[CPAP] Need help - I'm getting even less sleep using CPAP than when I don't

[CjakApnea]

I've been using (trying) CPAP for a few months now, I believe I started back in late June. I've had nothing but bad luck using CPAP despite all of the suggestions that the doctor/respiratory specialist have suggested. 

When I got my original sleep test done I had about 8 events per hour, which wasn't horrible, but still enough for me to feel tired when I wake up and be ready for bed by 6:30pm. I got the AirSense 10 AutoSet recommended through the doctor which I am now renting, and started off with the Nasal mask. My current pressure is a ramp from 10-15.

I have absolutely no issues falling asleep. I've gotten the mask to a comfortable tightness where I have minimal leakage. 

The biggest issue I have is the middle of the night. Since I started using it back in June, I have had 1 night where I slept the entire night without taking it off. And even with that 1 night, I didn't feel rested in the morning. Every single night other than that 1 random night, I will unconsciously take it off because I wake up and can't fall back asleep with it on. So CPAP isn't actually allowing me to stay asleep through the night. I don't think the machine/mask is what is waking me up, but it's just the fact that it's there when I wake up that I'm unable to fall back asleep because of it. 

At max, I am able to wear it for 3 hours per night, before having to take it off. Previously, if I woke up in the middle of the night, I had trained myself to just roll over and fall back asleep. But because of me taking it off at night, I wake up feeling even less rested than not using it because of me having to take it off instead of just falling back to sleep. 

I am just looking for advice, or any suggestions that helped you guys keep it on. I really want this to work, I haven't felt rested after sleeping in 5+ years (I'm 22 now). The doctor said to speak to the respiratory specialist, she said that it was probably because I was breathing through my mouth, which I am 99% sure I don't do, but it didn't seem like she had another explanation for me issue. 

I am still experiencing between 5-15 events per hour, varying night by night. One night while wearing the machine for a few hours, I somehow got up to 30 events(???) per hour. 

I don't have a lot of data to share since I almost have to convince myself every night to wear this stupid machine instead of just dealing with the fact I will be less tired if I don't in the morning, but here is what I have- 

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[JimInPT]

I don't have any specific advice to offer you, but I can pretty much guarantee that you'll be asked almost immediately for Sleepyhead charts instead of the MyAir screenshots, to provide much more detailed data. Unless you've changed or erased the data on your machine's SD card, I think you'll be able to examine and display detailed data going back to when you started in June.

So I'd recommend you may as well download and install Sleepyhead; you'll be getting the usual links from others about how to specifically set up the charts to provide the info the experts will need to offer guidance. It's pretty amazing software; far better than even the ReScan software the clinics and DMEs use (which I also installed for comparison).

Best wishes, try to hang in there.  My AHI was diagnosed at 48 with the at-home sleep test (like you, in June this year; I got my machine July 23rd), hit 7 the very first night I had my APAP setup (same machine as you) and has never been above 5 since that first night.  I was fortunate that I took to it like a duck to water and even the first night had no problems falling and staying asleep - perhaps a different mask setup is what you need to get comfortable with it all.

The odd thing for my case, I think, is that while my numbers all look pretty great in terms of managing apnea, I haven't really felt any difference in the real world the following day - some say it might take up to 90 days to feel improvement, but maybe it's been so gradual I just don't notice. But I'm a numbers geek who trusts the data and using the machine is no effort for me, so it's easy to stick with every night. Hopefully you'll get there too.

You can get Sleepyhead here:  [url=https://OSCAR Official Download Page ----> CLICK HERE ./]Sleepyhead download site[/url]

[jaswilliams]

My air does not really give any information. Make sure you have an SD card in your machine, download Sleepy head and post a couple of daily charts so we can see what's going on the details are in my signature

[CjakApnea]

Thank you both for your reply. I was not given an SD card with my machine but I can get one sometime this week.

[JimInPT]

Thank you both for your reply. I was not given an SD card with my machine but I can get one sometime this week.

That sounds unusual to me; I thought the SD card was standard equipment - mine came with a small 4GB card but it was privately-labeled with the ResMed logo as if it were standard.

Does your machine transmit daily results via cellular modem back to the mothership?  If so, I'd expect the SD card is necessary - are you *sure* you don't have one?  Actually, if you're getting MyAir information, it is connected and phones home somehow.

You definitely should have an SD card, at least for Sleepyhead; doesn't have to be large-capacity (the data gathered is pretty small each day) but 16GB units are almost free these days.  Make sure you either get a full-size card or a micro SD with a full-size adapter.  I switched from the original one to a Toshiba FlashAir SD card that puts the card on my LAN for downloading data each morning without having to touch the card itself - a bit less hassle, but also saves daily wear and tear on the card slot since I'm not popping it in and out.

[Crimson Nape]

Thank you both for your reply. I was not given an SD card with my machine but I can get one sometime this week.

A lot of the A10's were distributed without the SD card.  I guess Resmed thought the wireless reporting capability would end the need for the SD card. .  . fat chance!   Usually you can request one from your CPAP provider, but this is not required.  Any SD card, up to 32Gb, will work.  The A10's only use up to 4Gb before overwrite occurs.  This is easily around  a year's worth of data.  

I also recommend downloading #SleepyHead for your data analysis.  #SleepyHead provides the in depth reporting needed to fine tune your treatment.

Good Luck!

[PoolQ]

yep agree with all the above. Your Apnea is being treated, but you are not comfortable with the treatment. This keeps you from getting deep sleep and after you are somewhat rested, you wake up and go in and out of lite sleep for the rest of the night (assuming you try to get the mask back on).

get that card and sleepyheard and you will get lots of help getting things right

[Rtype]

Totally agree with the recommendation to obtain a SD card so you can really analyze the data with Sleepyhead.

With that said, a common reason for awakening in the middle of the night is that your pressure isn't high enough.  Although your machine is auto CPAP, it may not be accurately detecting your hypoapnea/apnea events which is suppose trigger pressure increases.  I know my own machine detects only 1/3 of the events when I manually look at the data.  Its why I dislike autoPap.   A way around this, if it is indeed the cause of your middle of the night awakenings, is to set the baseline CPAP pressures at a higher baseline.

My own pulmonologist set pressures based on the sleep study and then not want to deviate from it, but when it comes to real life, pressure adjustment is a must.  It's why there are so many praises for this apnea board and Sleepyhead.  Unfortunately, sleep apnea patients need to be their own advocate in adjusting machine parameters, because medical providers tend not to be very vigilant in OPTIMIZING treatments once you get your machine.

[CjakApnea]

Out of curiosity, how many days of data should I collect before sharing? Unfortunately due to my situation, I'm only getting around 1-3 hours of sleep per night with it on, so it's probably not a lot of data. But since the same thing happens every night, I'm assuming that just looking at a few days of data is enough to see the overall trend.

Edit- Just for reference for my first night of using the SD card and getting data with it, I attached last night's graphs.

[OpalRose]

Post whatever you are able. Even though you have only used it 3-4 hours a night, we still might be able to see if there is a problem, like a high leak rate, or perhaps your pressure range is not set optimal to treat your apnea’s.

I believe you may have gotten yourself into a “habit” of taking the mask off when you wake up.

The next time you wake up, unless you have to get up to use the restroom or get a drink, try to just get comfy and keep the mask on. Try a different position of sleep and concentrate on your breathing. Perhaps you can break this habit and fall back asleep.

EDIT: I see you posted a few graphs. If you are able, repost a couple graphs by following the
link in my signature line on “organizing charts.” This is important, as we need to see the statistics on the left side bar along with the graphs. Leave out the pie chart and calendar.