[CPAP] OSCAR Data

[richardb123]

Hello,

I'm trying to fine-tune my CPAP machine as I haven't been getting much help from my doctor. I'm including screenshots from last night's sleep and I've been feeling really tired overall. I'm hoping that someone can help me with the settings of my machine to determine best steps forward. I am using the Evora full face mask and also a chin strap. I've been debating trying to switch to using tape to cover my mouth, but waned to see if any of the information from my OSCAR data could help if there are any settings that I need to change. 

Thank you for the help! I've really been struggling to feel fully rested for quite a while. 

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[staceyburke]

Two things I that would help.  First you need to set the EPR to Full time, set EPR 3.  The second is you have a few positional apnea.  You can see positional apnea where either H or Oa events are clustered together.  Getting rid of as many as you can will lower your AHI.  Positional apnea can NOT be controlled by pressure changes.  You have to find out what position you are getting into and cutting off your own airway.  Have you changed your sleep position?  Sleeping on your back?  Using more (or new) pillows?  These things can cause positional apnea by chin dropping to your sternum and cutting your airway.  Think of it of a kinked hose – nothing can get through – you have to unkink the hose…

[richardb123]

Thank you for your response staceyburke. Sorry for my delay in response. I checked the settings for EPR to full time and EPR 3 and both looked like they were already at that setting. Is there any other setting I need to adjust? Does it show in Oscar that those settings aren't in fact set to full time and EPR 3? Thank you.

Regarding the positional apnea, I've been racking my brain trying to figure this one out. I tend to try to fall asleep on my back as I had heard that that is best when wearing CPAP. I also have some should problems that prevent me from sleep on my side for too long, but that is my preference. I could very well be tucking my chin at night, is there any way to prevent that?

I was hoping you could provide insight as to how to possibly stop the positional apnea and if you could review my data from last night as well. 


Thank you for your help!
 
Richard

[staceyburke]

IF you can’t make a simple change like changing to a flatter pillow helps then you will need a collar.  I have a link to collars in my signature at the bottom of the page.  It shows people who are not wearing a collar and the SAME person wearing a collar.  There is a huge difference between the two.

You have the min set to 4 and that is as low as it can go.  Because of this your EPR is not doing much.  Raise the min to 7 and the EPR will work for you.  Exhale is the min if no EPR.   Exhale is the min - EPR when EPR is set.

min 7 EPR 3= exhale 4 Lowest a cpap can go
min 4 EPR 3= exhale 4 Lowest a cpap can go.  so at this setting the EPR is doing nothing.

[richardb123]

Thanks again for your response. 

I've adjusted my minimum pressure to 7 instead of 4. 

Based on these results, is it still advisable for me to get a cervical collar? I currently am using a chin strap as I'm a mouth-breather. I've been debating switching from the Evora and using only nose pillows such as a P30i and using mouth tape. I'm assuming this wouldn't address my events that I'm having? The AHI I currently have doesn't seem to be super high, so I'm guessing that my current setup is working fairly well and why the cervical collar could help?


Any insights are appreciated!

[richardb123]

Just following up, thank you

[Phaleronic]

Hello richardb123,

Your chart is alright, but EPR at 3 fulltime is still limiting apnea/hypopnea control with your minimum pressure at 7cm, and I believe that those leak spikes are related to your mask being moved (or opening your mouth) because the pressure is inappropriate for your therapy, so please turn EPR down to 1 for tonight, and make sure ramp is off. I'd like you to move to no EPR but this is the first step to getting there. Can you please also verify that ramp is off?

Also, I've tried to use a chin strap and nasal pillows/nasal mask but I could not and have to move to full face-and I can't tape because of a mustache. I think you should try a full face asap. The airfit F20, the F&P vitera, or the F40 are all great but you'll have to experiment.

[richardb123]

Hello thank you for your response! 

I appreciate your help, I switched settings to EPR 1 and Ramp Off. I've slept with these updated settings for 2 nights and feel MUCH better, the best that I can remember in a long time. Should I go ahead and turn EPR off?

My current setup is using a chin strap and an Evora mask which is a full face mask. I was debating switching to nose pillows and mouth tape, but not sure I need to at this point based on the past couple nights. 

Any other insights or suggestions you can provide are appreciated! 


Richard

[richardb123]

Just bumping this again

[richardb123]

Hello just wanted to follow up again. Should I turn EPR off? Thank you