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+--- Thread: Advice appreciated (/Thread-Advice-appreciated)
Advice appreciated - martyedb - 11-03-2020
Not new to bi level cpap therapy...but on my way, slowly, to empowerment. please advise on adjustments to make. Thank you. Marty
RE: Advice appreciated - SarcasticDave94 - 11-03-2020
Welcome to Apnea Board.
I'm going to have Moderators move this to the main forum. It's going to be better to attract attention in the correct advice forum.
I think what the issue is, is going to be positional apnea. This is signified by the clusters of apnea your chart presents. Look at the wiki about the issue and the remedy suggested called soft cervical collar.
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php/Optimizing_therapy#Positional_Apnea
RE: Advice appreciated - Gideon - 11-03-2020
Welcome to AB.
You have an issue with tucking your chin. This is evidenced by the clusters of obstructive events. They are in all of your charts but were minimal on 1 Nov. The solution is literally an overnight one, that is to get a Soft Cervical Collar, see the link in my signature.
Also, this subforum is for software or equipment help, therapy questions should be in the main forum. Don't worry about it. I'm going to have a moderator move this thread to that forum and they will provide you a link to it.
RE: Advice appreciated - martyedb - 11-03-2020
Thank you, both of you. I am sleeping with two tennis balls in a sock attached to the back of my sleep shirt, which seemed to help a lot! and I was trying to sleep on my back. I will fix up a soft cervical collar. the one at my drugstore looked very wide. and thank you for moving this to the proper part of the forum.
RE: Advice appreciated - SarcasticDave94 - 11-03-2020
You're welcome. The wiki mentions some collar names and designs. It seems the Releaf and Corflex tend to work well, but unfortunately it's trial and error for these collars, specifically on particular designs being right for you as an individual. Walgreens and probably other pharmacy stores may have some sort of collar for about $20 if you want something right away. Just pay attention to size, as you need it to fit so as the chin can't get behind it but it's not to be restrictively tight as in the normal collar purpose. Once you find the right one for you, I think the chart and your therapy will be drastically better.
RE: Advice appreciated - martyedb - 11-03-2020
I have improvised a soft cervical collar for tonight. my velcro is missing so I will try it with safety pins. I have read some information on positional therapy, which motivated me to try the tennis ball in sock safety-pinned to my back. Even one tennis ball improved my chart. Two tennis balls may be helping better. I am learning that sleep apnea is like other chronic things, that the therapy works better when using a combination of treatments--AKA when the treatment is multi-faceted.
Thank you for the encouragement.
RE: Advice appreciated - Karlin - 11-03-2020
(11-03-2020, 08:09 PM)martyedb Wrote: I am learning that sleep apnea is like other chronic things, that the therapy works better when using a combination of treatments--AKA when the treatment is multi-faceted.
What I have learned is that sleep apnea treatment takes a lot of work and trial and error to find what works best for you. I have had numerous ups and downs over several years and have had to work through various problems. So keep working with the collar and with luck you will find something that works.
RE: Advice appreciated - martyedb - 11-03-2020
Thank you , for encouragement. I just asked for help today and already have something specific to try tonight. And immeasurable encouragement. Thank you, Everyone!
RE: Advice appreciated - jaswilliams - 11-04-2020
Good luck let us know how it goes even to rant and complain we may still be able to help
RE: Advice appreciated - Sleeprider - 11-04-2020
Read our wiki article on Positional Apnea in the Optimizing Therapy wiki http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php/Optimizing_therapy#Positional_Apnea While sleeping on your back may increase the problem, we have found that the main problem is actually the chin tucking. Once you find a soft collar that works, try ditching the tennis balls and see if you really need them.