Still Waking Up Multiple Times Per Night

[Brizzo]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and am happy to be a part of such a supportive community. I began treatment in mid December 2023 and was assigned to an Resmed AirSense 10 Auto CPAP machine. The mask that initially was given to me was the Resmed Airfit F20. I struggled to adjust to the mask for almost two weeks (never sleeping straight through the night). I went back to the medical supply store and was given the F & P Evora Full mask and also the Resmed Airfit P10 Nasal Pillows. I tried the Evora mask for a few days and could not seem to get acclimated to it due to the snaps rather than the magnets and the mask not fitting me properly. Therefore I switched to the Airfit P10. I seemed to get better quality sleep with the P10 but still did not sleep through the night; waking up 2-3 times most nights, if not more.

I found two things that have since persisted over the course of six months on therapy:

1. The quality of my sleep is great;
2. I still wake up multiple times per night (3-4 times over the course of seven to eight hours).

The data shows that I initially averaged about 5 AHI events per hour for the first two months and now I am at 8-9 events but it can vary greatly from day to day. The MyAir app always shows a "good" mask seal with leakage under 15 ML most nights. My pressure setting is on auto and is set from 5 to 15. I've tried to correct this by changing up masks but it seems like the Evora Full and the new Airfit I just got still isn't working.

I'm beyond frustrated at this point. Honestly, I just would like to be able to sleep the entire night and figure out why I am still waking up every 90 minutes or so. I did just join Sleep HQ and I also just purchased an SD card in hopes of diving deeper into the data to gain more clarity of what is happening. If anyone has any advice or suggestions, I would be beyond grateful.

[ChicagoGranny]

I just would like to be able to sleep the entire night and figure out why I am still waking up every 90 minutes or so.

I still wake up multiple times per night (3-4 times over the course of seven to eight hours).

That's well within the normal range (6 to 8 ). It only becomes a problem if it takes you a long time to fall back asleep.

I did just join Sleep HQ and I also just purchased an SD card in hopes of diving deeper into the data to gain more clarity of what is happening. If anyone has any advice or suggestions, I would be beyond grateful.

Post the link in this thread when you get a night's data uploaded. There are some very knowledgeable members who can help you reduce that AHI.

[Pugsy]

How old are you?
Do you take any medications of any kind (even OTC)? If so, what?
Any other physical or mental health conditions going on?

[Brizzo]

I am a 53 y.o. male. I take levothyroxine for a slow thyroid. Other than teaching teenagers, my mental state is great.

[Pugsy]

My sympathies for the teaching. My dad used to teach science and math to high school kids.....it's a thankless job.

Anyhow....did you know that it is actually normal to wake a few times during the night especially after a REM cycle completion? Google "sleep stages" and take a look at the normal hypnograms and pay attention to the wake time after end of REM stage sleep.

What's more important is what happens when you do remember waking up......do you roll over and go right back to sleep or does it take you a prolonged amount of time to get back to sleep?

Also sometimes we wake up just because the brain realizes that it has an alien stuck to its brain.
I think it took me about 3 months just to quit waking up from the brain saying "hey, dudette, did you know you have an alien plastered on your face blowing air up your nose".

I wake often during the night but I have other health issues messing with me. I would be doing a happy dance if all I remembered waking up was 2 or 3 times.

[cabanalane]

Just want to share this part. It took me over a year to "get used to it." I used to wake up with every turn, leaks, etc. And I wondered what this is all for. It's hard to un-learn or un-feel how you sleep at night for 50 years. Meaning with this mask right in front of your face.

Now, 3-4 years in, it's not perfect. But you do get used to it. I don't know, or don't think it wakes me up like before, or notice. And there will be off nights too.

Don't give up. Your experiences are what we all went through.

[Brizzo]

Thanks everyone; I appreciate the support. I just got back from the medical supply store and got a new mask - the Resmed Airfit N20. I think I do better with these types of masks than with full face masks.

I also didn't realize that these masks and the headbands need to be changed every 2-3 months. I had been using the same P10 mask for over six months so maybe that was a problem (the headband stretched out and not fitting as securely allowing for a loose fit possibly leading to the nasal pillows to become dislodged). As you can tell, the sleep doctor - whom I've yet to still see; it's always a nurse practitioner - never went over any of this with me. So maybe it's an easy fix.

Regarding teaching, a big thank you to your dad for his years in education. I honestly love teaching. I feel these kids need a person in their life that is honest, ethical, fair, and respects and values them as people. I think that's what we all want no matter what age we are. Teaching government especially, I never interject my own views in the classroom and allow all viewpoints to be considered while I make it mandatory that every student's views are respected. Like I always tell my students, it's okay to disagree and have a good discussion but it's not okay to attack somebody for their views. I tell them you don't have to agree but you might learn something if you listen to someone and try to see a different perspective.

Thanks again to you all and I will keep you updated on the new mask.

[VVV]

Teaching government especially, I never interject my own views in the classroom and allow all viewpoints to be considered while I make it mandatory that every student's views are respected.

I taught economics at a local college for a while after retirement. During discussions, some of the students wanted to tie it into politics. They would be told their claims would be welcomed if they provided the evidence.

[ChicagoGranny]

I also didn't realize that these masks and the headbands need to be changed every 2-3 months.

The mask manufacturers promote this idea. I am currently using a mask and headgear that will be two years old in October. The headgear occasionally needs readjusting due to stretch. (You have to determine what works for you.)