New to CPAP

Except that it IS working. It is reducing the need to urinate so SOMETHING important is happening. AHI is not the only measurement.

BlackSpinner wrote:Except that it IS working. It is reducing the need to urinate so SOMETHING important is happening. AHI is not the only measurement.

I agree with that. I can change my AHI score if I want. I sleep less, my score goes up.. If I go to bed at 11 pm, I'll still have 26 or so events around 2 or 3 am. Lets say I wake up at 6. That gives me a score of 3.7. Lets say I go to bed at 9 instead but still have 26 events, my score is magically lowered to 2.9 AHI. The AHI is dependent on you having constant events every hour, not a whole bunch of events in two or three hours. For me, OSA and CSA should have different ways to measure AHI. But I'm completely new to this, and I could be dead wrong.

I also found out something new last night. I am getting mouth leaks. My wife even recorded some of them on her phone. I open my mouth, air whooshes out, and then I wake up. So chin strap will probably be next.

Has anyone on this forum been on CPAP for Central Apnea? I read about 50% of people with CSA can use a CPAP effectively. I know I don't need BiPAP, because I don't need higher pressure differentials, I think ASV is my best bet. I know I've only been on CPAP for a couple days, but it just doesn't make sense that this machine would work for me. It's not what my body or brain needs.

"I read about 50% of people with CSA can use a CPAP effectively."

That may refer to people who have 'complex' apnea, a mix of central and obstructive events... and the effectiveness may be about the obstructive part. True CSA needs an ASV machine and please don't tell yourself something different based on having read something somewhere... whatever SA you may or may not have. Cpaps don't treat centrals.

There are apparently as yet undiagnosed reasons for your AHI jump at the times you mention, but until diagnosed, don't make up something in your head to suit the outcome you'd like. I know this sounds quite hard... and that's not my intention, but 'finding' answers when you want some doesn't make them the right ones, and may keep those hidden if not found by proper testing... not to your advantage in the long run.

Julie wrote:"I read about 50% of people with CSA can use a CPAP effectively."

That may refer to people who have 'complex' apnea, a mix of central and obstructive events... and the effectiveness may be about the obstructive part. True CSA needs an ASV machine and please don't tell yourself something different based on having read something somewhere... whatever SA you may or may not have. Cpaps don't treat centrals.

There are apparently as yet undiagnosed reasons for your AHI jump at the times you mention, but until diagnosed, don't make up something in your head to suit the outcome you'd like. I know this sounds quite hard... and that's not my intention, but 'finding' answers when you want some doesn't make them the right ones, and may keep those hidden if not found by proper testing... not to your advantage in the long run.

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for your advice. Just need to stick with it. Would you recommend a chin strap over a face mask?

Recommend whatever works for you best, but ... chin straps don't keep your lips closed and for some that's an issue, as is comfort. Some people tape every night - not for me, but I've managed to manage with my FFM and a couple of substitutes when needed.

Before investing in a chin strap, experiment with an Ace bandage if you have one laying around.

A chin strap does nothing for me.