New CPAP User + Waking up a Ton

I was recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea (AHI = 6). However, I have a lot of RERAs - overall RDI of 9.5/hour but 30/hour RDI during REM. I read that if my AHI was just a little lower, I would have classified as UARS instead of OSA.

I started using CPAP about three weeks ago, and I have had a tough go getting started. Started off with a nasal mask, and then I went over to pillows since I felt like it was more comfortable and felt better with the direct air. My doctor initially put in for automatic CPAP with pressure 4-20, but I raised the pressure to 5-20 because I felt like I could not breathe when the pressure was so low (and then 6-20 to see if it could help all the wakeups). Untreated, I usually wake up 3-5 times per night that I can recall. With CPAP, I feel like I am waking up a ton at night - often more than 7 times that I can remember and feeling just as unrested. On the mornings where I wake up thinking "wow, that was great", I come to realize I accidentally removed my mask while sleeping. I have so much daytime fatigue and really want to make CPAP (or BiPAP, ASV, etc) work.

I downloaded OSCAR and tried to analyze my data, but I am a little confused how my flow looks and what settings are optimal for me. Any feedback would be much appreciated. I've included some images below with the info for the night. I am still not sure how to tell if my inhale/exhale looks good and deciphering what settings are best, so any guidance would be extremely appreciated! Is there a good way to know if EPR should be on? Please let me know if any other views or info would be helpful. Thank you!

1: Pressure 6-20, EPR = 1, felt like an overall decent sleep but accidentally removed mask during middle of night. Mouth taped pretty tight w/ pillows.
https://imgur.com/a/R1Ms6xK
https://imgur.com/a/KTO2eSP
https://imgur.com/a/2KOIh6N

2. Pressure 5-20, EPR = 0, felt like horrible sleep. Mouth taped decently tight w/ pillows.
https://imgur.com/a/kxZwWcw
https://imgur.com/a/d6h3RPR

Thank you!

1. Which medicines and supplements are you taking? Please state dosages and time of day.

2. Have you studied good sleep hygiene? How well are you practicing it?

pls upload data to sleephq.

https://sleephq.com/public/teams/share_ ... /dashboard

RERAs are all hidden, around those CAs flagged by machine. More detailed view is needed to find flow limitations/RERAs.

I recommend higher pressure in a tight range 10-12 or fixed. and with higher pressure you may find full face mask better at control leaking.

Thank you both for the replies and sincere apologies for the delay.

ChicagoGranny -

I take Tirosint (thyroid med) each morning and vitamin D, magnesium, B-complex, and Iron on a semi/mostly regular basis.
=I have studied sleep hygiene and I am pretty good about following it. Could be better about no phone near bedtime. I fall asleep quickly, I just wake up a ton.


musculus -
I uploaded my data to sleephq, thanks so much. Here is the link! https://sleephq.com/public/teams/share_ ... fac6676409
I also grabbed some screenshots just in case:
https://imgur.com/a/IeoGlFL
https://imgur.com/a/prITs3y

I have been wanting to go to a higher pressure, but I am getting more central apneas (central AHI was most recently = 2.0), and I am concerned I could make it worse. Do you use EPR? What in the data shows if it would be beneficial?

Thank you!