New Member Indroduction

So using the FFM again seems to be grounding my leak issues. I have a foam cervical collar coming today and mouthpiece to try over the next couple weeks in hopes of getting back to my P30i. My graph from last night is below and it looks like of the 13 OA's I had all night, 10 of them occurred almost immediately and in a 20 minute time frame. I have seen this pattern on previous occasions too. Could I have fallen asleep before unit fully ramped and is this possibly what Pugsy was referring to about possibly needing more min pressure?

Thanks again for your input.

Were you maybe on your back during that initial cluster?

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 14, 2021 1:13 pm

Were you maybe on your back during that initial cluster?

I don't think so but I cant be sure. I thought I went right to my side and fell asleep.....

Your machine was fully ramped up when those events happened.
So can't blame it on that.
I would bet my last dollar you were on your back briefly when those happened.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 14, 2021 1:56 pm

Your machine was fully ramped up when those events happened.
So can't blame it on that.
I would bet my last dollar you were on your back briefly when those happened.

So not the end of the world just more likely to see OA's when in the supine sleeping position?

Yep...not the end of the world and I wouldn't get alarmed with just seeing one cluster like this.
If you saw a lot of these sort of clusters then we increase the minimum a bit.
Since you are planning on revisiting the nasal mask I would wait and see how that goes because often a nasal mask use lets a person get better stenting of the airway open at so and so pressure than a full face mask does at the same pressure.
So even if you do need a little more pressure when on your back if you can successfully use a nasal mask then you may not see these sort of clusters pop up.

I received my Cervical Collar yesterday and thought I would give it a try with my P30i to see what it would be like. The collar is not THAT uncomfortable but I did go to bed a little earlier than normal just to try to get acclimated to it and before I knew it I was fast asleep. I woke up at around 1am for a bathroom visit and was pleasantly surprised at the fact that I wasn't already blowing air out my mouth. I went back to sleep and other than a few more noticeable sleep position adjustments I had no leaks out my mouth. I know everyone's mileage varies but if someone is on the fence about trying a cervical collar it is likely worth the $15.00 price tag to try one.

Not ready to queue the marching band just yet but I am pretty happy with my first attempt at getting back to a nasal mask. Here is my chart from last night.

Do you pee a lot during the day?

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 15, 2021 8:43 am

Do you pee a lot during the day?

I drink water constantly during the day, so yes. As far as overnight, not generally but my wife and I had dinner out and I had a few club soda's with dinner so I am not surprised by the 1am wake up call.

Okay. A reason for the pee break. I was just worried that it was a common occurrence.

As for the cervical collar...some people do well with them and it seems to help in various ways. Personally I cringe at the thought but I always have said whatever works and floats your boat and you are willing to do is fine by me. Heck...I don't even want headgear on my face and head which is why I use the Bleep.

Give yourself some time to get adjusted to the new device and see how it goes. Your report is quite acceptable especially since it is the first night with something new to your routine.

Remember though...the proof is in the pudding...how you sleep and how you feel and don't just tunnel vision onto a set of numbers because the best numbers in the world don't mean squat if you don't feel them.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:19 am

Remember though...the proof is in the pudding...how you sleep and how you feel and don't just tunnel vision onto a set of numbers because the best numbers in the world don't mean squat if you don't feel them.

This is the basis for my cautious level of optimism. I feel great today and was up and out of bed at 6am but 1 data point is hardly something to hang your hat on.

Thank you for your support Pugsy!

MAINEGUY wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:55 am

1 data point is hardly something to hang your hat on.

Yep but better than having no data points to hang your hat on.

I got about 7 hours of sleep last night. Not enough I know but better than the 6 hours I have been getting lately.
I always look for the positives whenever I can. Yes, I know that negatives are much easier to find and the positives are hard work to find but I still look for them.
If I concentrated on negatives I would wind up in the loony bin for sure.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 15, 2021 10:39 am

MAINEGUY wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:55 am

1 data point is hardly something to hang your hat on.

Yep but better than having no data points to hang your hat on.

So 6 days in with the P30i and a cervical collar and I have averaged an AHI around 2.2 over that time frame with zero mouth leaks. I was absolutely feeling better from the therapy in general since I started in September and the change to a pillows mask and collar has improved over that with 100% certainty. Here is last nights data which is pretty similar to the last 6 days.

MAINEGUY wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:50 am

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 15, 2021 10:39 am

MAINEGUY wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:55 am

1 data point is hardly something to hang your hat on.

Yep but better than having no data points to hang your hat on.

So 6 days in with the P30i and a cervical collar and I have averaged an AHI around 2.2 over that time frame with zero mouth leaks. I was absolutely feeling better from the therapy in general since I started in September and the change to a pillows mask and collar has improved over that with 100% certainty. Here is last nights data which is pretty similar to the last 6 days.

screenshot-20210120-084240.png

It's been a while since I posted and thought I would quickly share an update. Using the foam cervical collar has really been a game changer. Mouth breathing is pretty much non existent, AHI numbers are generally below 2.00 and my leak rates are considerably lower as a general rule.

Here is a pretty typical night since I added the collar.