Advice on Apnea Possibly Getting Worse

[stacia123]

Hello all, long time no visit! I have had some weird issues with my CPAP therapy for several months and was wondering if you could give me advice.

About a year ago I started noticing I was waking up with apnea events which was unusual for me. Turned out my old machine was randomly turning off, so I bought a new machine, a ResMed Airsense 10.

After several months I started having occasional apnea events again, even with the new machine. These events don't happen very often, once in April, once in June, and two in early August. I mentioned it to my doctor in July and he said my AHI looked good and even when my AHI was "high" for me, at 2.6 and 2.2 (April and June), that wasn't bad so the therapy must be working, but if it got regularly above 5.0 to let him know.

When it happened again in August I was surprised to see my AHI and leaks were fantastic during the two events. The first time on the 5th my AHI was 0.0 and leaks 7L/min, the second time on the 13th it was AHI 0.3 and leaks at 18L/min.

That's where I am with this right now, and I'm baffled.

In July I bought a new mask and seals (same style as always though, the Flexifit 431) and replaced the hose, checked for leaks, replaced filters, and have also done a few regular cleanings as well.

The only thing I've noticed is that the humidifier doesn't seem like it sits properly in this ResMed Airsense, but I've tested it the best I can and don't think there are leaks. Still, that humidifier doesn't click together quite right -- it'll click closed, but when I slide it into the machine, the latch unclicks just a little. Could that be a problem?

Maybe I should try a new mask style?

Any thoughts? I could use some ideas on what to try next. Thanks!

[kteague]

Are you saying you are being wakened by symptoms you recognize as being caused by an apnea event? Even at the lowest of AHIs those few events that the machine couldn't manage have the potential to cause arousal. Without knowing your settings or situation, if a bit more pressure is tolerable, resolving as many events as possible short of causing problems with higher pressure such as leaks or air in the belly seems a good goal. I disagree with the doc's approach of waiting till your AHI is regularly over 5 to intervene - unless there's some reason why you can't use more pressure. If you were to post your data you could get some more targeted input on possible ways to optimize your treatment.

[ChicagoGranny]

once in April, once in June, and two in early August

Good grief. Do you have any idea how many people have multiple wakeups every night? It's a lot of people.

How about forgetting about it and just going back to sleep?

I bought a new machine, a ResMed Airsense 10.

You have the Elite model in your equipment profile. Is that the model you bought? If so, why did you not get the AutoSet model?

[D.H.]

All current CPAP machines will compensate for leaks. Therefore, leaks are only a problem if they are bothersome or if they are so excessive that the machine is unable to compensate or unable to get accurate readings. I'm not sure if your leak rate reaches that threshold. If it doesn't, and the leak are not bothersome, you can ignore them.

[chunkyfrog]

AutoSET.
People can't find it because the geniuses who wrote the list
had a lapse of sanity, and put some stuff in the wrong place.

[Goofproof]

Get the software to monitor your treatment, post it here. then you and we can have a clue to what is going on, and suggect ways to make it better. Jim

[stacia123]

once in April, once in June, and two in early August

Good grief. Do you have any idea how many people have multiple wakeups every night? It's a lot of people.

How about forgetting about it and just going back to sleep?

Now I remember why I stopped coming here.

I didn't get back to this thread sooner because we've had flooding &c. which has taken up my time, but wanted to update that I discovered two issues: one, the elbow joint on my mask failed, which has happened on a new mask before (as I posted in a thread back in 2011, before you joined, "Granny,") and was probably causing loss of pressure. Second, the pressure on this machine was set incorrectly -- my doctor had increased the pressure on my last prescription and I didn't realize so it didn't occur to me to check.

I have a lot of wakeups I didn't mention which usually involve arrhythmia, which has happened since I was a kid, but the AHI has been fine on those nights so I didn't mention it, mainly because I forgot that most of the help on this help forum is "you're just whining so why don't you shut up." If I'd remembered that I was supposed to justify my existence, I would have been more detailed.

And I didn't get the AutoSet because I knew it would really honk you off.

[ChicagoGranny]

And I didn't get the AutoSet because I knew it would really honk you off.

teehee Good one! Glad to see you have a sense of humor.

[palerider]

once in April, once in June, and two in early August

Good grief. Do you have any idea how many people have multiple wakeups every night? It's a lot of people.

How about forgetting about it and just going back to sleep?

Now I remember why I stopped coming here.

And trolls accuse *me* of driving people off...

I have a lot of wakeups I didn't mention which usually involve arrhythmia, which has happened since I was a kid, but the AHI has been fine on those nights so I didn't mention it, mainly because I forgot that most of the help on this help forum is "you're just whining so why don't you shut up." If I'd remembered that I was supposed to justify my existence, I would have been more detailed.

MOST of the help on this forum really isn't "why don't you shut up",

Granny does, often, seem to get up on the wrong side of the bed though, sometimes she's very insightful, other times she's inciteful...

And I didn't get the AutoSet because I knew it would really honk you off.

If you had gotten the AutoSet, then it's quite possible that it might have responded to your needs, prevented the breathing events that woke you up, and let you sleep better.