[CPAP] Help interpreting OSCAR data

[rtpaige03]

   
So I have been using cPAP since 2019 but only using the myAir app to track data.  I was using a full face mask, but I have recently lost 56 pounds and was starting to feel like I was having trouble with my mask fitting properly. I was waking up with puffy eyes from air blowing into them.  I was already in the smallest size.  So I switched to the ResMed n30.  I use a chin strap and mouth tape with this.  I have noticed that my AHI have gone up even though my scores in myAir are still 95-100.  I cannot get another appointment with sleep medicine for months, so I decided to put an SD card into my machine and download OSCAR.  From looking at only two days of data I'm shocked to see my apneas are not obstructive but clear airway apnea.  Otherwise I don't understand what I am looking at or how to improve my AHI.  Can anyone help me make heads or tails of this?

[Deborah K.]

Your starting pressure is far too low for you.  I suggest you change it to 8.6 or 9.0.  I think you will do better that way. Also, raise your high pressure to 15.

Another good change would be to turn on EPR full time, set at 3.  This will make your breathing more comfortable and lower flow limits, which are short, unreported apneas.  We want to get them as low as we can.

You also show just a little positional apnea.  This is when you sleep with your chin tucked toward your chest.  You might like to try a flatter pillow.  That might be enough for you to solve it.  This would lower your AHI a little.

[rtpaige03]

            Thank you for the suggestions.  I had read about chin tucking and do know that when I sleep on my side, I curl into a fetal position.  So I tried a neck collar that I saw recommended on here the past few nights.  I saw looking at just myAir data that my AHI was down.  After looking at your recommendation,  I did not change my pressures on the machine, but I did turn on EPR.  I wanted to see what happened with a few changes at a time so I could home in on what worked in case I found a change uncomfortable.  So I would know whether to keep trying to acclimate to it or not.  I also did not mouth tape.  I noticed that if it wasn't for one particular time period last night, my score would have been superb.  I think this MAY have been when I was stomach sleeping but not 100%.  I feel like the EPR has been a game changer.  I also did not wake up with a distended stomach or burping from aerophagia.

[Deborah K.]

Adding the EPR at 3 seems to have made a wonderful change. Stay with your present settings for now and post another Oscar or two, telling us how you feel.