Trouble long after the fact

[Indyellen]

I began using my CPAP back in October. I was reasonably successful to start out with, although I discovered that apparently I had previously been getting up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and didn't even know it. I'm a side sleeper, so even though I started out with a Quattro FX for Her, my DME company fitted me with a Mirage FX nasal mask.

I switched back to the Quattro because I was having lots of rainout problems (which were waking me up), and I found the Mirage more claustrophobic than the Quattro. I was having good numbers: AHI 6 or lower, and pressures running about 10-11. However, about a month or so ago, I started having episodes where I wake up in the middle of the night and have been taking off the mask. I got past it somewhat, letting myself breathe without it for a bit, then putting it back on.

Now, all of a sudden, I'm waking up with leaks and fart noises (even though I've tried multiple tips from elsewhere in the forum to avoid them) due to my pressure being so high. When I checked my AHI today, it was over 25, and my pressure was at 17.9. I checked my AHI the other day, too, and it was also over 20. I don't know what's happening that I am suddenly having problems that I never had when I first started on CPAP.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do? I'm thinking about getting a chin strap and switching back to the Mirage for a while to see if that works, but I'm baffled. The doctor who prescribed the CPAP isn't a sleep specialist, so I don't really have anyone monitoring things for me, other than my DME respiratory therapist.

Help!?!

[archangle]

Have you changed the flap and cushions on your mask? Sometimes old flaps and cushions leak for no obvious reason.

Have you got SleepyHead or Encore Basic to check your data and see if you can figure out what's going on?

[Indyellen]

Actually, I started having the problems AFTER I changed from my old cushions to my new ones. I don't have any software, but I'll look for some and see if I can get more information off the SD card. Thanks for the ideas!

[jweeks]

Actually, I started having the problems AFTER I changed from my old cushions to my new ones.

Hi,

Do you still have your old cushion? Or a different new one? I use nasal pillows, and I find that every so often, I get a nasal pillow that simply doesn't work right. I either cannot get a good seal or it will whistle. It might be that you got a bum cushion.

The AHI numbers become unreliable when you have leaks. There ends up being two cases...you get a lot of leaking, and the pressure goes up to compensate, or the other scenario, something triggers the machine to ramp up the pressure pretty high and you get a blow out as a result. It is hard to tell which is the case without seeing the data graphs from your machine. While it sounds like your mask is the culprit, it would be good to solve this to make sure there hasn't been something with your health that has changed.

-john-