RE: Chest/Lung Restriction - Impact on CPAP use?
Post your OSCAR charts, we need to see what's going on.
RE: Chest/Lung Restriction - Impact on CPAP use?
When you described "choking awake while sitting up" and neck issues, it immediately made me think that a part of your problem may be positional, specifically chin-tucking. Over five years ago at Apnea Board we began seeing members with a pattern of clustered obstructive apnea, mixed with periods of quiet sleep. We wondered how could therapy be effective one minute, then suddenly be so wrong. It turns out, nearly every one of those cases was easily resolved with a soft cervical collar. The mechanism of apnea was the head tilting forward causing the airway to be obstructed. This can happen to upright, back and side sleepers in a fetal position, alike. You can simulate it by sitting comfortably in you favorite chair and relaxing, breathing with normal effort, then allow your head to tilt forward and see if your breathing becomes restricted or obstructed as you fully relax your neck muscles. Take a look at our wikis:
Positional Apnea: http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...onal_Apnea
Soft Cervical Collar http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...cal_Collar
That avatar is my buddy Louie, and he is a fun dog, but has a snoring problem I have been unable to resolve in spite of a broad knowledge of CPAP.
RE: Chest/Lung Restriction - Impact on CPAP use?
Hi Gideon,
At this point I'm only using the CPAP during the day while watching TV, so I don't have any Oscar data.
If you think it's safe to reduce the pressure down to 5 (with EPR still at 3), then I could see if I could sleep with it at that level. With a fixed pressure of 9 I can barely tolerate it while watching TV. Based on my sleep study, I know that a pressure level of 5 is supposed to be less than I need to prevent SA, but maybe it would be somewhat helpfu?
RE: Chest/Lung Restriction - Impact on CPAP use?
Try 7 w EPR =3
RE: Chest/Lung Restriction - Impact on CPAP use?
(07-19-2021, 02:24 PM)Gideon Wrote: Try 7 w EPR =3
Will do
RE: Chest/Lung Restriction - Impact on CPAP use?
(07-19-2021, 08:05 AM)Sleeprider Wrote: When you described "choking awake while sitting up" and neck issues, it immediately made me think that a part of your problem may be positional, specifically chin-tucking. Over five years ago at Apnea Board we began seeing members with a pattern of clustered obstructive apnea, mixed with periods of quiet sleep. We wondered how could therapy be effective one minute, then suddenly be so wrong. It turns out, nearly every one of those cases was easily resolved with a soft cervical collar. The mechanism of apnea was the head tilting forward causing the airway to be obstructed. This can happen to upright, back and side sleepers in a fetal position, alike. You can simulate it by sitting comfortably in you favorite chair and relaxing, breathing with normal effort, then allow your head to tilt forward and see if your breathing becomes restricted or obstructed as you fully relax your neck muscles. Take a look at our wikis:
Positional Apnea: http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...onal_Apnea
Soft Cervical Collar http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...cal_Collar
That avatar is my buddy Louie, and he is a fun dog, but has a snoring problem I have been unable to resolve in spite of a broad knowledge of CPAP.
So, I have two cervical collars (I made a big attempt at using the CPAP a couple of years ago. One is too tall and the circumference way too big. The other is comfortable, but I'd say it still allows at least a 20 degree drop from horizontal. I'm not sure if it should hold my chin up closer to horizontal.
I'm tall and relatively slender with a neck that is maybe slightly longer than average. Do you have a recommended brand?
Louie looks like big boy and I bet he has a strong snore. My girl was petite and (thankfully!) had a really cute and soothing snore. The funny thing is, she liked to hold her up on a small pillow. Perhaps self-correcting for apnea? 
RE: Chest/Lung Restriction - Impact on CPAP use?
Soft cervical collar, try Corflex Ultra Cervical Collar.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: Chest/Lung Restriction - Impact on CPAP use?
(07-19-2021, 09:54 PM)pkersey Wrote: So, I have two cervical collars (I made a big attempt at using the CPAP a couple of years ago. One is too tall and the circumference way too big. The other is comfortable, but I'd say it still allows at least a 20 degree drop from horizontal. I'm not sure if it should hold my chin up closer to horizontal.
I'm tall and relatively slender with a neck that is maybe slightly longer than average.
They don't make cervical collars for us  In my case I bought a too-short-to-be-useful version (2-1/2 inches) and a good-height version (3-3/4 inches) but they were both 20 inches long. I did major surgery on the 3-3/4 inch high one, and it's now 15 inches long and works pretty well. You should use the one that's the right height to estimate the right length, and then see if you can find one online that size. Or if you are game to try some sewing I can give you instructions.
RE: Chest/Lung Restriction - Impact on CPAP use?
(07-20-2021, 01:55 AM)cathyf Wrote: They don't make cervical collars for us In my case I bought a too-short-to-be-useful version (2-1/2 inches) and a good-height version (3-3/4 inches) but they were both 20 inches long. I did major surgery on the 3-3/4 inch high one, and it's now 15 inches long and works pretty well. You should use the one that's the right height to estimate the right length, and then see if you can find one online that size. Or if you are game to try some sewing I can give you instructions.
That makes sense to me. I assume it should be snug but not snug both in circumference and height?
RE: Chest/Lung Restriction - Impact on CPAP use?
(07-20-2021, 01:55 AM)cathyf Wrote: They don't make cervical collars for us In my case I bought a too-short-to-be-useful version (2-1/2 inches) and a good-height version (3-3/4 inches) but they were both 20 inches long. I did major surgery on the 3-3/4 inch high one, and it's now 15 inches long and works pretty well. You should use the one that's the right height to estimate the right length, and then see if you can find one online that size. Or if you are game to try some sewing I can give you instructions.
I have some likely irrational fears that the collar is going to cut off my jugular or something. Is that totally ridiculous?
I live with really bad anxiety which has likely led to a lot of my health issues. I think it got worse around when I first noticed the sleep apnea.
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