SirRobin

After 10 days CPAP was already better. It is just the mucus constantly build up and dried crusts or other residuals in the nose which cause to limit the airflow. I noticed that sleeping without CPAP doesn't cause me the same extreme tiredness anymore (although my number of events were always on the lower end). This part extremely surprised me, because none of the involved doctors suggested to go to the ENT (basically I went by myself) because the obstructive apnea doesn't take place in the nose but further back in your throat (therefore they never brought it up and it is not the lung's doctor specialty).

After 2 weeks I was pretty much ready again to use the CPAP daily. I only noticed that I had to switch to a bigger cushion for the mask. Maybe my perception is wrong, but I think removing the excess tissue made my nose less "stable" if a smaller cushion rests on my nose, having less tissue leading to less structural integrity. Or maybe I just had originally a cushion which was too small.

Despite my ENT saying there was enough room in the back, I think the reduction of the turbinates helps me to breathe better at night and throughout the day. The idea to reduce the turbinates came up when I reacted well to the nose spray from the ENT which they apply to you before they send down the camera through your nose. Basically the ENT told me if Otrivin for 5 days gives you relief, then a reduction of the turbinates might help me.

So I got a cauterization of my turbinates 5 days ago. In this procedure they reduce expanded bloodvessel in the noise which can cause blockage in the airflow. Lung doctor and ENT approved it and it will be beneficial for CPAP. Yet now I am after the 5th day of the provedure and when I put on the mask for the first time since then, it feels like I am suffocating. Has someone similar experience? How long did it take until you could use CPAP again?

Right now you have a fixed pressure machine or you have an auto pressure machine which does not react properly? Which model is it? You could change the clinical settings by yourself.

In my opinion, therapist in sleep clinics also only read previous data and based on their extensive experience, they might be able to find quicker the right settings. However, doing an iterative process you might find the right settings for your as well; it just takes a bit longer.

What do you have for response? What exactly is the difference in EPR level? I don't quitte understand that part. What would be an optimal tube temperature; which factors do I have to consider?

I received my Resmed 10 Autoset for Her. Accessing the clinical settings I noticed that there are many more settings than with the DreamStation. I know that the pressure is very specific to each person's needs, but I was more wondering about the other more comfort related settings.

What settings do you have and why?

I definitely hear the noises as well when I am not asleep when I exhale a little bit over the top. The noise created when exhaling feels louder than the slight whistle of the CPAP machine. I am not sure if I am doing something wrong or if nasal pillows (even XS size) are not meant for me. Or could a bigger cushion resolve the noise due to more sealing? I only go the mask with the one cushion for trial...

Actually, I am not sure if the diffuser causes the noise...

For the night I am using a chin strap which also takes care of any noise using the N20.

This is another interesting article with a focus on how insurance companies in the US track/"exploit" the data from CPAP machines, which transmit their data to the providers, where they will be shared.

https://www.propublica.org/article/you-snooze-you-lose-insurers-make-the-old-adage-literally-true

In my last weeks of my cpap trial I am testing the ResMed AirFit P10 (for Her) nose pillow. I - and my spouse during the night - noticed that this mask is definitely louder than the use of the AirFit N20 nasal mask. With the P10, it makes the sound when exhaling as if you push a lot of air through a very narrow opening. Like that shshshshs sound when you use a different adapter for your vacuum cleaner (i.e. something small to clean furniture). I don't have this issue with the N20. I was quite surprised about that, I hoped the P10 would be the best fitting and quietest mask of all...

Surprisingly, I don't feel as rested with the P10 as with the N20. I thought different masks only affect the comfort, but not the outcome of the treatment. I almost feel like as if the cushion is not blowing the air into the right space in my nose.

My therapist gave me the For Her due to my facial structures and only the XS cushion due to the space of my nostrils. Generally, which masks are the quietest?

Hi,

Currently, I am using a nasal mask on my trial mask. Although the data doesn't show significant leak and I expect the results of the pulse oximeter (which I might receive tomorrow) to be okay, I was wondering if a change of mask (i.e. to nasal pillow) could lower oxygen saturation.

I was particularly wondering if oxygen saturation could be low despite not having (significant leaks) or if low oxygen saturation would always go hand in hand with air leaks.

Sorry to hear that!