The Cpap process is very frustrating

[Pugsy]

If I can do that, maybe I won't need the minimum to be raised.

That's very possible and in your situation where more pressure seems to cause problems...certainly worth trying.
You don't have anything to lose and everything to gain.
But staying off one's back is easier said than done and I don't advise the tennis ball thing...just what someone who has trouble sleeping needs...something to cause discomfort and wake us up more during the night. Seems really counter productive to me.

I would try to figure out something that keeps me on my side and is comfortable.

When I was early on in my therapy I knew about the REM pressure needs but I didn't know about supine pressure needs. My OSA per the sleep study wasn't really worse when I was on my back.
So I decided to fix up something to make sure I was always on my side and see if the pressure needs varied or not.
I tried multiple ways...bed pillows, folded up bed linens, a foam wedge behind my back and my biggest complaint was they would slide out from under me and I would end up on my back with the stuff in the floor.

So I realized that I needed something with more weight so less chance of it sliding out from behind my back.
Ended up using a buckwheat hull pillow...it's heavy enough that it isn't easily dislodged and if I lay against it (sort of half on my side and half on my back) it actually supported by back and was very comfortable and felt good.
My end result was supine sleeping seemed to not make any difference in pressure needs. I still saw the higher pressures in probable REM.
Since staying on my side didn't change the pressures...and I can't do anything about REM because we need REM...I opted to abandon trying to stay off my back since it didn't really matter anyway. I just let the machine sort it out....it's going to do it anyway because of the REM needs.

Since increasing the pressure to accommodate supine sleeping pressure needs creates a problem...then by all means try another option and see if you can stay off your back.
And if you sometimes end up on your back...shrug your shoulders and don't beat yourself up over it.
It's a sometimes not so great AHI when on your back...vs an all the time problem with sleep in general with more minimum.
Kind of a no brainer...not ideal of course but sometimes we don't get ideal in life and have to make some compromises.

[MaxINTJ]

Frustrating is an understatement. Maybe insanely stupidly impossible?

Synopsis:

CPAP doesn't work for me, so I am trying an ASV.

The ASV is capable of getting my AHI to zero and keeping my breathing smooth.

ASV pressure goes to 25 multiple times during the night and blows my mouth open so I get large leaks and a desert in my mouth - with a nasal mask.

Trying an Amara View - once I get it fitted (after 15 minutes or so of effing around with it) it can handle the pressure and I can get smooth breathing all night.

BUT, the View has the hose mounted in a stupid location making the mask stick out what feels like 6". This is causing me neck and back pain every day because I can't sleep in a comfortable position.


So, I can use a CPAP with a nasal mask and get very little effect.

or

I can use an ASV and a nasal mask and get slightly more positive effect but wake my wife up all night and get a desert in my mouth from all the large through the mouth leaks.

or

I can use the Amara View with the ASV and get smooth breathing (and hopefully catch up on some sleep) but risk injuring my neck and back, or making it so painful I can't sleep because of the pain. It also allows my wife to sleep since I'm not being a wind tunnel all night.

Great choices.

&*^#&@(^*#*()!)&(()!$^@^%&^$_*&&!!!

[AMESS]

Dont give it up Max. Seek professional help before you throw it all away. It takes a long time to adjust, How do I know? On this for 7 weeks and NOT adjusting..and have help from doc and this board.

Yes pain in the butt (umm nose) but stay with it.

[Petrodon]

Stupid question Max, have you tried a chinstrap? I know with a full face it sounds redundant and could possibly cause leaks but at this point is there anything else to try?