New to CPAP basic questions

[SoCal Guy]

Hello all

Well probably this will be my first post of many for years to come. We'll see...
I'm exhausted from lack of sleep which only started 2.5 weeks ago when I got my CPAP. Please help me to dial this thing in and sleep better (I used to sleep fine before the CPAP)

For starters, I give up, how do I fill out my profile. After several minutes of tryin to figure it out I get a welcome email. I'm thinkin great they'll tell me how to fill out my profile. Nope, but the email did Remind me to fill it out. So...when I figure it out (probably after someone helps me) I'll do it in the mean time;

Res Med Air Sense 10 heated humidifier
Nose mask & full face, Simplus (still figurin out which works best for me)
Diagnosis is "mild obstructive sleep apnea with mild desaturation"
AHI 7.1
ODI 7.3
Avg. Oxygen Sat. 91.8%
Nadir Sat. 84%
Avg. Lowest Desat. 90.6%
One nostril blocks up (depends on which side I lay on) for as long as I can remember. Only happens at night. ENT Dr. appt scheduled but based on research not optimistic this will end up getting improved.
As far as I know I've not had a problem sleeping. I feel rested when I wake up and not unusually tired during the day. That is until I started the CPAP over 2 weeks ago.

Started using nose mask. Was able to breathe normally with closed mouth for first two hours of sleep. Then my nostril would clog up making it difficult to breathe and I'd wake up. I've tried Breathe Rite strips, vicks, saline all no help. For awhile I would mess with it all night and still log 7 hours on the cpap. AHI's went down to 3,0, 5.5 etc, lower. Then I got tiured of bein tired and started pulling mask off after nostril clogged up and I woke up.

Decided to try full face. I thought I'd be able to breathe through mouth but because the airflow seems less restrictive I can breathe through nose even though one nostril is clogged. AHI went up to 9, 19 and during meditation while I was pretty much awake to 36! My central AI has gone from virtually nothing to 2-3 points (not exact on that).

Why did my AHI increase with the full face? How to deal with the clogged nostril (besides see a doctor)?
Please, I'm exhausted from lack of sleep and tryin to deal with my clogged nose and dial in the right settings so I can sleep again. Advice requested.

Thanx!

[Julie]

Hi and welcome.

First click on User Ctl Panel (tiny blue) under main logo on left... then hit Profile and proceed according to tabs - plse use 'text' vs icons... makes it easier to follow.

Second - see a doctor! What's the resistance about if it will mean potential help? You could have a little deviation or turbinate problem that can be fixed for good.

Third - if you use the humidifier, make sure you actually need it according to local climate, etc... and don't use a higher setting than you need as it can cause congestion.

Your AHI may have gone up on the FFM because it leaked - didn't actually fit well - not all do by a mile when first starting out and most of us go through a few before getting settled with one or two. Don't overtighten though as that can cause new micro-leaks, and do try Padacheek.com liners (member designed, not by me!) to help fill the gaps if necessary.

You need this therapy but it feels like you're being stubborn about some things (so you can tell yourself it's OK to quit?) which is only going to hurt you and no one else. Address what needs addressing and we'll try to help with what we can. It's not easy starting out, but it can be easier if you stay positive.

[ChicagoGranny]

how do I fill out my profile.

https://www.cpaptalk.com/ucp.php?i=prof ... pment_info

[SoCal Guy]

Julie

Thank you for your response! It was helpful. First, Second, Third. We think and organize alike, really!

First.
Your direction got me to the profile spot. Not exactly a no brainer. Whomever sends the well meaning welcome email might want to add one sentence to point us newbies in the right direction.

btw I just woke up to a relatively successful sleep with the full face. AHI was 5.1 but Central was 3.1 which is still higher than my sleep test and with nose mask. Still an improvement,

Second. You tell me to see an ENT! butnot sure why you get the impression I'm not? I mentioned in my post that I am set up for an appt. and fully plan on going. In fact I might see two different ones. "ENT Dr. appt scheduled" I simply said that based on my internet research (very accurate many people state they had multiple outpatient procedures with no benefit. In fact I don't recall reading any posts mentioning significant improvement. But...I'm hoping there are many that did have improvement and I missed that groups posts.

Third.
Wow, your advice about humidity is interesting. The Respiratory techs that advise me had me turn it up. I'll try it on a lower setting as that sure didn't help. But...honestly my one stuffed nostril problem was there way before the CPAP.

Fourth.
Leaking/Fit, I was wondering if that could raise AHI, so I believe you told me it can.
Question about leaking. When I have to take mask off during the night to use the restroom I was just taking it off and letting air blow out for a few seconds until it auto shuts down. Now I started hitting the off button before taking it off (to keep my AHI numbers down) is that necessary?
Lastly, dang itches. I often get or think I have a tiny itch usually right after putting on the mask. Reaching under to quickly scratch causes a leak. It's quick, will that cause AHI to go up? Shoudl I shut it off before scratching?

Fifth.
You say "you're being stubborn about some things (so you can tell yourself it's OK to quit?) " again not sure where you get that. If I was being stubborn I wouldn't be exhausted from 2.5 weeks of worse sleep than without it. Hours spent researching improvement (including this post). I have it and I'm usin it. Luckily I have a 7.1 AHI and plan to lose another 25 lbs. so hopefully I won't always need it but for the time being. I want the benefits a lower AHI will bring to my health so I am indeed using it.

Thanks again, truly for your time and interest in my situation.

