I am new to CPAP therepy, about 3 months in. After two years of telling the Dr. my husband really complained about my snoring, and being a lifelong mouth breather (well since the age of about 5), I was able to convince him I might have apnea too. I also have two parents on CPAP, and I saw how life changing it was, especially for my mother. He thankfully, finally, ordered up a sleep study. My insurance insisted on the home test. I was unable to really get much sleep, an alarm would sound every time I would fall asleep telling me there was a breath sensor fault. The company said I would not need to wear it for the full three days, that they could tell there was enough data to make a diagnosis. Long story short, I was diagnosed with mild apnea (14 AHI). Due to my symptoms, mostly being very tired, my Dr ordered up a prescription. I immediately was able to find this board and start reading even before I was fitted for a mask. I was able to purchase my own machine off craigslist and within about 3 weeks of being diagnosed I was off to the races and started my therapy. I tried hard not to panic when I first saw lots of Central Apneas (CAs). I knew, thanks to reading through all the newbie must read CPAP threads, that is to be expected. I also learned how to TRY to determine whether or not those events are real or Sleep Wake Junk (SWJ). So, I faithfully read posts, started therapy, got my AHI down below 2 on most days, and started to slowly feel better. I was and still am in awe of the saints on this forum, Pugsy most especially, but others too who so faithfully share their expertise and knowledge to help others dial it in and become lifelong happy users of their CPAP machines. I am now a member of that tribe
! I am finally ready to share my first screenshots and am ready for expert advise. I chose three. One, my best night, I wasn't in my own bed. We were at my inlaws over the holidays and it turned out my apneas were always lower there than at home (lower altitude, by a few hundred feet, not sure if that matters). I am also posting a typical night under my original prescription 5-20 pressure. The third screenshot is a typical night post prescription adjustment that I did on my own, I went up 6-20. I was hoping this change might eliminate some snoring and get rid of the handful of obstructive apneas (OAs) I was still having. I also thought it might lower my overall high end pressure by preventing them in the first place. I guess I just thought it might help because I see that advice given alot. I figured one little tweak up wouldn't hurt anything. Since I really don't know what I am doing, I am now ready to share and get the right advice to dial in my prescription.
A few things about my therapy thus far. From the get go, I was able to wear the mask all night, not get up, and I'm getting to sleep with it. I am sensitive to the noise, I've followed all the advise for that (towel under machine, headgear cover, and I even have a pillow shoved between the machine and the edge of the bed to also try to dampen noise). I had trouble with rainout. The coverings over the headgear and raising my room temp helped. I often would get a headache, mostly late afternoon and into the evening, not severe, but I normally don't get headaches. That seems to be a pattern. Overall, I feel so much better! It wasn't immediate, but after about a month in a half I noticed I could stay up later, and I had much more energy during the day.
Why am I finally posting now? I would like help trying to adjust my prescription. Does everything look fine as is? Can I make an adjustment to my pressure? I notice I wake up usually (feels like 3:00 am ish) and the mask is at a higher pressure. I wonder if I'm waking up from an apnea event. It isn't a gradual awakening, but more of an abrupt awakening. I would love to not wake up when that happens, so hoping to try to eliminate whatever it is that is waking me. When it happens, I have a hard time falling back to sleep, it takes a while. Are my centrals real? I think some are, but I don't think it is enough to really give it a second thought (I'm basing that on what I've read here), but I really don't know enough to know for sure. My biggest question is should I change pressure? I am still mostly mouth breathing and I know that isn't ideal, I do fall asleep breathing through my nose, but I always wake up breathing through my mouth. I am also trying to always fall asleep on my side. When I am awoken, I am usually on my back.
Thank you so much! I still can't believe how much time people give here. So, thank you in advance for your time and knowledge!!
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. I did though sleep very very well last night. I’m going to stay steady at this flow and maybe raise up .5 in a week or so until I find that point of diminishing returns. I figure it is kind of like cutting your hair too short, it is only temporary and it will grow back. If I raise lower number too much, I can easily reverse it. I’d like to try to eliminate them a little more.