Confused about different CPAP pressure results

[msreef]

Hi,

I've been using a CPAP machine for at least a couple of years now. I believe I have UARS due to my symptoms which I won't get into atm.

CPAP has definitely made a positive difference, but I haven't been able to fully get rid of the fatigue, brain fog and poor memory. I'm maybe 50% better.

I have consistently noticed that when my CPAP pressure is 7 exhale, 10 inhale (3 EPR) I no longer need to get up to go to the toilet. However with this setting I wake up after and 5-6 hours, and almost always cannot get back to sleep. If I leave the setting at 7/10, I will go for months without needing to wake and use the toilet.

If I drop the exhale pressure and inhale pressure lower, within a day or two I begin to feel better mentally (less brain fog and sharper mind), but after a few days at this setting I need to get up to go to the toilet at night, at least once, if not twice per night. It gets worse and worse. When I do wake on the lower pressures however though I'm able to fall back asleep much easier than when the pressure is higher. So whereas at higher pressures I'd get 5/6 hours sleep, with the lower pressures I'll easily get 7/8+ hours of sleep.

I'm confused as I'd have thought that getting up to go to the toilet is a sure sign that CPAP is not working, but I start to feel better mentally when this happens. It's not all in my head either, I'm wittier, performing better at work, happier mood in general, but the toilet trips are very frustrating.

I have greatly experimented with my machine and a variety of different pressures (including higher inhale/exhale difference than 3cm), without much success.

[Miss Emerita]

How interesting! I'll be following this thread to see if one of the experts can explain this.

Meanwhile, I'm curious whether you've discussed the nocturia with your doctor, in case it was due to some extraneous factor. I'm also curious whether restricting fluids in the hours before bedtime might help.

Faced with your choice, I'd pay the price of one or two night-time trips to the bathroom in order to function better during the day. Best of all, of course, would be not to have to choose.

[palerider]

Without any data, all anyone could do is guess, and I don't like to do that.

[Pugsy]

Without any data, all anyone could do is guess, and I don't like to do that.

I will go even further...I won't even guess when there is some data available to review.