New to Cpap

Hi
I got diagnosed with Sleep Apnea just over a month ago. I have had my cpap machine for coming up to a month now. At first i hated it and had a really hard time, but now i have come to terms with it and its getting easier each night.
I have a Res Med Air sense 10 with a humidifier and heated hose. My Dr has my pressure set at 9.
I am confused with the reading i am getting i seem to be all over the place.
One night i am at 0.3 AHI the next night at 5.4 then back down to 1.2 AIH.
Is this normal when you first start? or is it some thing i am doing wrong?
Also i use a wisp nasal mask which i am OK with, but i do have a habit of opening my mouth sometimes, i tried a full face mask and i cant do it, so i have been using a chin strap, the chin strap i have makes my head hurt in the morning can anyone recommend one?
Thanks!

Welcome to the forum.

Consider filling out your profile information with the type of equipment you have. Also, before too much time passes, contact your doctor's office and ask to get a copy of your sleep study and also a hard copy of your CPAP prescription.

AHI fluctuations are normal ... at least in the range you are reporting. With your noting of mouth leaks, that may be a primary factor in your AHI fluctuations.

For a chin strap, consider taking a look into the PapCap by Pur Sleep.

Hang in there and your quality of health will improve beyond your expectations.

A lot of people use a soft cervical collar that keeps their heads off their chests, their airways more open and their jaws (if not lips) more closed... worth a try.

Julie wrote:A lot of people use a soft cervical collar that keeps their heads off their chests, their airways more open and their jaws (if not lips) more closed... worth a try.

That too is a fine option.

For the long term, you may want to try and see if you can train your tongue to seal off the air leaks into you mouth. Start planting your tongue to the roof of your mouth at all times whenever you are awake (except for when talking, drinking, and eating of course) and breathe only through your nose. After a couple of months, you will notice that your tongue automatically stays put and you will have begun to develop the muscle memory that will help seal the air out of your mouth. May not work for everybody but it has worked for me and others on the forum. I stopped using chinstraps and other custom engineered contraptions less than a year after starting my CPAP therapy.

Nonetheless, mitigating mouth and mask leaks is critical for optimal therapy and chinstraps and/or cervical collar can help in the interim.

Same spot as you my friend...started CPAP therapy on 4/5/17 - started with full face mask, couldn't swing it. Love my nasal mask I have now. My AHI was 80+ prior to getting diagnosed...now my AHI hovers below 1. I have had a night or two of 2's on the AHI scale...but for the most part all is well.

Keep at it...glad to hear stories from other newbie's.

Thanks for the advice, ill give the ideas a shot.
Ill keep persevering.