One step forward, two steps back, current cpap dance

[stages3n4]

I feel like I’m going backwards here on the ol’ therapy. I’m sure it’s a common problem, but when I roll over at night, even if I don’t mess up my seal, I wake up. I’ve routed hose all over to try and minimize that, it’s not a problem. I think I just wake up because I feel the mask. I roll over, I wake up, I lay there still to determine if I’m leaking (usually not), and then I have to fall asleep again.

Setting on bilevel I-10 E-8

Average numbers are:

Leak 20L/min
AHI 4.8
AI 1.8


For a couple of nights (out of desperation to sleep the night through) I tested what happens if I sleep in my recliner. Back in 01 I fractured both elbows and spent about two months sleeping in my chair, so it’s not a new environment to me!

Anyway, nights spent in my recliner, I sleep the night through, but…my numbers are terrible, and I don’t feel any better. Don’t really feel worse, either. Now, I’m sure my numbers are worse because in the reclined position, I’m basically sleeping on my back, which for me is a sure way to increase the A I s.

Numbers when in recliner

Leak 16L/min
AHI 9.8
AI 5.2

My question is: would it make sense, if I am going to sleep in my recliner, should I bump up my settings to see if a higher pressure would bring the numbers back down to a more acceptable level?

From a sleep stage stand point, for over a week now I would say I’m back to not getting to REM, and if history is repeating, I’m not spending time in stages 3 and 4 either.

As it stands now, it seems like I have two options: sleep in bed and have good numbers but wake up often, or sleep in recliner and “sleep” the night through but with bad numbers. Both options seem to produce poor quality sleep.

To sum up, here’s what I’m thinking; I have lower leak rate in recliner because I stay more in one position, but I have worse AHI and AI because I’m on my back, so, I should test increasing my pressure to see if I can improve AHI and AI.

Would really welcome opinions on if I’m thinking this through correctly.

[kteague]

Your logic sounds logical to me, but don't take that to the bank!

I thought I was not cheating "too bad" since I sleep in the recliner for naps, but you're right, it is sleeping on the back. Today my sleep doc read me the riot act about napping in the recliner unmasked.

But as far as sleeping in the recliner with the mask, doesn't it seem if your pressure is adequate to address sleeping on your back in bed it should also work in the recliner? But maybe that's not the case. Or are you a side sleeper and haven't needed to accomodate back sleeping thusfar, so your numbers look good?

Good luck with figuring it out - let us know what you decide and how it turns out for you.

Kathy