Therapy Consistency

[golfgame]

Aha! You are having clusters of obstructive apneas. They are probably occurring due to your sleep position. There are several possibilities.

You might be rolling onto your back. Do you think that might be it? If so, you can train yourself to do that a lot less. We can help with suggestions.

You might be tucking your chin down toward your chest, which constrains your windpipe and makes it easier for obstructions to occur. If you use several pillows, or a high pillow, the solution might be as simple as using a single, fairly firm, fairly flat pillow. If that's not it, you might benefit from using a soft cervical collar to keep your chin up.

Are there multiple versions of the soft cervical collar to consider? Are you aware if Medicare perhaps pays for one?

[zonker]

Are there multiple versions of the soft cervical collar to consider?

what you can buy at the local walgreens or cvs or riteaid etc will work just fine. look in the "old people" section (I CAN SAY THIS CUZ I ARE ONE!) where canes and bedpans and such are kept.

or if you want it from amazon-

https://www.amazon.com/Coreline-Cervica ... 749&sr=8-4

this is the one i use. it's 4" (height) but you may want to start with a 3" if you're uncertain.

good luck!

[Pugsy]

Medicare doesn't routinely pay for soft cervical collars that can be bought OTC.

Now a special collar/brace used after a surgery and requiring a RX...different story but usually a good rule of thumb is if you can purchase it OTC without RX....Medicare won't pay.

[photonic]

I am sorry that I am very late to this party, but I noticed that you said you have both obstructive and central events. I believe this makes your Daignosis complex sleep apnea. Often Complex SA does not react well to constant CPAP or BiPAP and can make deoxygenations worse. This is the reason I was put on an ASV machine which made all the difference. It only gives you pressure when needed either from sensed obstruction or very low respiratory rates (central).

I came to your post looking for info on the F30 mask (I use the oracle mouth mask because I am a very strong mouth breather as well)

I wonder if my comments might be of assistance to you understanding your CPAP experience.

Cheers

[golfgame]

Photonic,

You said.
"I came to your post looking for info on the F30 mask (I use the oracle mouth mask because I am a very strong mouth breather as well"

I just saw your reply and I thank you.

As I indicated at the beginning I use the Resmed Airfit F30I mask, a large frame with a medium nose piece. To date, this has served me the best. Being a terrible mouth breather this mask has taken care of that issue. I at times hear air escaping as I change positions but it does not pose an air leak problem in the reports. It does however wake me up. It has been suggested that I try a collar which I am going to do. The reason is that it was suggested that I might be dropping my chin. When I do wake from the air noise I find that if I raise my head upwards the noise stops.

This current setup has drastically lowered my apnea rate. The reports are usually below three and often in the one+ range.