new to everything

[zonker]

So third night with CPAP was odd.

please attach an oscar chart so we can see the details of what is going on.

not everyone has the same apnea pattern. need to see what is going on with you so that we can make suggestions.

[snowgolum]

So third night with CPAP was odd.

please attach an oscar chart so we can see the details of what is going on.

not everyone has the same apnea pattern. need to see what is going on with you so that we can make suggestions.

waiting on the SD card I ordered. I couldn't find my camera. Either way, going to change out the mask. The airapp shows there is no leakage which isn't true because I could tell that there was; had air hitting my eye every hour.

[zonker]

So third night with CPAP was odd.

please attach an oscar chart so we can see the details of what is going on.

not everyone has the same apnea pattern. need to see what is going on with you so that we can make suggestions.

waiting on the SD card I ordered. I couldn't find my camera. Either way, going to change out the mask. The airapp shows there is no leakage which isn't true because I could tell that there was; had air hitting my eye every hour.

oh sorry. i put the cart before the horse!

[Megs78]

So third night with CPAP was odd.

I finally fell asleep and then had a crazy dream but I woke up and could tell I wasn't breathing well. I look over at the CPAP and see the pressure is up to 13 so I know I'm having an apnea episode since my pressure usually stays on 7 while I'm sleeping normally. My left nasal passageway has been inflamed for months from an ethmoid sinus infection that I took antibiotics for so I'm wondering if my nasal mask just isn't sending enough pressurized air into my throat. I ordered a full face mask since I am breathing periodically through my mouth.

Still waking up foggy and anxious.

I’ve been reading through this thread with interest as I’m just (re)starting my CPAP journey and really struggling with it. After messing about with masks, I ended up going with a full-face mask because it’s the only kind that didn’t seem to shoot cool air up into my eyes when trying them out. Tonight is my third night on therapy and I admit that feeling anxious about using the machine (I’ve tried it before two years ago and failed big time) adds to my general anxiety so it feels like a never ending loop.

[Miss Emerita]

Megs78, welcome! It's good of you to share your experience in this thread. Feel free also to start your own thread, with a subject like "Restarting CPAP and need help."

[snowgolum]

So third night with CPAP was odd.

I finally fell asleep and then had a crazy dream but I woke up and could tell I wasn't breathing well. I look over at the CPAP and see the pressure is up to 13 so I know I'm having an apnea episode since my pressure usually stays on 7 while I'm sleeping normally. My left nasal passageway has been inflamed for months from an ethmoid sinus infection that I took antibiotics for so I'm wondering if my nasal mask just isn't sending enough pressurized air into my throat. I ordered a full face mask since I am breathing periodically through my mouth.

Still waking up foggy and anxious.

I’ve been reading through this thread with interest as I’m just (re)starting my CPAP journey and really struggling with it. After messing about with masks, I ended up going with a full-face mask because it’s the only kind that didn’t seem to shoot cool air up into my eyes when trying them out. Tonight is my third night on therapy and I admit that feeling anxious about using the machine (I’ve tried it before two years ago and failed big time) adds to my general anxiety so it feels like a never ending loop.

That's exactly what my nasal mask is doing. The app shows "no leaks" and I'm like...no. I can feel it hitting my eyes periodically through the night. Is it better with your full face mask? I should be getting mine today. Last night was awful and my nose completely clogged up then I ended up having a higher AHI than usual. Ended up taking it off and sleeping without it. My anxiety is tied to the not sleeping/apnea. It kind of hit me out of nowhere. It seems like this forum is great for figuring out how to use your CPAP but I've noticed more people talk about their symptoms (a major one being anxiety) on the sleep apnea subreddit. It makes me feel like I can get out of this eventually. I hope you start getting used to the CPAP.

[Megs78]

Megs78, welcome! It's good of you to share your experience in this thread. Feel free also to start your own thread, with a subject like "Restarting CPAP and need help."

Thank you for the kind welcome and the suggestion.

[Megs78]

That's exactly what my nasal mask is doing. The app shows "no leaks" and I'm like...no. I can feel it hitting my eyes periodically through the night. Is it better with your full face mask? I should be getting mine today.

The leak was solved with the full face mask, yes - instant relief for my eyes. It’s taken a few tugs and tweaks to get it right but the mask fit is good now. My mum gave me some good advice about not trying to “glue” it to my face but instead let the cushion act as a, well, cushion when the air starts flowing.

[snowgolum]

Here is my OSCAR data. I don't understand any of it so.... I'm still feeling like crap.

https://ibb.co/dKbdQGc
https://ibb.co/c6QBJbs
https://ibb.co/KLsrTXZ
https://ibb.co/d4Bj11H
https://ibb.co/M2wdhd9
https://ibb.co/bXc9nBb

[zonker]

Here is my OSCAR data. I don't understand any of it so.... I'm still feeling like crap.

https://ibb.co/dKbdQGc
https://ibb.co/c6QBJbs
https://ibb.co/KLsrTXZ
https://ibb.co/d4Bj11H
https://ibb.co/M2wdhd9
https://ibb.co/bXc9nBb

here's how your screenshot of a graph should look-

Screenshot (12).png (227.46 KiB) Viewed 1145 times

will go back and see which machine you have. hold on...

oh okay it's a resmed. so please arrange your charts as you see in my example. and we need ONLY those events if and until someone asks for a different shot.

i'm thinking offhand that your minimum is too low, but that is only a guess until we can see the data all on one chart.

and it looks like you have apnea made up mostly of centrals. i know bupkis about and will let someone else comment on that.

good luck!

ps don't worry about not knowing what it all means. as we go along, you'll get more answers.

