15 days with ResMed AutoSense CPAP: Seeking Advice on Mouthbreathing

Count those chickens! Count sheep. You are making quick progress!

Looks like I did count the chickens a bit too early for the last 4 days have been little up and down with quite a few interruptions.

I got a SD Card holder though and downloaded my SD Card Data. Would like to know if I am doing it right.

This are the 24 days average stats so far: I can see a Cheyne Stokes Respiration which was not there during the sleep test. Is that something to worry about?

These are the screenshots for last night. This might not be most accurate because I slept a little late because of the Champions' League football final and it took me some time to completely relax (in fact woke up at around 1 hour mark). I would be really grateful though if someone could confirm whether this is the best way to take the screenshot of the graphs

I would love to have your feedback and also know what all errors I could eliminate with the screenshot

Top half of the graph: Rest of the graph: Thanks and good day to everyone!

Thanks for that link. Here is the updated screenshot.
Let me know if this gives all the necessary information.

As an aside, my sleep test report had also found hypomexia with an Oxygen Desaturation Index of 31.2 and lowest oxygen saturation of 77%. I gather that CPAPs do not measure Saturation Rate. Is it safe to assume that with reduction of AHI, oxygen desaturation would be automatically take care of? Or is it worthwhile to buy a sleep oximetry instrument?

thanks

Would prefer regular pressure graph line instead of mask pressure line graph....easier to see.
Masked pressure graph is really only useful when a person zoom's way in on something.

savemefrombhindi wrote: ↑

Sun May 30, 2021 9:59 am

lowest oxygen saturation of 77%. I gather that CPAPs do not measure Saturation Rate. Is it safe to assume that with reduction of AHI, oxygen desaturation would be automatically take care of? Or is it worthwhile to buy a sleep oximetry instrument?

Usually safe to assume that optimal cpap therapy fixes any low oxygen issues as long as sleep apnea is the only cause of the low oxygen.
There are of course other causes but the odds are (assuming no other health issues going on that might impact respiratory system) the low oxygen levels are well taken care of.

Some people need/want the reassurance of knowing for sure or they have other issues that make them want to monitor oxygen levels more closely so they do purchase one of those overnight recording pulse oximeters. It's all up to you and what kind of reassurance you might need. You can get a very decent one for 75 to 100 bucks US.

Your report from last night....screams out "I didn't sleep well and had a lot of wake ups"....is this the case? Why?

You are new to all this cpap therapy stuff...you will have good nights and bad nights.
It does take a while for the brain to get used to having the alien plastered on the face blowing air up the nose...along with all the other common mask comfort/leak issues that can disturb sleep.

Usually safe to assume that optimal cpap therapy fixes any low oxygen issues as long as sleep apnea is the only cause of the low oxygen.

Thanks for that clarification. I guess from the fact that I can already sense palpable improvement in my headache in the morning, that possibly oxygen saturation has improved.

Your report from last night....screams out "I didn't sleep well and had a lot of wake ups"....is this the case? Why?

Last night was a bit of an outlier because of the European soccer final which went on till close to 2.30 am in my part of the world. I felt sufficiently guilty to go off to sleep after the first 15 minutes of the game but I did wake up a couple of times to check the score . 28th night - may give us a much more accurate account:
thanks once again for your assistance!

I have questions galore after last night.

a) Is there any correlation between quality of sleep and nightmares?
I have had for the last couple of years an endless series of disaster movies as dreams. From drowning in the Atlantic, to being chased by dinosaurs and predators, buried by an avalanche or being stuck in a coffin ala Kill Bill (albeit without the soundtrack of Ennio Morricone) - I have seen it all. I have either not dreamt at all or have had nightmares. But this had stopped since I began with CPAP a few weeks back. Until last night, when I was again being chased by oversized monitor lizards. Is that something that should be matter of concern? Does the OSCAR data show anything worrying? b) Early in morning, I began to feel as if air is leaking from below the chin of the F20 full face of the mask. After struggling with it for what seemed like a few minutes, the sound of the increased pressure and the leak woke me up. I thought that the lower edge of the silicon cushion, on the chin might have slipped up. I stopped the machine and readjusted the mask. But the leak and the associated noise began again as I tried to go to sleep and it felt as if there was a leak every time I inhaled air. I wonder whether this is something people that others have experienced? Could this be a result of the blocked nostrils. It seemed as if I was inhaling with a much longer breath and it was causing the leak.

Surprisingly, I had very little day time sleepiness today. Possibly, the best since I began using CPAP 26 nights back

savemefrombhindi wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 01, 2021 11:19 am

I have had for the last couple of years an endless series of disaster movies as dreams. From drowning in the Atlantic, to being chased by dinosaurs and predators, buried by an avalanche or being stuck in a coffin

Drowning, buried in an avalanche, stuck in a coffin - you were struggling to breathe - apnea.

savemefrombhindi wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 01, 2021 11:19 am

But this had stopped since I began with CPAP a few weeks back.

