I am a nearly 70-year old male, about 20 pounds overweight and I'm working hard to lose this weight. I have, what I understand to be, moderate sleep apnea and I snore a lot - my snoring is loud and apparently disgusting. I had two sleep studies done in 2016 and 2017. The following are summaries of the study, excerpted directly from the reports:
2016 Sleep Study on 7/1/2016
SLEEP SUMMARY:
Total sleep time 266 minutes
Sleep efficiency 65%
Sleep latency 52 min
Rem Latency 125 min
Sleep stage 1-15 2-66 3-1
REM -18%
Central apnea 0, obstructive apnea 34, hypopnea 16
IMPRESSION:
1. Positional sleep apnea G47.33
2. Periodic limb movement with arousal index 7.2 events per sleep hour
3. Abnormal sleep architecture
4. Snoring noted
5. No significant arrhythmia noted
2017 Sleep Study on 5/22/2017
PROCEDURE:
Polysomnographic parameters monitored. EOG, Submental EMG, EEG C3-C4, EEG 01-02, airflow, effort with abdominal and thoracic belts, snoring sensor, ECG, tibialis, EMG and oximetry.
Sleep architecture
Total sleep time 315.5 minutes
Latency to sleep onset 41 minutes
Latency to REM 98 minutes
Sleep efficiency 82%
CPAP titration
CPAP was initiated at 5 cm of water pressure and incrementally increased to a max pressure of 12 cm of water pressure. At 12 cm of WP, the patient had increase in respiratory events. Most effective pressure was 9 cm of WP with pressure of 10, 11 and 12. There were central apneas. Cardiac monitoring revealed sinus rhythm. No evidence of restless leg syndrome or periodic limb movement disorders of sleep.
Cardiac monitoring.
Sinus Rhythm.
SUGGESTIONS:
The patient should be fitted with a Resmed Quattro FX Full Face Mask size M. CPAP should be initiated at 9 cm of water pressure with EPR 3 using humidification.
After the study, I was given a Resmed Quattro FX Full Face Mask, which I used for a little while (can't recall how long), but then I stopped using it because it became uncomfortable. After a while, I changed to another sleep doctor and he said I should rather use a Resmed P10 nasal pillows mask at a setting of 10, and he wrote a prescription for that. I tried the P10 for a while, it didn't seem to be helping me. I became disillusioned and then stopped the CPAP therapy completely. I went back to the same doctor recently and he said that since I do not seem to be comfortable using a CPAP machine, I should try going to a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea and have a mouth device custom made to stop my snoring. I did this and as the cost was going to be quite exorbitant, I abandoned that idea.
Fast forward to November 2019. I am now in a brand new relationship with a lovely lady, but we cannot sleep together in the same bed as my loud snoring keeps her awake. My new relationship and the fact that we cannot sleep together, was definitely a wake up call to take immediate action! I researched for quick solutions and immediately started taping my mouth with 3M micropore tape. I got used to the tape very quickly and felt rested the following days, as I was breathing only through my nose. We did some test runs sleeping together in the same bed, but alas - I was still snoring unbearably with the tape and she couldn't sleep. I had to move back to another room. I then started extensive research on this forum, looking for answers what to do. I have a Resmed Airsense 10 autoset and I know how to access the settings. I also currently have 3 masks in my possession:
Resmed Airfit F20 full face mask; Resmed Mirage FX nasal mask; Resmed P10 nasal pillows mask.
I've had the F20 full face mask for about 3 years. It seemed to work when I got it originally, and if memory serves, the best number at that time, was down to 7. But then I became uncomfortable using it - felt I couldn't breather properly. I've tried using it again during the past 2-3 weeks and I still feel that I'm suffocating in it- the numbers on it are high. I'm also getting high AHI numbers with the The Mirage FX. The P10 is the most comfortable mask, but I am also struggling to breathe in it - it's possible that this is on the exhale because the vents may be occluded, despite extensive cleaning with a tooth brush and warm soapy water. I've tried many different settings on the CPAP machine. I initiate at 6 cm and it ramps up to 9m as suggested in the sleep study recommendation. I've set it to 10, 11, 12 and even 6-16. Nothing is working. I'm getting readings on my Resmed Airsense machine of 25 - 40 events per hour. On many nights, I have to remove whatever mask I'm wearing because I feel that I'm struggling to breathe. A few nights ago, the reading went down to 15 events per hour with the F20 mask set at 6 to 9 cm of WP, -the lowest it's been for a long time, but last night it was back up at near 40. I tried adjusting the settings during the night looking for the sweet spot, but nothing worked. I like the P10 mask the most because it's so light to use. I've tried using it with my mount taped and un-taped, but cannot get proper sleep or lower numbers with this mask or the Mirage FX.
Sorry for the long rant, but I just wanted to bring you up to speed. As so many have stated, getting help from a sleep doctor is virtually mission impossible. They are all so busy, you are just another sheep in the never ending flow of people in and out of their office, where you get 10 minutes with them max. I'm hoping to see a CPAP supplier next week to get another mask, but am not sure which mask I should go for now - the P10 in general seems to have issues with venting based on the extensive discussions on this forum. Mine is more than a year and a half old, so the vents could be blocked up. Should I buy a Waterpick to try and unblock it or get a new P10? Or maybe another make of nasal pillow?
I would like to request the kind assistance of members of this forum with some basic questions - what am I doing wrong? What should I do next? Does it seem that I have a problem with my settings, the machine itself or the mask? I have not downloaded any software like Sleepyhead, to read whats going on at night. Should I do so now?
I am very hopeful and confidant that I will be steered in the right direction on this forum! To any member who responds to this post, I thank you very much in advance!