DanM

I agree with wiredgeorge. It is important to talk to your doctor about your symptoms. If you are concerned that you have sleep apnea, then asking your doctor about ordering a sleep study can certainly be part of the conversation. I do encourage you to see your physician as soon as possible to discuss the chest pain, as there might be other things that need more immediate attention. Best wishes, and please keep us posted on your progress!

Hello DynamicMaroonPenguin1961. Overall and based strictly on the information you have provided, your CPAP data looks pretty good. It is not terribly uncommon for patients to have some central apnea events when starting CPAP, and those often resolve as your body and breathing adjust to the treatment. These types of events can also occur after brief arousals from sleep with sleep onset. Hopefully, your sleep time and ability to remain asleep will continue to improve with treatment as well. Your AHI appears to average 6.51, and the goal is usually to get that below 5. I encourage you to continue to monitor your data for a couple of more weeks to see if things improve. If not, show the information to your physician and discuss whether there need to be adjustments to your treatment. Keep up the good work, and best wishes!

Hi AnnR. Thanks again for sharing your story. I commented on your other post, but this one really gives quite a picture of your journey. The hope is that more physicians will become educated about sleep apnea and start integrating sleep screening into their practice. We also hope more patients find this site and know to start asking their physicians questions about their sleep problems. We often hear stories from people who share that it took years for them to even be asked about their sleep. Congratulations on your treatment and getting your health back!

Hi AnnR. Great to hear that you persisted with treatment and are feeling improvements! Thanks for sharing your story!

Hi Aimeetx. The machine is able to sense whether you are wearing the mask properly because it senses your breathing. You can do either if you take the mask off during the night. I tend to leave my machine on and just put the mask back on and go back to sleep. If you stop the machine for a few minutes and then restart it, the software will still record your use correctly. Some people turn the machine off and then restart it because, if the machine is set to ramp from a lower pressure, they find it more comfortable to start from that lower pressure. Bottom line is that you can do whatever is most comfortable for you! Hope this helps!

Hi ChuckD. I was just reading your response to wiredgeorge. As mentioned above, adjusting to treatment and getting your sleep back to normal may take some time. How are you feeling these days? Your wife's observations are good in that the snoring is under control, but I do hope you start feeling more rested!

Hi VersatilePinkIbis1679. Fatigue can certainly contribute to darkness under the eyes, so getting more rest and quality sleep may help. However, there are many things that can contribute. Genetics, allergies and thinning skin that occurs as we age can all play a part. There are also other things that can contribute, so consulting your physician may help you get some answers. Please keep us posted on your results, and do come back and ask questions if have them!

Hi Verne7. No need to apologize! The experience of receiving proper treatment for sleep disorders can be frustrating, and I fully understand your point of view. I do agree that providers should spend more time with patients when dispensing equipment so that the patient can wear the device during setup, make sure they feel comfortable and are getting enough air, and have plenty of time to ask questions. My comment about working with patients over the years was meant to apply to several treatment types. CPAP, APAP and BiPAP can all be set to start at various pressure levels, but the most common are the 4 and 5 cm I mentioned. It certainly does not mean that is enough pressure for every patient, as it was not enough for me. Part of the reason MyApnea.Org exists is to give voice to patients like you and to hopefully learn about things we need to spend more time researching to help improve the treatment experience. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, Ashingi. I have seen posts here on the Forum and other places mentioning various mouth guards. I think a key thing would be to make sure whatever you try will not cause any dental changes (spacing between teeth or other issues). Best wishes, and please keep us posted!

Hello, Ashingi. If you are having issues with discomfort when you close your mouth, it may be good to find a dentist in your area who also practices sleep medicine. Chin straps can often help and tend to work better for people with minor mouth-breathing issues. For people who are chronic mouth breathers due to nasal obstruction or who just cannot keep their mouth closed while on treatment, a full face mask is often more comfortable and a better option. Humidified air can enter through either the nose or mouth with a full face mask. A dentist who also practices sleep medicine can help determine whether an oral device will help with your specific situation. Best wishes, and please keep us posted on your progress!