Sanity check

This was my first night with cpap, my GP had prescribed 4-20 pressures, but my very first act was bumping the minimum pressure up to 6.6. Based on the graphs, I've bumped this up to 7.5 for tomorrow - does that sound sane?

Something woke me up around 4am and it took a little while to get back to sleep (I briefly got up which is why there's a gap). Hyper-awareness of the hose kinda kept me from getting a complete night of sleep, I woke up way more then usual. However, for a first attempt I'm quite happy.

I've got a weird semi-related question... if I put my thumb on the bit of skin between my nostrils up right above my lip, and push left or right, I can feel a bit of bone or cartilage between my nostrils dislocate and move whichever direction I push. I'm not quite sure how to explain this feeling, it's like the first 3/8 inch of bone there is not attached to anything, and just kinda floats around. Anyone have an idea what this would be called medically?

I haven't managed to find an ENT in central NJ yet (if anyone's got suggestions I'm all ears), so I haven't gotten this evaluated, but it's happened for as long as I can remember.

NoisyBreathing wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 03, 2024 7:17 pm

This was my first night with cpap

welcome to the zoo!

your chart shows way too much. it should look like this-


which will make it easier to read.

good luck!

Sanity is not required for effective CPAP use; this forum is proof! But raising minimum well above 4 is almost always a good move, both for effectiveness and for comfort.

Hyper-awareness is to be expected for a while. Eventually your subconscious brain figures out that the stuff on your face is helpful.

The cartilage is supposed to move; the bone not so much--unless maybe you are a boxer. But I sure ain't no ENT.

Your primary should know enough basic facial bone structure to evaluate or advise. But then again, your being "all ears" about finding a good ENT is a great line!

I've had success with ENT and Allergy Associates, but in NY, myself. But I think there's one in Glen Ridge, NJ.

I wish you all the best with good sleep and good breathing.

Good job. The picture is a little 'sharing too much' as Z noted... but I can read it fine. Links to SleepHQ are great because a) link, low bandwidth and b) we get hi-res zoom. I use Oscar for home and SHQ for share mostly. Disadvantage of SHQ is that you can't put your O2 data unless you pay the membership. Here's a recent SHQ of mine, your leak graphs put mine to shame!

https://sleephq.com/public/f6eb9007-ee0 ... b91cd3878f

I see snoring after midnight... but your pressures don't climb until 01:30... did you move to your back? Side sleeping is always better for OSA involving the tongue.

Your leak graph is stellar... congrats.... what mask? If you put your mask and machine in your profile we can see them always.

I would say at this point you are one sane person! Welcome.

It took me awhile to fall asleep - I don't think I was actually asleep until some time around 1:30AM. If I inhale to quickly I can snore while I'm awake, the sides of my nose vibrate.

Updated my profile, the mask is the Airfit P10, I went on cpap.com, sorted by most reviews and went with that one. It's fairly comfortable, except last night I wore it upside down (seriously, who designs a sleep apnea mask with no tactile indication of which way is the right side up... I'm not turning the bedroom lights on to figure it out). I've added a piece of tape to the bottom of the hose so I can feel the difference)



6:30am is when I woke up enough to figure out the mask was upside down. Turns out it leaks a lot when you don't wear it properly, although weirdly I wasn't feeling any obvious leaks.

I think 7 is a little low, but I'm going to wait for a few days of correctly worn mask before going higher.

An interesting side effect of CPAP is my wife's been sleeping until my alarm goes off, rather then getting up a few hours earlier like she used to do. Theory is my snoring isn't waking her up anymore.

NoisyBreathing wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:45 pm

the mask is the Airfit P10, I went on cpap.com, sorted by most reviews and went with that one. It's fairly comfortable, except last night I wore it upside down (seriously, who designs a sleep apnea mask with no tactile indication of which way is the right side up...

There is another way to know which way to put on the P10 without turning the lights on.....that little adjustment strap for tightening up the mask...it goes on the right side of your face. If you put the mask on so that little tab for adjustment is on the right side of your head you will be wearing the nasal pillows right side up and in correct placement.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:51 pm

NoisyBreathing wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:45 pm

the mask is the Airfit P10, I went on cpap.com, sorted by most reviews and went with that one. It's fairly comfortable, except last night I wore it upside down (seriously, who designs a sleep apnea mask with no tactile indication of which way is the right side up...

