Need help understanding numbers

[Emma47]

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in March and started C-Pap. I felt much better right away - no more falling asleep in the evening. Also, I stopped getting up for the bathroom every two hours and generally got up only once or twice while sleeping 8 hours or more. It was wonderful.

In the last few weeks, however, this has changed and I am waking up more most nights. This prompted me to purchase the software so I can try to figure out what is going on. Nothing else seems to have changed and I am still feeling fine (not sleepy).

Here are the averages for the past few months. I'm not sure what these all mean but I'm working on it.
The AHI is higher on the nights I wake up more but only a little -- 1.6 is the highest AHI I had last week.

I would love to hear your ideas about this. Many thanks.

Pressure 8
Average % of Night in Periodic Breathing 0.2%
Average CA Index 0.1
Average OA Indes 0.3
Average Hypopnea Index 0.5
Average RERA Index 1.1
Average AHI .9
Average FL Index 0.0
Average VS Index 1.2
Average % of Night in Large Leak .6%
Average Time in Large Leak 3 min 7 sec

[Julie]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Not knowing anything else but what you posted, I wonder if you could possibly be mouth breathing once asleep as having air pumped in with Cpap often makes that happen (if it wasn't happening before), and you lose all the good air that way. If you can get a trial of a full face mask (e.g. Quattro, Ultra Mirage, Hybrid) for a couple of nights it would be a way to tell if you feel better afterward, but you could also try taping (do a forum 'search' front pg) for more explanations of that. Some people use it all the time, but others prefer the mask.

[Emma47]

Thanks Julie. I neglected to say that when I get up to use the bathroom I just unhook my mask and leave the machine running. Isn't that where the large leaks are coming from? Should I turn the machine off instead? I'm not sure if I have leaks; I'm not aware of any and my mouth is not dry in the morning.

[rested gal]

I neglected to say that when I get up to use the bathroom I just unhook my mask and leave the machine running. Isn't that where the large leaks are coming from?

Probably so.

Should I turn the machine off instead?

Not unless you want to turn it off for those breaks. As long as you know what's causing the Large Leaks (leaving it running during a bathroom break would register a Large Leak, I expect) you can just mentally count those out.

Average % of Night in Large Leak .6%
Average Time in Large Leak 3 min 7 sec

Those are such a miniscule part of the night...does look like it comes from leaving the machine on for the short break.

I'm not sure if I have leaks; I'm not aware of any and my mouth is not dry in the morning.

Your numbers look good... you say mouth isn't dry in the morning... doesn't sound like there is a leak problem. Looks like you're doing very well, indeed, Emma.

[jweeks]

In the last few weeks, however, this has changed and I am waking up more most nights. This prompted me to purchase the software so I can try to figure out what is going on. Nothing else seems to have changed and I am still feeling fine (not sleepy).

Emma,

It is funny that you don't see anything in the numbers that would show or explain this change in how you feel. I had a period like that, but it was related to changing machines. It took me about 10 days to find settings on my new machine that worked for me. The numbers didn't show any issue, however.

Question - have you changed the nasal pillows on your mask recently? If not, and they are the originals from March, you might want to try a new set. These things wear out. In my case, when they wear out, I notice that I don't sleep as well, but again, the numbers don't show a difference. The pillows normally last 8 to 16 weeks. You can sometimes get more milage out them by using some Lansinoh on the rim of your nares. That acts as a sealant.

-john-

[Emma47]

John - I have a nasal mask, no pillows.

I wish I could figure it out; I would really love to sleep through the night. But I know the numbers are pretty good and I do feel much better so I should count my blessings. I appreciate the advice from all of you. Thanks.