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I slept with APAP about 5+ hours last night. The only change I made was in sealing with mouth around my neck/mouth with an Ace bandage as opposed to a chinstrap. Leaks look OK on the graph. AHI, while not "abnormal" is much higher than usual at 3.8 (1.5 obstructive, 1.9 central, .3 hypopneas). My pressure was set at 7-10 with EPR of 3, and my 95th percentile pressure was 9.9, Median was 8.5 (this is not atypical, but the AHI is). Do I just hold steady and collect more data at this setting? I had been doing OK at this setting, just suspecting I need higher ultimately, but didn't want to go up too fast due to aerophagia. Thanks!

SleepingUgly wrote:I slept with APAP about 5+ hours last night.

Bravo!

The only change I made was in sealing with mouth around my neck/mouth with an Ace bandage as opposed to a chinstrap. Leaks look OK on the graph. AHI, while not "abnormal" is much higher than usual at 3.8 (1.5 obstructive, 1.9 central, .3 hypopneas). My pressure was set at 7-10 with EPR of 3, and my 95th percentile pressure was 9.9, Median was 8.5 (this is not atypical, but the AHI is). Do I just hold steady and collect more data at this setting? I had been doing OK at this setting, just suspecting I need higher ultimately, but didn't want to go up too fast due to aerophagia. Thanks!

I'd give the new setting (and the Ace bandage idea if it was comfortable enough) several more days to gather data. I've found that almost every time I change pressure settings, the first week or so has both some really great AHI numbers and some really bad AHI numbers, often on back-to-back nights. I suspect it's just that my body unconsciously notices the changes and the nights that I'm restless can go either way with the AHI numbers. Why, I have no idea.

robysue wrote: I've found that almost every time I change pressure settings, the first week or so has both some really great AHI numbers and some really bad AHI numbers, often on back-to-back nights.

Hmm, I hadn't changed the settings. I guess I'll give it a little longer and see what happens.

Interestingly, my worst FLs tend to be in the first portion of the night (why is that?), and it bumped the pressure up to my max, 10cm, for those. So I have a feeling if my maximum was higher, it would go higher. Course it may also fill my stomach with air, or wake me. I'm going to try the new mouth-shutting technique for a few more days to make sure that's yielding consistent results and then I'm going to need advice on whether to just bump up my maximum, or also bring up my minimum...

As usual, thanks for the help!

Someone just pointed out to me that my first post in this thread is gone. Again.

I'm very excited about this new development: I'm popular!!!! Since the person who deleted my post the first time probably lost their spam-deleting privileges, this means I have TWO secret admirers!! If I can identify my secret admirer, I can have a double affair behind the backs of both Prince Charming and SleepingWithUgly! I am so excited, I can hardly sleep!

yikereenies S.U. !!!

I am just going to toss some fairy dust on you and hope for the best!

You just have to catch a break, youve been working so hard on this for so darn long..


Hope the padacheeks are a big help, I really liked those and the strap softies I got on ebay..

they actually helped stop my leaks, somehow made the head gear fit better, and felt so soft.. like the warm neck of
a baby lamb!

I am hoping you get everything resolved so we can all celebrate your triumph, you deserve it.

elena