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Dzyan wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 23, 2023 3:14 pm

Based on my experience, I think the Nuance & Nuance Pro Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Gel Nasal Pillows are much better than the P10. They have extremely soft cannulae that don't irritate the lining of my nose. When I used the P10, I had similar problems. + the Nuance & Nuance Pro Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask has a much better air ventilation system and nicer straps that touch the face. I also feel the heat from the cannulas of my nose pads so I had to lower the heat on my hose from 30 degrees to 24. When I'm on my back with the nose pads my soft palate can block my exhalation causing my cheeks to puff up chipmunk When I sleep on my side, this effect is almost absent.

Thank you Dzyan! If I need another mask option, I'll give that one a try!

Your FL graph isn't all that bad. I have seen much worse.
Now this one below....it's really, really ugly.
This was a nasal congestion ugly FL graph.

The machine will try to increase the pressure in response to the FLs but when it comes to nasal congestion FLs more pressure won't fix it. Instead the more traditional methods of dealing with nasal congestion must be done.

takver wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 23, 2023 6:14 pm

Sounds like I should just stay the course for awhile! My ignorance made me think the FL graph was pretty crazy, especially in comparison to other's.

it's SO hard to do, but it really is best to try to not compare your own sleep apnea journey to that of other folk. we are each of us unique wee snow flakes with just enough different between us. just try to stay with your own, with reaching for help, of course!

good luck!

I've been doing my best to keep up with therapy and have had a few good nights in terms of numbers, but am not feeling any less tired in general. Haven't changed any settings in weeks.

A couple weeks ago I had a first follow-up with the sleep Dr. and he was happy with my progress & compliance. He was also quite delighted that I adjusted the device settings myself & suggested I continue making small adjustments as needed. Next follow-up is in July.

One thing that I think would really help me sleep more restfully is if I could sleep on my sides, rather than just on my back, but whenever I turn to either side, within a minute or two, I get uncomfortable aerophagia and have to sit bolt upright to burp. No aerophagia if I'm on my back & I mouth tape every night.

Any suggestions on how to reduce the aerophagia while sleeping on my sides?


Here are a few OSCAR screenshots from the last week or so:

Best night ever in terms of numbers. This particular night I took half a Doxylamine Succinate 25mg sleeping pill. They tend to make me very groggy the next day & I don't feel refreshed, so I take them extremely rarely: once every other month or so.



2 nights ago was a relatively good night in terms of numbers, but still didn't feel refreshed:



And then last night. Pretty sure my nose was quite congested! And I feel like crap today.

To try to alleviate the aerophagia while side-sleeping, I lowered my max pressure last night from 10 to 9.

Unfortunately, it didn't help. At 00:22 I rolled over onto my right side and at about 1:10 had to sit up and burp. Then switched to sleeping on my left side and about 15 minutes after that had to burp. Got up at that point and then slept on my back the rest of the night. So it took longer (before I had to burp within a few minutes), but this time I could actually feel the air going down into my stomach.

Interesting that the lower pressure didn't cause any uptick in AHI numbers, but I was also awake for a lot of the night. I think I prefer the 10 max pressure to the 9.

Any other ideas here? Should I up the EPR from 2 to 3 to try to help with the aerophagia?

Anyone have any suggestions regarding how to prevent/reduce aerophagia while sleeping on sides? It is currently my main problem with using the machine. If I'm on my back, no aerophagia, but if I'm on either side (my preferred sleeping positions) I end up blowing air out both ends in the morning & it keeps me tossing & turning all night.

takver wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 17, 2023 11:40 am

how to prevent/reduce aerophagia

Here are some ideas - wiki/index.php/Aerophagia

takver wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 17, 2023 11:40 am

Anyone have any suggestions regarding how to prevent/reduce aerophagia while sleeping on sides?

try lowering your your minimum pressure to the point where you have NO aerophagia. this will, of course, play merry hell with your ahi. stay with it for a few nights, then gradually start raising the min pressure. and by gradually, i mean by .2. stick with it until your body starts to adapt. then, raise the pressure by .2 and do it again.

this may take you many weeks, but it worked for me in the end.

good luck!

zonker wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 17, 2023 4:04 pm

worked for me in the end

Which one?