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I'm not sure that I'd agree that central/complex sleep apnoea usually affects older people. That is true of obstructive sleep apnoea. There are a lot of neuro-muscular conditions which cause CSA, the suffers of which will never make it to old age. Having said that I suppose that as you get older there is more chance for something to go wrong and cause CSA. OSA is more common with age simply because all your bits get floppier as you get older, including your upper airway which makes it more likely to collapse and cause the obstruction. The conditions which cause CSA are mostly not specifically age related. So, after all that, don't feel too alone. I treat several people a week for CSA.
The menu on the AirSense 10 is pretty extensive. I just glanced at the manual, and it suggests that you will only be able to see smart start as an option if the person who set up the machine for you turned it on. So, if you can't see it, take it back to them and get them to give you access to smart start. I don't have a AirSense10 to hand to have a look for myself, but if you have problems, let me know and I can get hold of one to check it all out and give you some advice.
That all sounds pretty harmless. Interesting what you say about the ramp. I tell my patients that they may be more comfortable with or without, and that it's a personal thing, so they should try both to see which works best for them. It is all too common in the sleep industry for people to adopt a one size fit all approach rather than meeting individual needs. This also usually involves using the version of treatment which costs the most (and therefore makes the most money for someone).
If you are in the very early stage and still adjusting to using PAP therapy, it can be very helpful the wear it while watching TV or (depending upon your mask) reading a book. As you are awake this has no therapeutic benefit, it simply helps you to get used to the feeling of using your machine. And keep asking questions until you get the answers you need. There are people out there, such a myself, with a great deal of knowledge and experience in this area and who are willing to help.
What is your current mask and which others have you tried? The Amara View would certainly address your issues on the bridge of your nose, as Wiredgeorge suggests, but do you necessarily need a full face mask?
What do regard as travel size? Does it need to run form a battery? Do you need humidification?
Indeed it does. Accessible via a menu. Overall the AirSense10 is a good machine, if a little pricey.
Weight loss is the only known potential cure for obstructive sleep apnoea (not central). It doesn't work for everyone because OSA can be caused by a complex web of factors, but it can work for many. So, it is possible that your sleep lab has cured your OSA. However, you said that were on BiPAP, and this is only used in cases where obstruction is not the only problem. CPAP holds you airway open preventing obstruction whereas BiPAP actually breathes in and out with you, augmenting your respiratory effort (as well as holding your airway open). It is used for treating central sleep apnoea and various forms of respiratory failure. How well do you know the diagnosis which lead to you using BiPAP? I am not a doctor (I am a sleep tech with 16 years experience), but would suggest that you do some investigation to find out exactly what is going on. Keep asking until the answers start to make sense. There are too many people in the medical industry who can't be bothered to take the time to engage in proper education of patients.
You say that you gained confidence in "messing" with some of the settings. Exactly what changes did you make? There are some forums which support, and even recommend, potentially dangerous practices in modification of CPAP settings. I'm sure don't want your health to be at risk as a result of some dodgy advice. I'm not a doctor but I have 16 years experience in the field as a technician and am happy to give you the benefit of my knowledge.
Having blocked sinuses can make things more annoying certainly, but ultimately if that were the only problem it would eliminated as soon as you opened your mouth. Obstructive sleep apnoea (as opposed to central) is an obstruction at the back of the throat, so conditions involving your sinuses and nose are a separate problem. They can certainly interact to complicate the situation, but they are not the cause. Your nose and sinuses can also be irritated by the air from PAP treatment, which is where mask selection and humidification become important.
