seriously.
Looking for any recommendation that can help me find some stability in my treatment. I have tried so many different things and feel like I am failing. At this moment, I actually feel on an average basis I would be better without using my CPAP. Never feeling okay, but never absolutely dreadful, I have found this when I don't use it. Any recommendation would be highly appreciated. I do want this to work.
RE: Unique finding? Looking for recommendations and any expertise. - paulag1955 - 11-04-2023
My results are also inconsistent. I can have an AHI under 1 on one day and then be over 4 the next. It's very random, which makes it extra frustrating. I don't have any advice but...you're not alone.
RE: Unique finding? Looking for recommendations and any expertise. - SarcasticDave94 - 11-04-2023
With CA on this auto CPAP, you can try EPR 2 since you're on 3 now. The concept behind the action is to make your CO2 exhalation (flushing) a bit less efficient. In turn that should reduce CA.
RE: Unique finding? Looking for recommendations and any expertise. - PollCat - 11-04-2023
The real question is: What has your sleep doctor recommended. Issues like this should be discussed with the appropriate doctor as there may be other factors that need to be addressed.
RE: Unique finding? Looking for recommendations and any expertise. - Deborah K. - 11-04-2023
Maybe it would help if you raise both your lower and higher pressure settings up a bit. If it were me I would raise the lower setting to 10 and the higher to 15 and see how that goes. I would also follow sarcastic Dave's advice on the EPR setting.
RE: Unique finding? Looking for recommendations and any expertise. - paulag1955 - 11-04-2023
EPR at any level makes my centrals worse. It about doubles them, actually.