[CPAP] Help with CPAP settings

[bumper]

I've been using CPAP (AirSense 10) for 7 months and OSCAR just recently. Still trying to dial things in and learning (albeit slowly). Original sleep study showed 35 AHI, that's down to an average of 4 - 6 with excursions to 8 or so. I'm mostly a side sleeper but if I intentionally go to sleep on my back, I tend to stay that way. Could please use some help in understanding what's going on and appreciate any suggestions for improvement. Thanks much.


   

   

[Gideon]

Welcome to the forum

Flow Limits are driving your pressure up. Two changes then post the results.

set Min Pressure = 7, to give EPR room to work
set EPR =3, fulltime

[staceyburke]

Welcome to the board. It doesn’t look bad but I’m sure you came improve your therapy. 

The Main Thing I see are flow limits are quite high. They interrupt sleep and do not allow deep sleep. To help those you need to change 2 settings. 

Min change to 7
EPR change to 3

Those changes will help. Give it a try tonight and post again tomorrow. Concentrate on how you feel not just the AHI. In fact flow limits will not show up on AHI.

[bumper]

Thank you Gideon and staceyburke! I'll make those changes and report back.

[bumper]

The changes look to have improved things, thank you so much for the suggestions! Frankly I may not be quite as "in touch" with the the way I feel as some, and don't notice small changes, I do know I feel pretty good today though.  . My Galaxy Active 2 watch gave me a "sleep score" of 80 (which for me is astonishingly good compared to the 30 scores I had prior to CPAP). I woke up several times & went right back to sleep, so at first, didn't think I did all that well (that could have had something to do with the surprise birthday party and and cake last night). Here's last night's info:

   

Again, any pointers are much appreciated!

bumper

[staceyburke]

Things look better, I would try a min of 8 tonight. Again, your numbers look better but we look more on how you feel with the new setting.

[bumper]

Okay, got it! Up the lower pressure to 8 and report back. Thank you again!

Curious if my experience is common. Once I got my CPAP machine "on-line", a month or so later there was one follow-up visit to the sleep specialist to make Medicare happy. They said I was doing fine and there was no further involvement or settings changes until I made them. Pretty much hands off and good enough. Grateful ApneaBoard is here.

[bumper]

Here's last nights results. I woke up a few times for no reason I could figure, as on the previous night. Did not notice any mask leaks any time I was awake, though it looks like that was an issue. 

   

[staceyburke]

Take a look at the OA chart. You can see 2 times where you had large groups of grouped events. That shows positional apnea. You had a little bit previously but not raw much as laSt night.

Positional apnea is when your chin drops to your sternum and cuts off your breathing. There are no pressure changes that will help - you need to find a way to stay out of that position.

Back sleeping can make it worse or to high of a pillow. If those easy changes don’t help you may need a collar. I have a link to collars in my signature

Again, this was not present to the degree in other nights so you may just work on staying away from chinntucking.

[bumper]

Okay, wife has a collar tucked away in the closet for me to use tonight. I'll order a new one also, and I guess the plan is to leave the low pressure setting at 8 for now. Will follow up . . . thanks!!