FUSTRATING!!!!

[Komodo]

Earlier this week I posted about having two days in a row of high numbers, but, great sleep! Well....since then my numbers have gone back to "normal", actually even lower than average. Unfortunately, I'm NOT getting restfull sleep.
In the last few nights, for the first time since I started cpap 3 months ago, I've been having multiple arousals. For the past two days, I have HAD to take several naps each day.
Last nights numbers were:
Leak: 0.03
AHI: 2.9
AI: 0.0
HI: 2.9
Usage: 5:09
(I woke up 4 or 5 times, in that 5 hour period!)

I no longer fixate on my numbers, but considering my numbers are all over the place, and my restfull sleep doesn't coinside with "good" numbers, it is very fustrating. I'm starting to wonder if there's something wrong with my machine? My pressure is set at 16cm, but it doesn't feel like it's that high most of the time. (taking into account the EPR) I felt the same way when it was set to 14cm, and really felt the difference when I raised the pressure. Is it normal to "get used to" your pressure and NOT feel like it's there?
This may sound stupid, but I try checking the pressure with "chipmonk cheeks". At first, it would BLOW my cheeks up, now it's more like a small burp!

BTW, I seriously question my leak rate of 0.03. I washed my mask yesterday, and had a hard time re-adjusting it when I went to bed. Took me quite a while to tweak it to fit, and even then there were leaks when I moved around. Every time I woke up last night, I felt leaks!

Like I said, it's........FUSTRATING!!!!!

[jdm2857]

One possibility is that you are among the many that have more events or need higher pressure during REM sleep. So on the nights that you have REM, you have more events, but feel much better in the morning. Last night, with all of those awakenings, you may have gotten no REM, and because of that, few events. But without REM, you feel lousy.

Do your events typically occur in separate clusters several time during the night? That is typical of REM events.

[mars]

Is it normal to "get used to" your pressure and NOT feel like it's there?

Hi Komodo

Not sure about normal but when I settle down to sleep with my mask snug on my face I feel no pressure at all. Basically it is as though the mask does not exist.

I think jdm2857 has come up with a good possibility for you to check out.

Using an oximeter all night, and studying the report next morning in conjunction with the cpap machine's report, might give you some answers.

I do not know enough to suggest anything else. I guess we are all learning that good therapy is more than numbers.

cheers

Mars

[Rustyolddude]

Is it normal to "get used to" your pressure and NOT feel like it's there?

Yep, that would be the state of CPAP Nirvanva. It's a strangly peaceful but disconcerning feeling. You wake up feeling for the mask vent, listening for the machine, "is this thing on?" It's a good feeling once you realize you're there.

My similar numbers experience in case you missed it viewtopic/t44284/The-Good-The-Bad-amp-T ... harts.html

[belrad]

I have similar problem when I feel worse on a days when my AHI numbers are better.

I noticed also that I usually wake up during night many times (~4 ) when my numbers are the best. I suspect that by waking up I interrupt my sleep and preventing REM sleep that makes me less rested but AHI number better because AHI the worst during REM. When I had nights without waking up too much (less then 2 times) I have much worse numbers but probably do have more REM sleep.

I didn't used to wake up so many times before starting CPAP, and looking at software leak chart I see that I usually wake when my leak goes up (and I remember having dry throat during that time). So I guess I need to learn to prevent mouth breathing that makes me uncomfortable and wakes me up thus interrupting sleep.

[Komodo]

Wow! Wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW!!!!
Thank's guy's, you've made me feel much better.
Knowing that what I'm going through is "normal" and that it's not just me, really helps.

Do your events typically occur in separate clusters several time during the night? That is typical of REM events.

I never took the REM thing into consideration, but looking back, I think you've hit it on the head in my case.

Using an oximeter all night, and studying the report next morning in conjunction with the cpap machine's report, might give you some answers.

Excellent idea, but I don't have the oximeter or the software for my machine. Both of which will have to wait until I'm in a better financial situation. Both items ARE on my "wish list".