Another NewB getting frustrated

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
wallanbrewer
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Re: Another NewB getting frustrated

Post by wallanbrewer » Sat Apr 21, 2018 3:36 pm

Try to stay on my right or left side. I prop pillows on either side to keep me from going completely to my back. But as you said, hard to stop yourself from doing that when your sleeping.
I do not have a problem with pressure of 10 so will try to up min pressure to 10 while erp remains at 3 and see where it takes me the next few nights. Again, I apreciate the feedback.

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wallanbrewer
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Re: Another NewB getting frustrated

Post by wallanbrewer » Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:19 am

Change minimum pressure to 10, Ramp 5min/start @ 9. Second night with new N20 mask. Believe your analasys about being on my back is spot on. I made a solid effort to stay on my sides leaning more toward my stomack in hope of not rolling back to my back and things sure do seem to have improved considerably. Although I do continue to wake during night. When awoke around 4 I did find myself on my back and again when a awoke at 8am. Use of 8 hrs is much higher than I have in past three weeks. In my view - all above are good signs? A small amount of condensation in N20 but no no rainout in
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heated tube. Thinking setting tube temp lower may help that issue because air did feel warmer than needed. Suggestions. Snapshot included.

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Pugsy
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Re: Another NewB getting frustrated

Post by Pugsy » Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:50 am

As long as any small amounts of moisture in the mask don't cause sleep disturbances...doesn't hurt a thing.
If it gets to be too much it makes a lot of racket and then will likely disturb your sleep and bed partner's as well.
I often wake up with a small amount in my nasal pillows but as long as the moisture isn't causing the wake up or making a lot noise...I don't care. Hurts nothing.

Staying off one's back is easier said than done as you have found out.
Trying stuff to keep a person off their back....like the tennis ball trick....I always have felt that made my sleep worse from the discomfort of the whatever than just maybe letting the machine sort it out. My sleep is fragile enough without adding even more discomfort.
Now what I did experiment with to help me stay on my side (was a month long experiment to see if my pressure needs changed only from sleeping position) was use a buckwheat hull pillow placed up against my back when on my side so that if I did roll backwards a bit the pillow would keep me from going to flat on my back and the pillow itself was comfortable against my back so pain didn't wake me up.
I learned that my pressure changes happened regardless of my sleeping position because REM stage sleep was where I saw the greatest changes no matter if on my back or my side. I used the buckwheat hull pillow because it stayed in place better than a regular pillow.
The weight kept it from sliding out from under me.

I would be happy with your last night's report if it were me except for the wake ups.
And wake ups where we go right back to sleep are preferable to the ones where we can't go back to sleep.
It's common to have an occasional wake up and to expect to have a "lights out and close eyes and not wake up until time to get up" experience is rare. It's normal to wake after REM stage sleep..normally we don't remember it because we go right back to sleep but sometimes we do remember those brief wake ups.
So we want to keep the wake ups to a minimum and have realistic expectations at the same time.

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wallanbrewer
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Location: Maryland

Re: Another NewB getting frustrated

Post by wallanbrewer » Sun Apr 22, 2018 9:49 am

Estatic about last night results and overall sleep!! Actually was surprised that it was 8am when I awoke for the last time.
The wake-ups where brief. Basically got up to take break from mask being on my face, took brief walk - 5 min around house. Got back in bed, started machine and was asleep fairly quickly.
Yeah doing exactly as you describe with big puffy Serta pillow against my back and long comfortable body pillow in front as one may use a security blacket. :) It worked for the most part. But as you say, hard to completely stop from rolling to your back.
Condensation only a little annoying. No noise, just mild sensation around the nose creating an itch which I am not use to as of yet. Wiped out with paper towel during those moments when awake and again went back to sleep. Average temp in bedroom is around 70 - 75 so I may play with temp setting just to see what it does. Although in time, I am sure I will adjust.
Curious as to if decreasing erp to 1, 2 of maybe even off would enhance the positive statistics. I believe the pressure is where it needs to be and is not any where close to being overbearing. At times when I awake, I can't tell if the machine is even on. Have to push home button to ensure it is still delivering pressure and machine hadn't turned itself off for some reason. Thanks Pugsy, words do not describe how much I appreciate your help thus far.

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wallanbrewer
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Re: Another NewB getting frustrated

Post by wallanbrewer » Wed Apr 25, 2018 10:33 am

Starting to see more Clear Airway than anything else. Is that a concern
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Re: Another NewB getting frustrated

Post by Pugsy » Wed Apr 25, 2018 10:50 am

Some of those central/Clear Airway events are likely awake/semi awake breathing flags or what we call SWJ sleep/wake/junk.
Not real. Unless you are asleep they don't count and some of the CA flags are right next to known awake times and I am betting SWJ.
But even if every single one of those centrals was the real deal you aren't having enough of them for a doctor to get worried about.
Your would need 5 or more average per hour...all night long...every night before doctors start worrying about centrals.

An occasional central is normal and real....sleep onset central or when transition from awake to sleep. Normal and not a big deal.

SWJ...not real and doesn't count if not asleep. Just some irregular breathing earning a flag by mistake. Remember the machine only senses and flags air flow related stuff. It has no idea if you are asleep or not and awake breathing irregularities can and will cause the machine to flag something that isn't real. We have to mentally remove SWJ from the AHI evaluation process.

Of more concern to me...the frequent obvious awakenings where you turned the machine off and back on again...and I am betting more awakenings than what we see here.

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Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

wallanbrewer
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2018 11:58 am
Location: Maryland

Re: Another NewB getting frustrated

Post by wallanbrewer » Wed Apr 25, 2018 10:55 am

Restless night for some reason. Trying to find a position to keep myself off my back. Not uncomfortable because of machine or mask. Just couldn't find a comfortable sleep postion on either one of my sides. Don't know what that was all about and it didn't really bother or irritate me. Maybe just to contientous to stay off my back maybe.

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Pugsy
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Re: Another NewB getting frustrated

Post by Pugsy » Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:00 am

If trying to stay off your back causes more sleep problems than it fixes then don't do it. Let the machine sort it out and maybe help it out with a little more minimum if need be.
If it was just a fluke restless bad night (and we all have them from time to time) then don't worry about it.
I would wager that the bulk of those CA flags are SWJ since you had a really restless night.

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Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

wallanbrewer
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2018 11:58 am
Location: Maryland

Re: Another NewB getting frustrated

Post by wallanbrewer » Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:27 am

I guess I need to just sleep and let things happen. Seeing recent good numbers with OA being basically Nill, may be causing me to be more over anxious and concientious looking for even better results than I need too. We are looking for under 5/hr which I am. I will work on that.

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