[snowgolum]

Here is my OSCAR data. I don't understand any of it so.... I'm still feeling like crap.

https://ibb.co/dKbdQGc
https://ibb.co/c6QBJbs
https://ibb.co/KLsrTXZ
https://ibb.co/d4Bj11H
https://ibb.co/M2wdhd9
https://ibb.co/bXc9nBb

here's how your screenshot of a graph should look-

Screenshot (12).png

will go back and see which machine you have. hold on...

oh okay it's a resmed. so please arrange your charts as you see in my example. and we need ONLY those events if and until someone asks for a different shot.

i'm thinking offhand that your minimum is too low, but that is only a guess until we can see the data all on one chart.

and it looks like you have apnea made up mostly of centrals. i know bupkis about and will let someone else comment on that.

good luck!

ps don't worry about not knowing what it all means. as we go along, you'll get more answers.

There ya go
https://ibb.co/bNhf795

How can you tell the difference between centrals and OSA? or was the one clear airway a central?

[zonker]

There ya go
https://ibb.co/bNhf795

How can you tell the difference between centrals and OSA? or was the one clear airway a central?

look at your graph. the Event Flags shows CA. CA=centrals. you had more than one.

also, look at your pressure graph. your pressure starts at 4.8 but almost immediately goes up from there.

i'd suggest you start at at least a minimum pressure of six. this will allow you to kill off events more quickly. it will also help you to breath a bit more naturally.

what it won't do is get those centrals. THAT is where my knowledge takes a quick nose dive. let's see who else will come in and give you some advice about those.

meanwhile, if you want, raise that minimum pressure and let's see if you can get a better night's sleep.

[snowgolum]

There ya go
https://ibb.co/bNhf795

How can you tell the difference between centrals and OSA? or was the one clear airway a central?

look at your graph. the Event Flags shows CA. CA=centrals. you had more than one.

also, look at your pressure graph. your pressure starts at 4.8 but almost immediately goes up from there.

i'd suggest you start at at least a minimum pressure of six. this will allow you to kill off events more quickly. it will also help you to breath a bit more naturally.

what it won't do is get those centrals. THAT is where my knowledge takes a quick nose dive. let's see who else will come in and give you some advice about those.

meanwhile, if you want, raise that minimum pressure and let's see if you can get a better night's sleep.

Yeah, I noticed that I stay on 7 most of the time so I was going to raise it tonight. I'm super confused because I only had 1 central during my sleep study so I wonder why I am having a lot now. I have read hormone fluctuations cause centrals so I'm wondering if that has to do with it or if the CPAP is making centrals worse. I live in a highly elevated area too.

[snowgolum]

There ya go
https://ibb.co/bNhf795

How can you tell the difference between centrals and OSA? or was the one clear airway a central?

look at your graph. the Event Flags shows CA. CA=centrals. you had more than one.

also, look at your pressure graph. your pressure starts at 4.8 but almost immediately goes up from there.

i'd suggest you start at at least a minimum pressure of six. this will allow you to kill off events more quickly. it will also help you to breath a bit more naturally.

what it won't do is get those centrals. THAT is where my knowledge takes a quick nose dive. let's see who else will come in and give you some advice about those.

meanwhile, if you want, raise that minimum pressure and let's see if you can get a better night's sleep.

So looking at all my data...the problems started with the centrals when I upped the pressure from my original settings. The first two nights I was only having 1 osa with no centrals with the minimum pressure at 4 exactly. I'm going to just set everything back and see what happens. I was actually feeling better with the anxiety stuff...but trying to get used to the mask. When I changed my minimum pressure/humidity above four is when my numbers started getting higher.

first two nights- https://ibb.co/z645pK3
last two nights with new settings-https://ibb.co/hRGGgsx

[zonker]

first two nights- https://ibb.co/z645pK3
last two nights with new settings-https://ibb.co/hRGGgsx

gor-ram it! i'm tired of thinking i've replied to something only to find out i apparently didn't hit submit.

grrrrr.....

short answer; i'm glad your ahi is down. this is why it's important to have actual data.

however, there is more to ahi than just getting low numbers. it's more important that you feel good at whatever ahi you have.

and you may want to start cultivating the habit of posting your charts just the way i advised earlier. no matter what your ahi, you'll need to keep track of events.

meanwhile, please stay at your current settings for another 2-3 nights, just to make sure it sticks. don't be surprised if you don't get the same numbers again.

good luck!!