Your therapy is preventing apneas and awakenings!

savemefrombhindi wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 01, 2021 11:19 am

Does the OSCAR data show anything worrying?

That is a fairly good-looking night. You might want to review some youtube videos on fitting and adjusting the mask.

savemefrombhindi wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 01, 2021 11:19 am

I wonder whether this is something people that others have experienced?

With CPAP therapy, members have experienced everything possible and some things that are not possible.

savemefrombhindi wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 01, 2021 11:19 am

Until last night, when I was again being chased by oversized monitor lizards.

A Pepsi and banana near bedtime do that to me.

Say, you didn't have okra at dinner last night, did you?

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 01, 2021 12:28 pm

With CPAP therapy, members have experienced everything possible and some things that are not possible.

Save,
I also have a deviated septum, had the surgery when I was in the military and it didn't help much. Before I go to bed I use a product called nasopure that it very helpful in cleaning out your sinuses. It takes very little congestion to create breathing problems for me. The Nasopure really helps me to breathe easier all through the night. Check it out on Amazon, if you think it would help. It's about $13.As far as the mouth breathing, after five years of trying to find a solution, I use the Phillips Dreamware Full Face Mask. It's very much like wearing a nasal mask, but very comfortable and I've had almost zero leaks with it.
Thumper

Say, you didn't have okra at dinner last night, did you?

Luckily, none of my action-packed nightmares have been about okra so far. They have caused me enough trouble while I have been awake. Growing up in a family where everyone but for me has loved this wretched slimy vegetable, my childhood was severely traumatised by it

That is a fairly good-looking night. You might want to review some youtube videos on fitting and adjusting the mask.

I think the trouble was being caused by loose straps. Keeping the lower straps for the N20 Mask tighter than earlier helped

Before I go to bed I use a product called nasopure that it very helpful in cleaning out your sinuses. It takes very little congestion to create breathing problems for me.

Thank for this suggestion. Will check on what is the equivalent product or brandname in India for this. I have resumed using Solspre, as Isotonic Nasal Spray and an anti-allergic spray. They seem to have kept the congestion under control for the last three days.

I am sorry to hear that the surgery did not work. I was hoping to get septoplasty done for my DNS and polyps once the COVID situation improves here. Even if it does not directly help with apnea, I was hoping that just keeping the nasal airways clear would be good for my health

Is there anyone here with Axial spondyloarthritis or ankylosing spondylitis? How long do you manage to sleep with CPAP?

Before CPAP, I used to sleep for 6 hours (6 hours and 30 minutes on really good days) before a combination of back pain and headache (possibly from apnea) would wake me up (and then struggle through the day). Now that I am settling in with CPAP and full face mask, I have been able to sleep for more than 7 hours at a stretch and day before yesterday, almost 7 hours and 40 minutes. But the flip side has been that the back pain on waking up has been more severe. I had to use a hot water bag to reduce the stiffness before I could begin my stretching exercises - something I had not felt the need for in many years.

Today, I put an alarm at 7 hours mark and the pain stiffness has been much less but I felt like I had not completed my sleep and slept through the snooze for few more minutes.

What is the optimal amount of time that you sleep with CPAP that minimises daytime sleepiness and also controls your back pain and stiffness in morning?

thanks

savemefrombhindi wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 10, 2021 10:28 pm

spondylitis

There is a forum that may be of help - https://forums.spondylitis.org/

There is a forum that may be of help - https://forums.spondylitis.org/

Thanks for sharing. Will check this forum out.

Hi everyone.

I am back here seeking advice since there has been a slight retrogression as I completed 60 days with CPAP. After tremendous improvement over the last month, my nightmares that I used to have before beginning with CPAP, have begun again. So much so that I have woken up in panic around the 5 hour mark in each of the last three nights (or mornings, if you may). And when I have tried to go back to sleep, I have had that sinking/drowning feeling I used to have earlier.

While day time sleepiness is not as bad as the CPAP days, it had worsened. That sense of tiredness and exhaustion on waking up has also worsened. AHI has also not changed dramatically. From a usual range of 2-2.5, it has gone up to 2.5-3. Is that significant alteration?

These are OSCAR screenshots for the last two nights. I would be grateful if you could have a look and let me know if you see anything amiss.

July 8 July 9 Incidentally, my spinal condition has worsened over the last few nights. I can sense the lower back getting very stiff when I have woken up and lower back hurting a bit while breathing in and out. Is there any connection between backache and sleep apnoea?

thanks

I mouth breathe and tried the F20 mask for a couple days and hated it which was surprising since it seems to always get rave reviews.

Felt like I was sleeping with a military gas mask on and didn’t like that claustrophobic sensation, tried the F30 and really loved it. I’d recommend you try that too; it covers nose and mouth but is very light and minimalistic.