Would you keep tinkering if this were you?

Billmanweh wrote:I also don't understand the point of switching from auto to straight CPAP.

For a non-trivial number of OSA sufferers, straight CPAP works significantly more effectively than APAP.

However, your present numbers are fine and IMO you are extremely unlikely to gain any benefit from playing "numbers Olympics"!

Chers,

Bill

billbolton wrote:

Billmanweh wrote:I also don't understand the point of switching from auto to straight CPAP.

For a non-trivial number of OSA sufferers, straight CPAP works significantly more effectively than APAP.

However, your present numbers are fine and IMO you are extremely unlikely to gain any benefit from playing "numbers Olympics"!

Chers,

Bill

Unless it also translates to "better sleep". Better numbers don't always result in better sleep quality. I've had nights when I felt good after a 0.0 AHI night (or thereabouts) and the same with a 1.5 AHI night. Sometimes I feel that I've slept "deeper" with a 1.5 AHI night. But, I don't have pressure changes messing up my sleep throughout the night, either.

Den

Some questions for Bill.

1. You say "no real issues" but how are you feeling during the day and what is your activity level?

2. Which Flex setting are you using?

Regards,

rooster wrote:Some questions for Bill.

1. You say "no real issues" but how are you feeling during the day and what is your activity level?

2. Which Flex setting are you using?

Regards,

1. It's funny you should ask. I don't really feel all that great. I'm getting plenty of sleep, but I keep thinking I should feel more energetic. And don't get me wrong, it's night and day from not using the CPAP. I just don't seem to have that pep I feel like I should.

And for about ten days or so I used the Activa mask and got my avg AHI down below 1 and I could tell the difference. I was having orgasmic type sleep. But I just couldn't make the mask work for me comfortably.

So I guess that's why I keep thinking of tinkering. I'd like to try and get that 'blows me away', AHI-below 1 type sleep again.

2. I'm using the A-Flex on setting 2.


And aside from all that, I'm just frustrated in general. My sleep habits/hygiene in general sucks. I keep trying to fix it and keep slipping back into old patterns of staying up too late, drinking too much caffeine, eating late at night, not getting up at a set hour, etc.

And I've put all this pressure on myself to lose weight and magically make my life better from having the CPAP. And I've probably gained five pounds since I've started using it. So i'm just a little miserable and annoyed with myself in general.

Sorry for the rant...

Go ahead and rant. We don't mind at all. After all, if you can't rant to us, who CAN you rant to?

My sleep habits/hygiene in general sucks. I keep trying to fix it and keep slipping back into old patterns of staying up too late, drinking too much caffeine, eating late at night, not getting up at a set hour, etc.

These are things that only you can control. You just have to decide to do it. As for the weight...I wouldn't worry about that right now. You don't need to put so much pressure on yourself. Get the sleep hygiene fixed and get some decent sleep, then you may have energy to deal with weight loss.

Brenda

Bill,

You already know you need to work on sleep hygiene and diet. Don't forget exercise. Work on fellowship with good friends also.

The rest of what I say is because I personally found straight cpap and no Flex setting is better for me. I would reduce Flex to 1 for a few nights and see how I feel and what the data shows. If everthing is OK then disable Flex setting and check again for a few nights.

Continuing on, I would set machine at straight cpap 12.5 and again see how I felt and study the data closely. Assuming everything is OK, I would continue to reduce the pressure in 0.5 cm increments. When I get to the point the AHI increases, I would bump it back up by 0.5 cm.

Good luck whatever you do.

Billmanweh wrote:

rooster wrote:Some questions for Bill.

1. You say "no real issues" but how are you feeling during the day and what is your activity level?

2. Which Flex setting are you using?

Regards,

1. It's funny you should ask. I don't really feel all that great. I'm getting plenty of sleep, but I keep thinking I should feel more energetic. And don't get me wrong, it's night and day from not using the CPAP. I just don't seem to have that pep I feel like I should.

And for about ten days or so I used the Activa mask and got my avg AHI down below 1 and I could tell the difference. I was having orgasmic type sleep. But I just couldn't make the mask work for me comfortably.

So I guess that's why I keep thinking of tinkering. I'd like to try and get that 'blows me away', AHI-below 1 type sleep again.

2. I'm using the A-Flex on setting 2.


And aside from all that, I'm just frustrated in general. My sleep habits/hygiene in general sucks. I keep trying to fix it and keep slipping back into old patterns of staying up too late, drinking too much caffeine, eating late at night, not getting up at a set hour, etc.

And I've put all this pressure on myself to lose weight and magically make my life better from having the CPAP. And I've probably gained five pounds since I've started using it. So i'm just a little miserable and annoyed with myself in general.

Sorry for the rant...

Snoredog reported that after using A-Flex for awhile, he felt like crap, too. A-Flex apparently doesn't work for everybody and you may be another one. It also could be the pressure changes during the night, too. These are some of the reasons I suggested straight pressure.....CPAP mode.

And, for some of us, the "pep" or rejuvenation you seek has only come to some of us in slower stages. Try working on getting your sleep hygiene straightened out, too. You know what it involves.....you just need to do it.

Good luck.

Den

Bill,

The numbers look very good. But numbers are one thing, how you feel and how you get by in the world on a consistent basis is the real issue.

If you are feeling really good and alert and satisfied with your configuration, then trying you are where most of us want to be.

Cheers

DSM

Well, for the last two nights I tried lowering the A-Flex to 1. Last night I actually had my lowest AHI I've ever had. I could tell as soon as I woke up that I slept better. One of those rare mornings that as soon as my eyes opened I was ready to hop out of bed, not hit the snooze button.

So, thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep it up for a few more days and then see what all the numbers look like.

Thanks again!

Good. Please keep us informed.