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Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
#1
Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
I've had issues with sleeping for quite some time where I can't seem to sleep more than 5-6 hours per night.  I'll often wake up after 3-4 hours and usually (but not always) get back to sleep.

Tried pretty much all the standard advice (keep room dark, wear blue light glasses/avoid screens before bedtime, etc) other than prescription meds.

I went in for a sleep study and was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea (10 incidents per hour).

With the CPAP, I'm down to 1-2 per hour, with a pressure rating between 7-14.  I notice it tends to usually average around 10-11.

It has not helped my sleep at all.  If anything, it has made it a little worse.  I think I'm used to the mask itself.  I ended up purchasing a memory foam full face mask and it does not leak.

It seems that CPAP is not the "miracle cure" for my insomnia that I was looking for.  Am I wasting my time and money here?  I figured I'd give it some time but it's been about three weeks now.
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#2
RE: Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
Welcome to Apnea Board!

Download the OSCAR software.  We may be able to help after seeing some data.  

First, be sure there is an SD card in your machine while sleeping, then....

Organize a chart (according to link in my Signature Line), then post a Screenshot by using the Attachment Feature.
OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

_______________________
OSCAR Chart Organization
How to Attach Images and Files.
OSCAR - The Guide
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing therapy
OSCAR supported machines
Mask Primer



INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.  ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA.  INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#3
RE: Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
Here you go.  Hopefully I did this right.

I woke up several times last night.  I first woke up at around 2am and was up for over an hour before going back to bed.

Also I have been noticing gas in my esophagas and more belching than usual. I hear that this can be a side effect of CPAP.


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#4
RE: Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
It sounds like you are suffering from Aerophagia (swallowing of air). This can be a bit uncomfortable to deal with. How do you feel about using a straight pressure for a while to see if we can eliminate that problem.

Put your machine in Cpap mode with a pressure of 8cm. Also set EPR to 2. You need some EPR to help with flow limitation, which is disruptive to sleep due to it raising the pressure.

Use this for a couple nights and take notes on how you feel. Hopefully with less pressure swings, you will also sleep better.

If you feel ok after a couple days, and if the data looks ok, we can start to titrate you upwards a little at a time from 8cm to 8.2 or 8.4. We will try to find the best pressure to help you sleep better and tackle any apneas.
OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

_______________________
OSCAR Chart Organization
How to Attach Images and Files.
OSCAR - The Guide
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing therapy
OSCAR supported machines
Mask Primer



INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.  ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA.  INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#5
RE: Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
(05-01-2023, 02:00 PM)OpalRose Wrote: It sounds like you are suffering from Aerophagia (swallowing of air).  This can be a bit uncomfortable to deal with.  How do you feel about using a straight pressure for a while to see if we can eliminate that problem.  

Put your machine in Cpap mode with a pressure of 8cm.  Also set EPR to 2.  You need some EPR to help with flow limitation, which is disruptive to sleep due to it raising the pressure.

Use this for a couple nights and take notes on how you feel.  Hopefully with less pressure swings, you will also sleep better.  

If you feel ok after a couple days, and if the data looks ok, we can start to titrate you upwards a little at a time from 8cm to 8.2 or 8.4.  We will try to find the best pressure to help you sleep better and tackle any apneas.

I am fine with using a straight pressure.  When I was given the unit, they had it set from 5 to 20, which seemed far too wide of a range.  Made some tweaks to narrow the range but it still seems to be far too wide. 

I will give it a shot and report back in a couple days.  Thanks!
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#6
RE: Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
Your pressure increase is due to your flow limits. The machine goes up in pressure to stop them from becoming O and H events.

To control your flow limits you use EPR. Yours is turned off. I would suggest you try the following.

EPR set to on full time setting 3
Min 7

That should help the pressure from going up. IF it still goes up to much set the max to 12
Apnea (80-100%) 10 seconds, Hypopnea (50-80%) 10 seconds, Flow Limits (0-50%) not timed  Cervical Collar - Dealing w DME - Chart Organizing
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#7
RE: Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
(05-01-2023, 02:00 PM)OpalRose Wrote: It sounds like you are suffering from Aerophagia (swallowing of air).  This can be a bit uncomfortable to deal with.  How do you feel about using a straight pressure for a while to see if we can eliminate that problem.  

Put your machine in Cpap mode with a pressure of 8cm.  Also set EPR to 2.  You need some EPR to help with flow limitation, which is disruptive to sleep due to it raising the pressure.

Use this for a couple nights and take notes on how you feel.  Hopefully with less pressure swings, you will also sleep better.  

If you feel ok after a couple days, and if the data looks ok, we can start to titrate you upwards a little at a time from 8cm to 8.2 or 8.4.  We will try to find the best pressure to help you sleep better and tackle any apneas.

The Aerophagia has improved significantly.  I also slept 6+ hours each of the last two nights.  However, I did wake up 4 times each night and fortunately was able to get back to sleep.

Here is a new screenshot.

(05-01-2023, 07:25 PM)staceyburke Wrote: Your pressure increase is due to your flow limits.  The machine goes up in pressure to stop them from becoming O and H events.

To control your flow limits you use EPR.  Yours is turned off.  I would suggest you try the following.

EPR set to on full time setting 3
Min 7

That should help the pressure from going up.  IF it still goes up to much set the max to 12

What are O and H events?


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#8
RE: Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
Apnea are broken down by the amount of obstruction and time they last. I have them listed in my signature.O,H,FL. These events is what your Cpap is trying to stop. They are all apnea.
Apnea (80-100%) 10 seconds, Hypopnea (50-80%) 10 seconds, Flow Limits (0-50%) not timed  Cervical Collar - Dealing w DME - Chart Organizing
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#9
RE: Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
(05-03-2023, 11:13 PM)staceyburke Wrote: Apnea are broken down by the amount of obstruction and time they last. I have them listed in my signature.O,H,FL. These events is what your Cpap is trying to stop. They are all apnea.

Ok thanks for the info

I set the max to 9 so I have a range from 8-9

The Aerophagia has increased.

I guess I'll just stick with 8 for now.
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#10
RE: Started CPAP three weeks ago and there is NO improvement in my sleep or how I feel
The EPR will help. Set to FULL TIME. EPR 3
Apnea (80-100%) 10 seconds, Hypopnea (50-80%) 10 seconds, Flow Limits (0-50%) not timed  Cervical Collar - Dealing w DME - Chart Organizing
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