When I had my sleep test in April of '08 my AHI was 5.  I barely qualified for cpap.  My daytime sleepiness had taken over my life and I jumped at the chance to try the machine.  My first two checkups were fine.  The doc increased my pressure once.  I did not know about checking my numbers then so have no idea what my AHI was.  I foolishly changed doctors and was found to have an AHI of 25 this was about 18 months from diagnosis.  Nothing the doctor did lowered my AHI- I changed to a Bilevel machine and them to a machine that would reach a pressure of 30.  That high pressure blew the mask off my face and the lowest or highest that would work was 27.  Still no improvement. I had another sleep test where they could not titrate me to reduce apneas.  I changed back to my old doctor and had another sleep test.  He told me I had no apneas at 4/8.  I went home ecstatic and hopefully began checking my numbers.  No improvement.  Seems my best nights come in the sleep lab.  We finally got the AHI down from 25 to a six month average of 18. I was still having daytime sleepiness and had a lingering depression resistant to meds- I hoped I could do better. I asked to trial an ASV machine in the lab- it worked and I began to have the best numbers ever, even reaching an AHI of four at times. but mainly from 4-8, a great improvement.  The latest jump in AHI coincides exactly with a change from a sedating tricyclic antidepressant to a more energizing med.  I also had been experimenting with my settings and have put them back to my prescription this morning.

There is another complicating matter.  When first diagnosed I had been sick and was 115 lbs., a bit underweight.  Since then my weight has fluctuated to a high of 187.5 down to my present 171.5.  I am trying to follow a whole foods diet recommended by ZolliStar, but have a weakness for sweets and I know it's a copout, but one of my meds causes increased appetite.  That's the med I just changed.  I will keep working on the weight loss with the whole foods  eating regimen and keep increasing my walk with my dog now that I have more energy.

I can truly say CPAP has never become boring or routine for very long.  I am glad I haven't had to work through all of this.  I got very sick in 2005 and had to go on disability.  I still cannot work.  Not having to get up in the morning has certainly made all of this easier to deal with.  If I was tired, which happened frequently I could sack out for a bit.

OH, my leaks with the Wisp have resolved.  After this mask is worn out I plan to bring out the Pilario.  I have never used nasal pillows before and I like the feel of the mask so I look forward to the switch.

My roommate and I used two of my old total face masks as part of a Halloween costume this year.  I wish all of my mask bits and pieces could be recycled so easily!