New Mask - Need Analysis

[KeithF40]

I started to use my CPAP again in hopes of feeling better. I had the sleepweaver elan "regular" size but it was irritating the bottom of my nose. I wasn't aware that a large size existed and purchased that. Here is a report of my machine from the other night. I had one really great morning following using the regular size but I believe it only happened once. Although I am far more comfortable with the new sized mask, and the numbers look better, but I don't feel any better than when not using the mask. Just want to make sure my settings are set correctly and do understand that this may just take more time. I have a fixed setting on, but I can change it just as long as the min number is sufficiently high to keep the mask inflated as when it collapses from low pressure it is quite uncomfortable.

Thank you for all your help.

Not sure why picture isn't appearing. This is what I put in the message without the quotes. The link is not dead.
[img"]https://imgur.com/a/r3TnRWG["/img]



https://imgur.com/a/r3TnRWG

[ChicagoGranny]

Your breathing looks very good for the one night you posted.

I don't feel any better than when not using the mask

For all I know, you felt great when not using the mask. But, a good guess is you probably didn't. Can you be specific about your complaint?

[KeithF40]

I feel generally tired and not refreshed. I rarely if ever get up in the morning and feel "good".

[robysue1]

I feel generally tired and not refreshed. I rarely if ever get up in the morning and feel "good".

CPAP fixes sleep disordered breathing problems. CPAP does not fix bad sleep.

Sometimes when the CPAP data looks reasonably good (as yours does, at least on the surface), you need to think about what other things might be going on that are preventing you from getting a good night's sleep and making you wake up tired and not refreshed.

So let's ponder some of the obvious candidates:

Do you have any other health conditions where fatigue is a common symptom?

Do you take any medication on a daily basis that might cause sleep problems as a side effect?

When was the last time you had a physical? Did you mention the on-going sleep problems and daytime fatigue? Did you discuss what other things might be causing them with the doctor? When was the last time your thyroid levels were checked? Are you getting enough Vitamin D? Any problems with depression or anxiety?

Sometimes the problem can even be as simple as trying too hard: The one night of data you posted shows a time in bed with the CPAP running of 10+ hours. There is also some potential evidence of a lot of spontaneous arousals and/or wakes. Were you lying in bed for long periods of time with the machine running and not sleeping on this night? If so, how much actual sleep do you think you got on these nights? I ask because lying in bed for long periods of time and not sleeping can make you feel more tired and less rested when you do finally get up in the morning.

What's your sleep hygiene look like? How long do you stay in bed on a typical night? How long does it take you to fall asleep at the beginning of the night? How many wakes do you typically remember in the morning. Do you often find yourself lying in bed awake and worrying about the fact that you are awake?

As for CPAP-related stuff: The only thing that jumps out at me is the leaks. Your leaks are technically under control---meaning that the official large leaks on this night are short lived enough to have no adverse affect on the efficacy of the CPAP therapy. And if you were waking up feeling rested and ready to face the day, this level of leaks could (and should) just be ignored. But you aren't waking up rested and there is also some evidence that the small, pesky almost constant unintentional leaks are causing problems with your ability to get to sleep and stay soundly asleep while using the machine. Hence spending some additional time trying to troubleshoot the leaks may be worthwhile in your case: Fix the leaks and you might just sleep better with the CPAP and that in turn will allow you to wake up feeling more rested.