I would like to understand your comments re. CFlex/EPR better. I have been using CFlex+ setting of 2 and have never tried anything else.
I had a sleep test about 5 years ago and was diagnosed with mixed sleep apnea, about an AHI of 50. Between my sleep doc, respiratory therapist and equipment provider I got almost no useful assistance in sorting out masks, pressures and machines. I had zero confidence in my "sleep doctor" who was a retreaded psychologist. He had no interest in working with me so that I could optimize my pressure settings. The sleep center I used was a joke and seemed to be only interested in maximizing their insurance payments.
I did my own research online and found another forum that helped a lot.
I now have 2 auto adjusting machines, a ResMed S9 and a Respironics System One. After significant trial and error I discovered that the auto adjusting algorithms for each machine are somewhat different and I need to use different pressure settings on each machine to get good results. My AHI is now pretty consistently between 1.5 and 2.5 with almost all of the events classed as hypopnea. Typically I show 1 or none OA and 1 or 2 CA each night. I get 7.5-8 hours of sleep each night. I have gone from using a full face mask that looked like the old diving helmets to using a Respironics Dreawear nasal mask. I have gravitated to pressure settings of 5-11 (S9) and 7-11 (System One). Recently I decided to try running my machine in standard CPAP mode and after a bit of experimenting have landed on a therapy pressure of 9. My results have become more stable and slightly better (lower AHI) than in the auto mode and I feel like I wake less frequently in the middle of the night.
I am glad I went through this process because I need to understand stuff, but I am more persistent and analytically oriented than most. I would expect that most folks presented with the awful assistance I received from my sleep care providers would have given up long ago. Wow, what I would have given to have someone like sleeptech working with me.
For those that are starting out, I advise that this stuff works and the effort is worth it. Knowing what I know now I would work harder to find someone like sleeptech to help me.............even if it meant going all the way to Australia.
Good luck. I use the Biotene Gel, not the mouthwash. Also not sure what effect of age is, I am 70.
I had a similar experience with dry mouth. I solved it (with my dentists help) by getting teeth guards made (the ones typically used for bleaching) and wearing them while I sleep. I fill the guards with biotine gel before putting them on. It lasts all night and eliminates the dry mouth. Biotine has no negative health or dental effects. >
