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Any advice for new user (2 weeks) - SaphireTexas - 01-03-2025
Had my worst night so far with the CPAP last night, haven't changed much except the minimum pressure as I tend to require a stronger pressure. Looking for any advice!
RE: Any advice for new user (2 weeks) - SaphireTexas - 01-03-2025
To be more specific, I am looking at advice for pressure settings, potentially pillows (to sleep on), and alternatives to the generic chinstrap the DME sent me. I tried the Resmed Chinstrap and it did not work for me at all (slipped off before I even fell asleep).
RE: Any advice for new user (2 weeks) - staceyburke - 01-04-2025
I have 2 things to look at. First you have some positional apnea. It is called chin tucking where the chin drops down to your sternum and cuts off your airway. No presser changes can help his type of apnea you must find a way to keep your airway open. I have a link to collars, please take a look at it. collars seem to work much better than the chin strap you talked about.
Make one adjustment in you settings
Change EPR from Ramp only to Full time and lets see how that works for you.
RE: Any advice for new user (2 weeks) - Sleeprider - 01-04-2025
First, there is clearly an indication of positional apnea in your chart. https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php?title=Optimizing_therapy#Positional_Apnea If you are using multiple pillows, cut back to one. Firm tall pillows encourage chin-tucking. I personally use a medium fill down pillow, but everyone has their preference, and it may take some trial and error. The use of a soft cervical collar I would reserve for a stubborn case that does not respond to simply being aware of the problem and trying to mitigate pillows and sleep positions that encourage chin-tucking.
Second, you can optimize your pressure settings using EPR to mitigate flow limitations. Your 95% flow limits are 0.13 which represents enough airway resistance to affect your sleep integrity, simply because of the additional effort of breathing. I would suggest you try EPR full time at setting 3, but you will have to try it and see what is comfortable and tolerable for you. With EPR you will experience far less pressure swing, which is currently 10 to over 19 cm. I'm sure you will see a much calmer pressure chart, even with the lower expiration pressure.
RE: Any advice for new user (2 weeks) - SaphireTexas - 01-05-2025
Thanks for the replies! I made the updates last night, once I have a few days of data I’ll report back.
I’m currently going to try moving down to 1 pillow - while searching for a cpap specific pillow or other recommendations on the forum.