New

Not even a week into this yet. I have so many questions. I just want to as one at the moment.
I had my sleep study done at home. My results were 5.6 events per hour and oxygen down to 85 at it's lowest. My sleep doc recommended CPAP.
My question is - am I really bad enough to have any health improvement using CPAP?
I've been trying to adapt to the cpap. I'm using full face because as soon as I fall asleep my mouth opens and I snore very loud, or so my husband tells me. I don't have nasal congestion. I'm just relaxed I guess.
Thanks

Are you really using the "AirStart" machine shown in your profile or is it the AirSense machine.....There is definitely a difference

123 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 22, 2019 1:30 pm

My question is - am I really bad enough to have any health improvement using CPAP?

Yes

123 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 22, 2019 1:30 pm

My results were 5.6 events per hour and oxygen down to 85 at it's lowest.

Can you post a copy of your study summary (1 or 2 pages) here for us to look at? (Remove any personal identification.)

5.6 AHI over a 7-hour night is about 40 arousals from sleep - very unhealthy.

123 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 22, 2019 1:30 pm

I have so many questions. I just want to ask one at the moment.

One at a time - yep, resolve things in little bites.

Please stick to this thread so everyone can easily follow your history as discussions progress.

Welcome!

123 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 22, 2019 1:30 pm

Not even a week into this yet. I have so many questions. I just want to as one at the moment.
I had my sleep study done at home. My results were 5.6 events per hour and oxygen down to 85 at it's lowest. My sleep doc recommended CPAP.
My question is - am I really bad enough to have any health improvement using CPAP?
I've been trying to adapt to the cpap. I'm using full face because as soon as I fall asleep my mouth opens and I snore very loud, or so my husband tells me. I don't have nasal congestion. I'm just relaxed I guess.
Thanks

welcome to the zoo! this is a hard path to follow. it takes some time to get used to it all.

yes, you WILL have health improvement, but it may take time to see it.

as to your mouth falling open, that's something that is perfectly normal. may i recommend a firm foam cervical collar? you can get one at your local drug store. usually, it's in the section that has crutches and such in it. or you can get one from amazon.com. these typically cost around 12 bucks and up.

this will help keep your jaw from sagging and can actually improve your therapy.

good luck!!

Have you ever made a real effort to not sleep on your back (if you do at all)? Because if you try not doing it and keep off all night (towel stuffed backpk, foam wedges, etc) you very likely wouldn't snore at all or need Cpap - has no one mentioned that?

I want to congratulate you on filling out your profile.
Machine, mask and ect.
To me that means you have done some pre-post homework.
That also means you are serious about this.
Many new posters do not do this and when asked to, disappear.
You have definitely come to the right place for expert help. (not me)
Good luck to you,
JPB

zonker wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 22, 2019 2:21 pm

as to your mouth falling open, that's something that is perfectly normal. may i recommend a firm foam cervical collar? you can get one at your local drug store. usually, it's in the section that has crutches and such in it. or you can get one from amazon.com. these typically cost around 12 bucks and up.

C'mon Zonk, show him the picture.

Julie wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 22, 2019 3:39 pm

you very likely wouldn't snore at all or need Cpap - has no one mentioned that?

You're assuming 123 could be successfully treated by positional therapy, yet you have never seen 123's sleep study. Not wise.

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 22, 2019 4:28 pm

zonker wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 22, 2019 2:21 pm

as to your mouth falling open, that's something that is perfectly normal. may i recommend a firm foam cervical collar? you can get one at your local drug store. usually, it's in the section that has crutches and such in it. or you can get one from amazon.com. these typically cost around 12 bucks and up.

C'mon Zonk, show him the picture.

nope.

i'm such a little tease!

So many unknowns. One thing we don't know is if that one night study was able to capture your worst case scenario. Docs usually like to see some time in REM while supine. That's because it's common to see more events while on one's back, due to the tongue relaxing into airway. Some people are about as bad on their side (like me), but some see a significant difference. The lack of muscle tone in REM sleep also tends to allow more events. Not sure how much the home studies tell you about position and stages of sleep. IF indeed your AHI is consistently around 5.6, and IF side sleeping lowers your AHI a bit, seems reasonable to consider if you really need CPAP, or could you otherwise make some efforts to mitigate your events. That said, IF you can't do much better than 5.6 without CPAP, your snoring is problematic, your oxygen still drops, and/or your sleep apnea is causing daytime symptoms, yes, you need treatment.