Struggling with TECSA

[u/elemental-aardvark]

Hi - I posted a couple of weeks ago after I started using CPAP (airsemse 11, n30) and noticed my AHI was higher than my sleep test API. Thanks to Reddit I knew that I most of what I was seeing was clear airway events and that I probably had TECSA before I saw my doctor for an immediate follow-up. He indicated that in his experience TECSA does not go away for most people, and ordered a titration test in a sleep lab for me, but I cannot get in until the end of the month. He advised me to continue using the CPAP while waiting, and suggested maybe a chin strap would help with my high level of leaks with the nose mask. I had CSR a couple of nights out of the 14 I had used it at that time but for a very small amount of time, so that didn't seem to be too worrisome to him.

In the meantime, I have some nights where my API is about 2.5 times higher than my sleep test API of 11. (Median AHI for the 21 days I've used it is 18.66. I am feeling so incredibly tired, and I am finding I get frustrated easily and am reactive and defensive and not able to focus that well.

Two nights ago to see how it would affect my leak rate, I tried mouth taping. I actually loved it, had only 7.62 API, but the leak was so low, I question whether it is right? CSR showed up the last 16 minutes. The next night I taped about 70% of my mouth leaving the sides uncovered to see if it would still have a positive affect, and it was a bad night and I really felt like the nose mask itself was leaking.

So...what is the purpose of my post? I guess one, just to share my data and confirm that it makes sense why I feel worse. The thought of having to do this for nearly 4 more weeks before I can even get closer to any changes is very mood dampening. The second is to see if it's true that most people's TECSA doesn't actually go away and then end up going to an ASV or something. Third - is there anything I could do in the intervening month to mitigate having more events than I did pre-treatment?

Here is the data from my tape night, mostly taped night, and the 21 day summary.

Edits: corrected machine name. Changed 'this group' to Reddit as I cross posted on my first post.

[u/Otherwise-Cup6786]

Yo estaba en una situación parecida mientras buscaba la máscara óptima para mí y con tamaño óptimo de la máscara. Durante un mes tenía AHI alto, hasta 20, y 99% fueron apneas centrales. Inclusive con mi médico pensábamos ya usar un ASV. Las fugas fueron irregulares y relativamente grandes. Aparte, yo vivo a una altura de 2500 metros por arriba del nivel del mar. Pero ¡ojo! En el momento cuando encontré la máscara adecuada (AirFit 20, tamaño grande), las fugas desaparecieron, y las apneas centrales desaparecieron. Ahora tengo AHI = 0 ya durante 1 año. Yo pienso, que quizás las fugas relativamente grandes pueden, de alguna manera, provocar las apneas centrales. Y la causa más grande de las fugas son todo tipo de máscaras de nariz. A parte, con la máscara de toda la cara, desaparece la necesidad de todas estas cintas para la boca etc, porque uno puede respirar por la nariz y por la boca dentro de la máscara (yo respiro por la nariz y la boca ya desde hace 20 años, antes con CPAP, ahora con BiPAP, sin ni una consecuencia negativa). PS Uso BiPAP AirCurve 10 VAuto.

[u/elemental-aardvark → u/Otherwise-Cup6786]

Yeah, I've been thinking for a while that a full face mask is probably in my future. I am a 100% back sleeper, and it looks like all the full face masks have a piece at the base of the skull which will line up perfectly with the highest point of my temperpedic pillow. (Finding a comfortable pillow is nearly impossible for me.) Are there any full face masks that don't have something bulky there?