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Newbie - mild apnea due to anatomy, central and hypopnea
#11
RE: Newbie - mild apnea due to anatomy, central and hypopnea
Thanks Vaughn!

I'll ask for those adjustments tomorrow when I go in, I had been thinking about moving up from the minimum 4 cm pressure since that setting now feels way too low. I typically sleep only on my side, can't sleep well on my back at all so I don't think I back sleep much.

Appreciate the feedback and info.
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#12
RE: Newbie - mild apnea due to anatomy, central and hypopnea
That was the same diagnosis that I got from my Sleep Clinic doctor as well. One of the first things he did when I went to his office was shine a flashlight in my mouth.

I don't have high blood pressure or any other major medical problems, I'm only about 5-10 pounds over my ideal weight so I assumed that that was the problem anyways. I should add that I grind my teeth at night (I have 7 crowns to prove it) and have a very strong gag reflex, so I don't know if those may come into the equation as well.

Twelve years ago I was diagnosed "borderline" sleep apnea but this time it was "moderate." I don't understand how things can change that much or that the opening got any smaller but I'm glad of the most recent diagnosis, I think it's actually easier to have it and be able to fix it than be "borderline."
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#13
RE: Newbie - mild apnea due to anatomy, central and hypopnea
(01-05-2015, 10:22 AM)kareypdx Wrote: I had been thinking about moving up from the minimum 4 cm pressure since that setting now feels way too low. I typically sleep only on my side, can't sleep well on my back at all so I don't think I back sleep much.

If 4 cm H2O feels "way too low" then I suggest jumping Min Pressure to 6.0 or at least 5.4 cm H2O.

If you are not sleeping on your back very much, that may be why your pressure does not go really high very much.

Lots of patients who had been pretty sure they were never sleeping on their back have discovered (though infrared photography) that they occasionally roll onto their back while asleep and that is when the CPAP machine raises the pressure so high.

Take care,
--- Vaughn

The Advisory Member group provides advice and suggestions to Apnea Board administrators and staff on matters concerning Apnea Board operation and administrative policies.  Membership in the Advisory Member group should not be understood as in any way implying medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.
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#14
RE: Newbie - mild apnea due to anatomy, central and hypopnea
Don't put much faith in the "narrow throat" hypothesis. It might be right, it might not.

The important thing is do you have apnea and do you fix it with CPAP.
Get the free OSCAR CPAP software here.
Useful links.
Click here for information on the main alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check it yourself.
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#15
RE: Newbie - mild apnea due to anatomy, central and hypopnea
Thanks all,
We upped the starting pressure to 6. I know part of it is anatomical as I have to have the dentist put in props to hold my mouth open when they need to work at the back of my mouth for too long (i.e. had a filling on back molar replaced and a crown due to cracked tooth from old filling). And I know I have a mallampati score of II/III so I know there isn't a lot of space there. We'll see what time shows and see if there is any other contributing factor after having some more thyroid tests done!
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#16
RE: Newbie - mild apnea due to anatomy, central and hypopnea
Hi,

I am new too - I had the home sleep test in mid-December and got the results 12/26 though my results were not as detailed as yours.

I am writing because I, too, never had trouble falling asleep, have a small crowded mouth and discovered I had growths on my thyroid. One cannot help but wonder if these or a combination of them contribute to the fatigue. I only just got my machine last night so I only have one night of data - 4 events per hour, 5.6 was the air flow (terminology may be wrong?) with the setting being between 4-14.

Seems to be a great deal of informed helpful people here so hang in there and Good Luck
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