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CPAP helps but not in the ways I was hoping for...
I have OSA on the borderline of mild/moderate. I have
been having issues since I was a teenager (29F now)
with feeling tired and fatigued even after 8+ hours
of sleep. The main issues I was and still am looking
to correct are feeling like T got restorative sleep and
not fighting dozing off when physically idle (watching
movies, driving, meetings, etc) which is very hard to do. I also feel this is giving me ADHD symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness, feeling slow/delayed. I had my tonsils out 6 years ago as well. Is there any other treatment for this? I would like to feel better but also have worries about the longterm affects of this
before having tonsils removed I was snoring
very loudly and gasping for air. I no longer snore, not sure if I ever gasp for air. Also I almost never have dreams and/or remember them. I just feel there is something more to this. My mother struggles with the same thing but much worse. I can and always do fall asleep almost instantly when 1 lay down for bed and don't wake up until my morning alarm goes off.
I have brought this up to the sleep doctor and she said that it is normal/common to get sleepy when idle and there's nothing that will help that. I'm not sure how much I buy that.....
Are you presently using your pap machine? If so, it would help if you would download Oscar, a free reporting service invented by some of the folks on this forum, that gives a detailed report of each night's sleep. You need an SD card in your machine each night before sleeping. If your machine does not contain one you can buy a cheap one at Walmart or loads of other places with 2-32 GB, but no more. 32GB was the smallest I could find when I needed a new one. If you post a report online, folks here will be more able to help you.
P.S. There is no such machine as a Philips AirSense 10. You probably have a ResMed AirSense 10. Is that correct?
Yes that is correct! I have been using it about a year and a half now and am still currently using it. It does have an SD card in it. I will see if I can get that report! Thank you
04-05-2024, 07:10 AM (This post was last modified: 04-05-2024, 07:16 AM by SarcasticDave94.
Edit Reason: Typo typo typo
)
RE: CPAP helps but not in the ways I'd hoped
For reference, the info in chart 2 is going to be the main info graphs as I recall we'll need to see. You can pin flow rate to the second from the top spot if you like in OSCAR.
Events, flow rate, pressure, leaks, and the one just at the bottom edge called flow limits, those 5 are most used for most circumstances. To get all 5 to fit, there's horizontal division bars between those chart segments, you can click on those individual bars then drag up or down to resize until all 5 fit.
On to CPAP setup and your therapy itself. What I'll suggest requires you to edit the CPAP pressures. You are allowed to do so. In case you're not familiar, on the AutoSet click and hold both Home and the Dial in together for about 5 seconds. Your display will enter clinical menu mode. You'll see things like mode, pressure, EPR, etc.
A suggestion to edit the following then I'll explain briefly why. I would try for now, for now because further edits may be needed to fine tune, increase Min pressure by 1 to 6. Then I would add a new trick, EPR of 2 at full time.
Edits to settings, within this clinical menu, scroll with Dial to area to edit, click the setting, scroll to edit, click again to lock. Repeat for the other edit needs, then scroll to whatever the exit menu is called to return to patient area.
Why this edit? Your blue obstructive events indicated pressure should go up slightly. And the increase of 1 to min allows EPR room to work.
EPR is Exhale Pressure Relief meaning the CPAP uses the pressure settings and EPR number setting equals the amount of pressure drop on an exhale. EPR is both comfort, but the hidden benefit of making your AutoSet CPAP behave like the more expensive BPAP.
Pressure and EPR to make EPR function fully are the following, (due to physical pressure limit on the AutoSet which can't go below 4 cmH2O):
Pressure Min 5 EPR 1
Pressure Min 6 EPR 2
Pressure Min 7 EPR 3
Math, pressure Min minus EPR number equals 4 that physical minimum. Min pressure above those combos will be fine too.
On the CA, clear airway, or otherwise Central Apnea, I'm guessing you've started CPAP therapy fairly recent. Everybody has a certain amount of these CA, but starting CPAP can make them increase a bit for a time period of about 3 months. Did you view your sleep study? Were CA present then? You can get that detailed study report for your personal record, and if you choose to post it redacted of personal info, we can help decipher it too.
Last thing, the edits may or may not affect those CA. For most users, this isn't a big deal, but if it affects you negatively, mention it and there's other possible edits available too.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
It shows CA's in a range of 6-33 events (averaging typically 8-15) each night. I did not get a copy of my report when I had my sleep study. I can certainly ask for it though.
Your chart data doesn't seem to match the info on the side panel with your avatar. You have a Resmed, yes, and not a Philips? It really helps when you fill all that stuff in under your account, so we know what exact machine, pressures, etc. wherever you post a comment.
Yes, that was mentioned in previous comments. I am not sure how to change that. I've tried fixturing it out multiple times and don't see anywhere to edit that info.