There is another way to know which way to put on the P10 without turning the lights on.....that little adjustment strap for tightening up the mask...it goes on the right side of your face. If you put the mask on so that little tab for adjustment is on the right side of your head you will be wearing the nasal pillows right side up and in correct placement.

I didn't even think about that, good point

Alright here's sleephq from last night: https://sleephq.com/public/5925dba8-329 ... 10d2590945

The leak rate around 7AM was from opening my mouth according to my wife. Not sure what happened around 3:30 though.

I think my min pressure probably needs to go up a bit - probably 8.8?

After 10 days I'm barely aware of the hose unless it gets caught in the bed and makes noise. Often at night before I'm asleep I'm thinking "Wow, is this how most people breathe? It's so easy"

NoisyBreathing wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 14, 2024 6:18 pm

The leak rate around 7AM was from opening my mouth according to my wife. Not sure what happened around 3:30 though.

Leaks look stellar.

I think my min pressure probably needs to go up a bit - probably 8.8?

I'd go for 10... that snore is pushing your pressure up more than the FL's... snoring irritates the airway, pissing it off... avoid snoring. The best pressure graphs IMO are the ones where it just bumps up slightly sometimes... like that pressure graph if it was flat at 10cm. That first big pressure spike at 02:11? Snore... zoom in and take a look.

After 10 days I'm barely aware of the hose unless it gets caught in the bed and makes noise. Often at night before I'm asleep I'm thinking "Wow, is this how most people breathe? It's so easy"

I'm constantly aware of the hose... if I'm aroused, I find it, because I'll be rolling over. If my mask is leaking, I'll give the hose a tug first. CPAP for me is a hose.

Decided to try the large nasal pillows last night, and the results here note great. 6:30am is when I woke up and switched back to the medium ones

https://sleephq.com/public/b4c59cc3-6c6 ... fe2053849b

I'm still having issues with leaks - I can't seem to get the strap to actually stay tight.

I think I probably want to go to 11 also

NoisyBreathing wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 21, 2024 6:34 pm

I think I probably want to go to 11 also

No need to go all Nigel on us! Starting to look to me like the machine's mistaking CA's for OA's and pumping your pressure up. The pressure did not help matters, on the contrary.

Try a night at straight 9cm CPAP and see what happens, just for gits and shiggles. All IMO, I'm only a doctor in my dreams.

Well I didn't see your post before I went to bed before I went to 11.. https://sleephq.com/public/d606613c-109 ... ad6f854f54

Aside from the leaks, I think that looks better?

NoisyBreathing wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 6:28 pm

Well I didn't see your post before I went to bed before I went to 11.. https://sleephq.com/public/d606613c-109 ... ad6f854f54

Aside from the leaks, I think that looks better?

Yes, better. I'm thinking 11cm CPAP might be better... the events look kinda like CA even when labeled OA... the problem is the machine jacks up the pressure for OA's but does not for CA's. I'm getting where I don't trust the machine to tell the difference sometimes. Note that the FL's are gone during your events. Try a night of straight CPAP maybe?

Straight 11 CPAP seemed worse - https://sleephq.com/public/9cc7627e-d6b ... d4e4a9ac6c

I definitely felt worse this morning then I have in a bit.

NoisyBreathing wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 25, 2024 6:29 pm

Straight 11 CPAP seemed worse - https://sleephq.com/public/9cc7627e-d6b ... d4e4a9ac6c

I definitely felt worse this morning then I have in a bit.

I was hoping limiting the pressure excursions would help the leaks... does not appear to be the case, the leaks were worse! The leaks looked great on the 20th, not sure what's going on there. Are you waking with dry mouth? I have a theory that mask and mouth leaks can actually cause CO2 stripping, it's like a huge exhaust port opened up... in any case the leaking will reduce the effective therapy pressure, note how the FL's seem to correlate with the leaks.

You mentioned that you have nostrils that can close... there are products to prevent this, one good one is Mute, comes in a fit kit with three sizes, Lanky Jason uses and recommends them. They go in the nose, not sure if they'd interfere with your pillows.