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I was diagnosed with severe OSA in November and I have been using a Philips Respironics CPAP machine and full face mask from early December up to now (about 5 months). My HPI's went down from 44 to about  14 in about 10 weeks and I was feeling much less physically and mentally tired. At my last visit to the Sleep Clinic, about 3 weeks ago, my max pressure was reduced from 20cm to 16cm as this was the average highest pressure recorded on my data. This also reduced the instances of my mask blowing off. However, for the last few weeks my physical fatigue and mental fogginess have returned. I feel absolutely exhausted and at the end of my tether. Has anyone else experienced this?

I know it takes time to feel the full advantages of cpap therapy but I am going backwards. I am trying to get an appointment with my sleep clinic to see if reducing the max pressure of my machine has caused this downward turn. I think I could still be apnoeating at 16cm pressure. I am also waking up with rapid heat beating which had virtually disappeared once I started treatment

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They have reduced it to far.  The max was 16, they should have left the machine at 18 if it is an APAP (automatic pressure) if it is a CPAP you have now same applies.  However, it might not be quite that straight forward as that as the pressure you are now at could be causing other types of Apnoea.

If you know how I would be tempted to put the pressure up slightly, maybe .5 or 1 and see what a week brings.

If you don't want to mess around and it is an NHS machine, contact your clinic and tell them you are feeling tired again.

They should look at your data if the machine has a data card and adjust the machine to suit your needs better.

Sometimes at the start of treatment people can have Central Apnoeas but these usually clear up after a while.

Also, if you have EPR on, try reducing it a bit, the lower the number you can tolerate the better.

Let us know how you get on.

Sorry to hear after a good start you've taken a step backwards, and it could well be due to the reduction in pressure.  Our charity don't recommend adjusting pressures or given medical advice, but you're right to contact your hospital who will probably re-adjust the pressure.  Waking up with the fast heartbeat is a big clue that the current pressure isn't treating you as well as before.  We can all have hiccups along the way and I'm sure you'll get this sorted  soon.  Good luck....

Thanks for that Kath. I am due to see the sleep clinic next week. Hopefully they will re-adjust the pressure. I will keep you informed.

John

Thanks for your advice. I really appreciate your help.

I wasn't aware that there different types of apnoeas.

I will be seeing the sleep nurse next week. I will keep you informed.

John
 
Sleep2snore said:

They have reduced it to far.  The max was 16, they should have left the machine at 18 if it is an APAP (automatic pressure) if it is a CPAP you have now same applies.  However, it might not be quite that straight forward as that as the pressure you are now at could be causing other types of Apnoea.

If you know how I would be tempted to put the pressure up slightly, maybe .5 or 1 and see what a week brings.

If you don't want to mess around and it is an NHS machine, contact your clinic and tell them you are feeling tired again.

They should look at your data if the machine has a data card and adjust the machine to suit your needs better.

Sometimes at the start of treatment people can have Central Apnoeas but these usually clear up after a while.

Also, if you have EPR on, try reducing it a bit, the lower the number you can tolerate the better.

Let us know how you get on.

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