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sleepyhead

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yawningjoe58 +0 points · almost 6 years ago Original Poster

just wondering when i look at my sleepyhead what are the main points i should be looking for, so much to think about, still not sleeping well after three years on cpap thinking very hard about giving up therapy. now cant get my mask to fit either to tight or to slack full face resmed f10,if anyone is interested.

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Sierra +0 points · almost 6 years ago Sleep Patron

Hi Joe,

It would be quite a lengthy response to cover all the aspects of SleepyHead. The best way to do it would be for you to post a screenshot here, and I could make the comments specific to you and your machine. Let me know if you need help posting the screenshot.

Here is a screenshot on my results a week or so after starting with the AirSense 10 AutoSet.

What can you see on this chart? First I was using EPR full time, and that was causing pressure to run too high. And despite the pressure I was having both high numbers of central events and obstructive events. Pressure was set at a minimum of 10.4 and the max at 15 cm. The machine was running pressure all the way up to max at times. You can see where the apnea and pressure woke me up about midnight. The event breakdown showed that the majority of the AHI was due to Clear Airway events. About the only good news in this chart was that my leak rate of the mask was low.

Here is another more recently:

On this one EPR was set for Ramp Only. The pressure was nearly fixed with a minimum of 12 cm and max of 12.2 cm. I slept right through for 8.5 hours. Total AHI was low at less than 1, but Clear Airway events were still significant. I had one fairly large leak. This is a better than average chart for me though. I am now averaging about 1.7 for AHI.

This is just scratching the surface of what you can do with SleepyHead. By clicking on the events of interest you can zoom in and see what is going on in more detail.

Hope that helps a bit. It would be best if you posted a screenshot from a night that you are concerned about, and I could go into more detail.

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yawningjoe58 +0 points · almost 6 years ago Original Poster

Yes it did thank you so much for your help.

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Sierra +0 points · almost 6 years ago Sleep Patron

On the F10 mask is there a reason you are using the full face type?

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yawningjoe58 +0 points · almost 6 years ago Original Poster

The told me I'm a mouth breather.

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Sierra +0 points · almost 6 years ago Sleep Patron

I open my mouth as well. Another alternative to a full face mask is to tape your mouth. Surprisingly it is not as bad as it sounds, and I prefer it to wearing a full face mask. I just use 1" 3M Gentle Paper tape from Walmart. It costs $2.47 for a 10 yard roll. Here is a video explaining the benefits of mouth taping to ensure you breath through your nose.

How to Mouth Tape for a Better Sleep

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yawningjoe58 +0 points · almost 6 years ago Original Poster

no thanks i could not possibly do this, i watched the video but don,t believe everything you see on youtube i know lots of people do this , i will stick with my mask or maybe stop therapy i am just so stressed with this i seek help but get wrong info, i dont mean you thank you for all your help.

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Biguglygremlin +0 points · almost 6 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Hi yawningjoe58

What help are you seeking and what answers do you want/need?

I felt pretty much the way you sound a few weeks back because everything was going wrong all at once and it was just too much to cope with.

It doesn't take major stuff, just a bunch of small things, to make life unbearable.

Then I discovered a new mask that I'd forgotten that I had and, despite being the exact same mask as I was already using, it made a HUGE difference.

Enough difference that I could begin to address some of the other issues.

I use nasal pillows and am no longer keeping my mouth shut so I need new solutions.

I certainly agree with you that mouth taping is not an option. (for me at least)

I've been using my dressing gown cord (towelling) to keep my mouth shut for the past week or so while I figured out what else to do and while I wait for a chin strap to be delivered. (Not sure if that will work yet)

For me the nasal pillows leaked a lot less and also enabled me to turn the pressure down a point or two and still get the same effect so I don't want to go back to a full face mask.

It seems that for most people the mask is the most problematic and important part of the whole picture. If they can get that sorted the rest will follow.

https://myapnea.org/forum/what-is-a-reasonable-replacement-frequency-for-cpap-supplies/1#comment-23009

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yawningjoe58 +0 points · almost 6 years ago Original Poster

Thank you for your reply , most of my issues are witth my mask I got some sleep last night , tbe problem is i have to tighten my mask so tight because if i loosen it i get mayor leeks cant use nasel pilllows has to be full face how much sleep do you get i get about five hours a night 3 year on CPAP and still feel tbe same as i did without tbe damn machine

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Biguglygremlin +0 points · almost 6 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

My machine says 7 or more but that is usually in two or three sessions each day and it doesn't feel like I was really asleep for much of that time.

It's hard for me to tell because, as with most of the sleep deprived, I have acquired a wide range of associated disorders.

I don't doubt that the cursed CPAP is enabling me to survive longer because I have tried to sleep a few times over the past 4 years without it and ended up wandering about waiting for the dawn.

I think if I was going to turn this around I would have to lose 30kg and even that probably wouldn't work at this stage.

I should have started a decade ago. If I could remember where I parked that Delorean .....

If there are very severe Apnea sufferers who have successfully escaped from their CPAP machines I'd love to hear about it.

I drifted into a sleep clinic the other day checking out their chin straps and saw the latest Dreamwear masks including their full face mask and I was surprise by how compact they have become.

It's too late at night for me to check back but if you are still using an older style mask it might be worth trying a new one because I presume they seal better and perhaps even look into any seal enhancements that are available.

The slippery pillowcase that Sierra was talking about earlier is also worth the effort even though it's not macho. :(

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Sierra +0 points · almost 6 years ago Sleep Patron

I understand your concerns. I initially rejected mouth taping too, as did my wife. But, we are now both using it. There are other options to allow use of a nasal mask. One is to use a chin strap. I have about 4 of them including a home made one from a tensor bandage. Surprisingly one of the better ones I tried was from Princess Auto. They had them on a special two for about $7 or so. It helped quite a bit. I now use one called the BreatheWear Halo, which I got from SleepYeti in Calgary for $25. It is probably the best one so far.

I hesitate to make any suggestions for a full face mask. I have tried the Mirage Quattro and hated it. I then tried the AirFit F20 which is supposed to be an improvement on the F10 you have. I couldn't make it seal and be comfortable and gave up on it, and went back to the nasal pillow P10 mask and the chin strap.

There are some interesting new masks out there including the DreamWear system mask. The headgear and frame can be fitted with a full face, nasal, or nasal pillow insert without replacing the whole mask. I have a friend that uses one, and he likes it. But, I have no other experience with it.

Masks are difficult. I certainly have not found the ultimate one yet. I have mask #6, a Swift FX in the mail to me now. Perhaps it will be the perfect one!!

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Ruby +0 points · almost 6 years ago Sleep Commentator

I had to go to a full face mask and hated everyone I had. Always a leak, too tight, miserable. However, I did find one that used memory foam and that has been a lot better for me. Not as good as not using one at all but bearable.

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Sierra +0 points · almost 6 years ago Sleep Patron

I presume that is the ResMed AirTouch F20 mask?

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