Rice95 Therapy

[Rice95]

I thought I'd chime in and say hello to all my CPAP friends! I haven't posted in a while.

I've been doing fine. My numbers are staying under 3, some nights better than others. I think its time for a new mask. Mine has been leaking lately a lot and its been well over a month. I try to replace once a month. Since I can get the DreamWear FFM  for 12 bucks on Amazon it isn't a big expense and there is a considerable difference in the elasticity of a new one compared to a used one. The new one seals better.


Anyway, I'm heading to Iowa on Wednesday to attend 2 family funerals. My wife's sister and her father passed less than a year from one another. They were 2 amazing people. This makes me think how precious life is. 

Exercise everyday, wear your CPAP and enjoy life!

-Blessings to everyone who may ready this

-Mark 

[Ratchick]

Glad to hear everything is going well!

It's also, funnily enough, almost time to swap my mask insert (Airtouch F20) because I just popped up a couple of spots on my chin, so I guess all that summer sweatin' isn't helping, no matter how often I wipe it, or my face.

[Rice95]

Thanks for the reply! My mask arrives today. Good numbers last night. I tightened the straps a tiny bit and it did help the leaks, but time for a new mask. 

Have a great Sunday!

[Ratchick]

Ohh very nice. Mine started farting into my eyes last night so new insert... it's so nice. LOL Sadly my chart was ugly, but I'm glad yours was much healthier!

[Rice95]

I'm experimenting with ditching the cervical collar. It's been causing me claustrophobia coupled with the eye mask and the cpap---its been suffocating. Last night I put the collar in a drawer. I feel the majority of my positional apnea was the fact that I was NOT able to stay on my side consistently. Many times throughout my faithfulness to the collar over the last several months, the collar still yielded positional clusters on occasion which got me to question if the collar was actually the sole reason for my success with consistent numbers under 3. So last night, after a suffocating event the night before, did an experiment with ditching the collar. I wanted to rule out that 'the collar is the the only thing keeping my numbers low' 

Over many months, I've trained myself to stay on my side. When I turn over I have a small pillow I keep between my knees and that 'focuses me' to stay on my side. 


Last night I slept without the collar and my numbers are below 2. My theory was proven. My positional spikes and clusters have been a result of occasional back sleeping. That doesn't mean I will never sleep on my back again, because that isn't realistic. But I can say with confidence that I have finally figured this out. Now I'm dealing with leaks. My new mask arrived and I loosened the straps a little. I will tighten them back up in hopes of curbing those leaks. The chart I am attaching does show minor clusters, but I've seen those even WITH a collar. 
I've been to extremes with that collar from strapping it extremely snug to more on the loose side and I still had clusters. As Opal put it once "you are still finding a way to roll onto your back"
I believe that has always been the problem. Last night I felt rested when I awakened. I knew my numbers were going to be good. 

Blessings everyone 

[OpalRose]

Last night I felt rested when I awakened.

Hi Rice,
That statement alone says it all!

You've really come a long way.  Things will change from time to time, but you've learned what's works for you and what doesn't.  I guess the less we have to put on our faces at night and still get restful sleep, the better we are.

Thanks for keeping us updated.  Have a great day!

[Rice95]

Thanks for chiming in Opal! You are certainly an important cog in pointing me in the right direction the past 7 months. Thank you for hanging in there with me. 

[Rice95]

Good morning guys.

My AHI has been getting progressively worse. Tons of clusters which points to positional but much more hypops than I'm used to seeing.

Leaks are much worse too. 

Attachment was 2 days ago. 

Last night was worse at 13 events, but I didnt have the card in the machine 


I don't know the main culprit of this but I have to get this fixed.

[Rice95]

another recent one

[CorruptAlligator]

Are you wearing a collar Rice? Collars should help with the clusters of apneas.

Do you sleep through those clusters? Or so they wake you up?