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+--- Thread: Please help me change my life and interpret my OSCAR results (/Thread-Please-help-me-change-my-life-and-interpret-my-OSCAR-results)
Please help me change my life and interpret my OSCAR results - Koalamanx - 07-04-2022
Hi guys,
I recently got diagnosed with mild-moderate sleep apnea. However, even though as in my case it seems to be mild, I feel so bad every day and even had a breakdown at work and started crying. Kind of embarrassing, as I am a 37 year old man, but my life feels like torture lately.
I just can't take it anymore.
I have started using an Auto CPAP machine (ResMed AirSense 10) from late May this year and have had the rare, but occasional amazing night of sleep. This has been maybe 2-3 times only over the last 2 1/2 months.
At first I was given a nose cushion mask, but that didn't work at all since I have been a mouth breather my whole life thinking back to being a little kid and I have always felt like I couldn't breath properly through my nose, whenever I used nasal spray it was life changing, especially with the CPAP machine, but obviously I can't use nose spray 365 days a year, even though I'd love to.
Since, I have switched to a full face mask (F20) and it is a lot better, I actually don't feel like I am suffocating by just putting the mask on, now the issue is that my mouth stays open throughout the night, which is kind of weird to me as normally without any equipment before my diagnosis, my jaw just locks totally and forces me to breath through my nose, which I cant in the first place anyways really, so I guess I am not getting much oxygen and not sleeping deeply.
The problem is, my mouth get's so dry that that is what ends up waking me up. I have been using mouth washes and hydrating, both do little. Currently waiting for these tablets that are supposed to help, the one you put under your gum.
I feel like I'm in a vicious cycle. One thing cancels the other out.
So yeah, I have only been able to make it I think once up to 6 hours through out the night, and on average around 3-4 hours only.
Could you guys kindly help me with the data below and let me know what else you might need to see? Yesterday 4th July was once a again a bad night and I feel so wrecked today
Thank you everyone, I am at my ends and feel kind of helpless, I can't function like this anymore and it is really getting to me.
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RE: Please help me change my life and interpret my OSCAR results - OpalRose - 07-05-2022
Welcome to Apnea Board!
Most folk who mouth breathe use a full face mask. If you are unable to breathe through your nose, then you will obviously breathe through your mouth regardless of mask.
Try using a mouth rinse before bed. Act Total Care Dry Mouth Rinse as well as Biotene are good products.
You didn't say why you can't breathe through your nose, but if it's a medical reason, you should see an ENT doctor. Surgery should be a last resort, but he/she can prescribe something "safe" to help. With that said, many here use Flonase regularly which is safe.
There are also saline nasal sprays that may help.
I'm sure others here will have suggestions for you.
I don't see anything major on your chart. You could however, raise the minimum pressure a little to provide more air flow. Your numbers look good.
RE: Please help me change my life and interpret my OSCAR results - Sleeprider - 07-05-2022
You seem to have excellent therapy results with few events and no flow limitation. As a result your pressure stays very close to the minimum levels of 7.0/4.0 (inhale/exhale) that you have set. My only suggestion is to turn off ramp. With pressure this low, you really don't need it. Above all, any changes you make should be done with comfort in mind.