Event clustering

Last night I used my new Amara view FFM instead of P10 because my nose was plugged. And oh my word... 18.75 AHI! I get a high AHI whenever I use a FFM, but is there any way to explain the clustering of events, and then nothing for a long stretch, then rinse and repeat? I did switch back to my p10 at 4am, so the last stretch was mostly explained because I wasn't wearing a chin strap, I kept opening my mouth and making leaks. My AHI at my sleep study was 15, so when I have a stuffy nose, would it be better to go without my APAP, than to use a FFM and get 18+? I wonder if a FFM increases my anxiety and causes more apneas. (I know, I know, the sleep study isn't 100% accurate, but that's still quite a jump!)

https://imgur.com/a/iwsQb

Changed sleeping position maybe?

It might be REM related..normally first REM doesn't come on quite that soon nor does it last that long but I suppose it wouldn't be impossible for it to be REM causing the need for more pressures...or maybe on your back and in REM at the same time.

You may need more pressure with a full face mask than you do with the nasal pillows. You bumped up against the upper limit several times. I would recommend a little more lower pressure and more maximum pressure. Why not raise your upper limit to 20 and see where the machine wants to go with a full face mask.

I keep using my nasal pillow mask no matter what. It doesn't matter if I'm stuffed up, or whatever. It blows through and opens my sinuses anyways.

I've been doing that for 20 years now... I will NEVER go back to trying a FFM. I will sometimes switch to a different nasal pillow mask though.

You should do the same, and I'm betting you'd be surprised how well they'll still work.

I definitely need higher pressure with an FFM than either a nasal mask or pillows. Further, I tend to get a lot of clustering, when I look at the waveform details it's mostly me either shifting positions or drifting in and out of sleep.

I did raise my starting pressure while wearing a ffm, but not the max pressure. The problem with the higher pressure is that I swallow a lot of air. I have tried using my nasal pillows when my nose is stuffed, but it doesn't power through and open them up. I just keep waking up not getting enough air because my nose is still stubbornly plugged.

Mikebear wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 15, 2018 5:43 pm

I keep using my nasal pillow mask no matter what. It doesn't matter if I'm stuffed up, or whatever. It blows through and opens my sinuses anyways.

I've been doing that for 20 years now... I will NEVER go back to trying a FFM. I will sometimes switch to a different nasal pillow mask though.

You should do the same, and I'm betting you'd be surprised how well they'll still work.

Me too. 8 years of PAP and always using pillows despite having chronic sinus/nasal issues. Once the airway has been established, it stays open all night.