[Guest]

Before I would have surgery some things I would try are:
Nasal Saline rinse. Be sure to use distilled water. You should find some incredible relief with that alone.
And/or breathe right strips.
When you lay down all the fluids in your body will re-position.

For the face itches - something I read on here is to use a dry wash cloth to rub all over your face before donning your mask for the nite.

[Julie]

Hi, sorry if I missed something re seeing the doctor, but I saw your brackets ("besides see a doctor") and assumed you weren't going to bother. And as the other poster said just lying down (for me too) immediately gets things going so that I always need to use a kleenex (strongly) before putting on the mask... and it may help you if you have otherwise sort of bypassed it. And playing with humidity for a couple of days at a time can give you an idea of what works and doesn't, as well as the season, local climate, etc. Anyhow, good luck and let us know what happens!

[SoCal Guy]

Before I would have surgery some things I would try are:
Nasal Saline rinse. Be sure to use distilled water. You should find some incredible relief with that alone.
And/or breathe right strips.
When you lay down all the fluids in your body will re-position.

For the face itches - something I read on here is to use a dry wash cloth to rub all over your face before donning your mask for the nite.

Breathe Rite, Saline and Vicks do nothing for me. From what I read it's blood flow that engorges thus closing up the nostril on the side I'm laying on. On my right side, right nostril clogged, etc.
I will use a dry wash cloth tonight, thanx!

[Guest]

Before I would have surgery some things I would try are:
Nasal Saline rinse

Netipot

[SoCal Guy]

I've been EXHAUSTED since getting my CPAP.

Good News: Based on advice I lowered my humidity and it actually helped. My nose was less stuffed and when I went to bed I felt fairly comfortable with the full face. Was exhausted and looking forward to a good night sleep.
Bad News: While I was breathing ok after going to sleep I would have the urge to scratch a tiny itch (whether actual or imagined) under my mask. At 2 am I realized I haven't been getting great, deep sleep that I so needed. I was simply noticing the mask too much and the itch thing. I took the mask off and slept like a baby. All refreshed now, first time in days.

After a few hours, before the itching my AHI was low at 4.2 for the first time since switching to the full face. I was turning machine off before lifting the mask to scratch but got lazy and just started lifting the mask to scratch. AHI went up to 6.4.

Q. How should I respond to an itch? Will lifting the mask raise my AHI, am I supposed to depress the off button each time I scratch or go to the restroom to avoid a raise in AHI?

Q. Is this an actual event, in other words does lifting the mask to scratch or go to the restroom just cause an artificial raise in AHI or does it actually cause me to stop breathing after I put the mask back on?

[Julie]

Go to Wal-Mart or a knitting/craft store. Get a very thin crochet ('kroshay') hook 5" long and about as fat as a ramen noodle . I use one for itches - it just slips under the mask, does the job and leaves.

[OkyDoky]

Itches can be caused by the air blowing nasal hair. Trim them to see if that helps.

[schmatt]

Please do not read too much into the raw AHI number you are seeing on the machine. There are many times that it can be an artifact. This is why it is important to use sleepyhead to view your data. A lot of times you may have an arousal that results in an apnea event, but this is not a true apnea. This is a normal breathing pattern.

Also, seeing an ENT is the right first step. What you are mentioning about one nostril feeling stuffed is a normal sinus cycle. It will go back and forth between nostrils. However, it is entirely possible that you may have a structural issue or even a sinus infection. Sometimes, if the infection has been there a long time, it requires surgery to clean out, but only after trying antibiotics for an extended time. Normally 4-8 weeks. Surgery is definitely indicated for a structural issue too. This includes having turbinates that are too large.

[ChicagoGranny]

Q. How should I respond to an itch? Will lifting the mask raise my AHI, am I supposed to depress the off button each time I scratch or go to the restroom to avoid a raise in AHI?

Q. Is this an actual event, in other words does lifting the mask to scratch or go to the restroom just cause an artificial raise in AHI or does it actually cause me to stop breathing after I put the mask back on?

Do you hold your breath when you pee? Take care of yourself before you worry about the data.

As far as that itchy nose, rub your nose with a clean, dry wash cloth just before you put on the mask. This helps to desensitize the nerve endings.

I have been told that long nasal hairs can cause itches that feel like they are on the outside of the nose. Trim if necessary.

And, yes, once you start using SH, you can get a much better picture of what is going on with your breathing and CPAP process.

[SoCal Guy]

Go to Wal-Mart or a knitting/craft store. Get a very thin crochet ('kroshay') hook 5" long and about as fat as a ramen noodle . I use one for itches - it just slips under the mask, does the job and leaves.

Great idea, will do. Thx!

[SoCal Guy]

Do you hold your breath when you pee? Take care of yourself before you worry about the data.
Health is paramont I assure you but my sleep study score of 7.1 AHI, Mild is 2 points from someone considered normal/healthy so not super concerned at this point (I have other issues to be super concerned about;). I want to know if the cpap is causing my actual health to be worse (higher data numbers). Also my job depends on the data that I'm not supposed to worry about. My scores printout will be reviewed annually. Higher scores mean more scrutiny. If I'm causing them to increase by doing something easily correctable I want to correct.

As far as that itchy nose, rub your nose with a clean, dry wash cloth just before you put on the mask. This helps to desensitize the nerve endings.
Didn't help me.

And, yes, once you start using SH, you can get a much better picture of what is going on with your breathing and CPAP process.

Thanx for taking your time to help me!