2 months on cpap

Is the increase in AHI clear airway events or something else?

No, just more of what I usually have. I usually have 15-20 hypopneas a night, no matter how long I sleep. Last night was 33 (in 6 1/2 hours). But it doesn't normally double like that. Usually it's just more in each category.

I suspect that some of that increase might be awake events getting flagged by mistake if you aren't totally comfy at 8 cm minimum.
I can't prove it and I have no way to tell but more minimium pressure should reduce hyponeas and OAs...not increase them.
It's pretty much the law of how the pressure holds the airway open...

At any rate if you aren't sleeping well with 8cm minimum...don't use it. There's no urgent need to use more minimum at the present time.

Maybe concentrate on sleeping position if at all possible. When your machine changes pressures to those higher pressures it's because something changed to cause it to need higher pressures...2 suspects...sleeping position and REM sleep.
We can't do anything about REM but sometimes we can do something about position.

Hi Rainmom,

You mention that you are in full blown perimenopause. When I was going through perimenopause my sleep started to deteriorate significantly.

I still don't know whether it was hormonal or due to the onset of OSA but multiple wake ups become the norm as I got further into the menopausal transition. A lot of my friends going through perimeno went through the exact same thing. Sleep quality took a nose dive.

It can really be hard to untangle what is causing you to feel tired .... is it crappy sleep due to changing hormonal levels or the effect of OSA that is not adequately treated on those nights when your AHI is still somewhat elevated.

I honestly think it is much more complicated when we start CPAP during perimenopause because of the hormonal "wild card".

OK, so for the last 3 nights I have made a solid effort to stay off my back during the night, and it has paid off. I've had an ahi below 1.5 each night, all record lows for me, with my lowest yet last night: 1.0. Yay!! I would love to be able to sleep on my back as an option - I love sleeping on my side, but it's nice to have a few different positions when one gets uncomfortable. So maybe there are some pressure changes I could work on. But, I'm not messing with it for now. I just want to give my body some time to know what it feels like to have good, healthy breathing all night! So happy I finally am seeing really good numbers.

for back sleeping, first I would try a foam cervical collar to see if you keep your airway open and not chin tuck. Then it's a matter of just increasing the min pressure till you stop the ahi when on your back.

I really don't know much about menopausal issues.

However, relief is no instantaneous for most patients. You will gradually feel better over time.

Many patients don't notice the improvement until they somehow miss a night or two (I don't recommend this, but it happens).

The patients with the most severe cases are the ones that notice the improvement the most and the soonest.

Rainmom17 wrote:OK, so for the last 3 nights I have made a solid effort to stay off my back during the night, and it has paid off. I've had an ahi below 1.5 each night, all record lows for me, with my lowest yet last night: 1.0. Yay!! I would love to be able to sleep on my back as an option - I love sleeping on my side, but it's nice to have a few different positions when one gets uncomfortable. So maybe there are some pressure changes I could work on. But, I'm not messing with it for now. I just want to give my body some time to know what it feels like to have good, healthy breathing all night! So happy I finally am seeing really good numbers.

Congrats!

I have been on xPAP about the same amount of time and can't wait to experience what success feels like. I'm glad it's working for you!