Bizarre sleep statistics - finding a solution

Brand new user here. Really glad someone introduced me to this place!

I've been using a Philips Dreamstation APAP for about two weeks now, which admittedly isn't a long time. I alternate between a Dreamwear mask with the standard nose pillow (not nasal pillows) and an off-brand full face mask.

My statistics according to the machine have been bugging me. Firstly, machine aside, I've been getting used to the masks like anyone else - sorting out positions, leaks, etc. I still take the mask off occasionally during sleep, but this isn't much of a problem. A bigger problem that might be messing with the statistics however is with the Dreamwear mask - when lying on my side, I sometimes wake to find that the machine has upped the pressure to as high as 20 (my 90% pressure is 11), and the pressure through the airway is so high that air builds up and forces itself out through my mouth uncomfortably, even if I try to force my mouth closed.

Back to the statistics. The Dreamstation tells me that my mask is at 99% to 100% seal every night, but I am getting wildly fluctuating AHI reports. My sleep study diagnoses me with 12.2 AHI. Last night with the above pressure problem, it told me my AHI was 41.4. AHI was 18 the night before, 3.3 the night before that, 9.5 a further night before, and 6 the night before that.

I'm currently working with my doctor to determine the cause. My doctor said that she hasn't really seen this kind of situation before, so we need to work through it through elimination.

- Leaks are apparently under good control. They don't happen much with either of my masks.
- AHI is higher on the nights I've accidentally removed the mask during sleep.
- AHI is higher when I wear the Dreamwear mask on my side.
- AHI is highest when the above-mentioned problem with pressure happens.

Any suggestions on what else I could be missing? Cheers. Sorry if this post isn't all that coherent.

Welcome to the forum.

How about sharing the image of the detailed report from those nights with the wide variations in AHI so we can see what you are seeing?

See this thread for how to post images and what to include. We don't want all those graphs...just the basics.
viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html

welcome aboard!

if you do get your info via sleepyhead software and post it here for comment, please post it right here in the thread you've started. it will save a lot of effort on the part of the experts here who will have lots of advice for you.

good luck!