Sudden clusters of OA's in the past week, AHI over 5

[tisket]

Been using CPAP since 2017.

Last week several things happened: I started suffering from some abdominal pain on my left side, probably IBS, or mild diverticulitis. I've had it before, and it's gotten much better since Friday, I mention it because aerophagia is much more unpleasant with it, and I wonder if it is making me roll onto my back more when asleep.

I also finally discovered that the Nexcare Sensitive Skin blue tape, which only comes in 1 inch width, also actually comes in a 2 inch width, but is sold under another name: 3M Micropore S (the S is important, it's not regular Micropore tape). So I switched to using it for mouth tape, due to the white Nexcare paper tape starting to cause damage to the sides of my mouth.

Starting Friday night, 3 out of the last 4 nights I have, for the first time in 10 years of CPAP, had AHI's over 5 (around 7), and clusters of obstructive apneas causing gigantic pressures (up to 19.94 according to OSCAR). I use a nasal cushion and normally pressure is around 12-13 with a 10 minimum.

I've never experienced anything like this before. It looks like a "chin tuck" kind of positional situation, but I am using the same pillow, mattress etc. Relatively new sheets but that seems unlikely to matter. What's new is the tape, and the abdominal tenderness on one side.

Anyone ever had a situation like a pain when lying on one side (for whatever reason) that showed up while asleep as more back sleeping and OA's? I am guessing that is what this is. It doesn't hurt when I go to sleep, but all the swallowed air means it is much more tender in the morning. I am guessing pain while asleep makes me roll off it and I spend more time on my back. But I often wake up on my back and I've never seen numbers like this before. And all of a sudden - literally started 4 nights ago, which happened to be the worst day of the abdominal discomfort. Pretty weird.



Large leak percentage last night around 5.5%, the other 3 nights 0. I think at least some of this was me waking up due to the new blue tape leaking - this kind of tape tends to loosen when wet from saliva and at least one night I remember constantly waking up trying to press it closed again. I know from experience that if you are always waking up fixing leaks it can show up as no large leak on OSCAR since you didn't sleep through them. I doubt that has anything to do with these clusters of OA's and the high AHI though.

[ChicagoGranny]

I also finally discovered that the Nexcare Sensitive Skin blue tape, which only comes in 1 inch width, also actually comes in a 2 inch width, but is sold under another name: 3M Micropore S (the S is important, it's not regular Micropore tape).

The 'S' stands for "surgical", and "Surgical" is printed in large letters on the box.

It's probably rougher on the skin than the Sensitive Skin tape.

[tisket]

No it's identical.

"PAIN-FREE: 1 roll of 1 in x 4 yds Nexcare Strong Hold Pain-Free Removal Tape (known in hospitals as 3M Micropore S Surgical Tape) with painless removal for minimal discomfort"

That's from the page for this.




https://www.nexcare.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b30023234/


Which was how I discovered a 2 inch wide version exists.





It's much easier on my skin than the paper tape. Only problem is it can loosen if it gets wet from saliva. I was quite pleased to discover it exists, after years of wishing for such a thing.

Anyway got some enteric peppermint oil to try and see if that relaxes my gut. Trying to imagine why else I would be getting these bad apnea clusters.

[ozij]

If pain is disrupting your sleep you may be getting those breathing disturbances while you're not really asleep. Sleep disordered breathing is only relevant when you're really asleep. Your machine doesn't know when you're asleep and when you're awake or semi awake, so it's reporting your "pain disordered breathing".

[tisket]

Well I have been putting things down on a calendar to track them. I noticed the clusters of obstructive apneas started exactly when I switched to the Micropore S blue tape. I tried going back to the white paper tape for 3 nights. The obstructive apneas stopped, pressure returned to normal (around 11 or 12), AHI went back down to normal (less than 2). Tried the blue tape again last night and obstructive apneas returned, to the point I was woken up twice, either by the apneas or by the pressure going to 20 as the machine tried to open my airway. AHI jumped up again to over 4.

At this point it seems clear the blue tape is causing the problem. Since it loses its stick when wet from saliva, I am guessing the adhesive dissolves and some goes down my throat, at which point it causes it to close up for awhile.

I never would have expected that. It's unfortunate because the blue tape is much easier on the sides of my mouth. But it seems clear it is causing my airway to close, in a very dramatic fashion when you look at the data for nights when I use it.

[Dog Slobber]

I noticed the clusters of obstructive apneas started exactly when I switched to the Micropore S blue tape. I tried going back to the white paper tape for 3 nights. The obstructive apneas stopped, pressure returned to normal (around 11 or 12), AHI went back down to normal (less than 2). Tried the blue tape again last night and obstructive apneas returned
...

The association between the tape and apneas is well-grounded

Since it loses its stick when wet from saliva, I am guessing the adhesive dissolves and some goes down my throat, at which point it causes it to close up for awhile

The belief that the adhesive is dissolving, going down your throat and causing it to close up, is ridiculous.

But it seems clear it is causing my airway to close, in a very dramatic fashion when you look at the data for nights when I use it.

I will never understand why people would describe a graphic and infer conclusions instead of actually providing the graphic.

[tisket]

I was dashing off a quick note in the morning as I reviewed the data from last night while getting ready for work. Capturing several weeks worth of daily graphs, editing and resizing them, uploading them, and linking to them would have taken far more time than I had this morning.

I don't think my theory is ridiculous at all. I've experienced throat constriction just from smelling certain chemicals never mind swallowing them. Clearly the tape leaves residue, and also clearly something happens when it gets wet that makes it stop adhering. So I know the adhesive does not remain on the tape and I know moisture does something to it. If there's a better theory I am interested in hearing it. I just paid $50 for this box of tapes so I would certainly like to use them if possible.

[ChicagoGranny]

Ridiculous 1 and 2.

1.

Capturing several weeks worth of daily graphs, editing and resizing them, uploading them, and linking to them

Just get a free account at SleepHQ.com and post the link in this thread. So simple.

2.

Since it loses its stick when wet from saliva, I am guessing the adhesive dissolves and some goes down my throat, at which point it causes it to close up for awhile.