Can someone look at my Oscar data?

[Sleepenthusiast23]

Been on CPAP therapy since late June that has been full of ups and downs. Originally the doc set my pressure from 4-20 but moved it to 4-11. My AHI does not seem to be consistent. When I was on Trazodone, my AHI was much lower (with 4-11 pressure setting) but I got off of the traz because it was making me so tired the next day. Ever since then its a toss-up if I will get good sleep. 

Also, I have been trying various drugs, per my psychiatrist, to help with anxiety. The drugs I have taken in the past week or two include, Ativan (only 1-2 mid day), propranolol, pregabalin, and lyrica. We are trying to see what works and what doesn't. Could this play a factor in my sleep? 


I'm hoping some of you fine and experienced folks can point me in the right direction!

Cheers.

[Deborah K.]

I see a couple of things that need help.  Your pressure settings are way off.  Your doctor didn't set anything at all.  They just gave you the machine with the range of pressure allowed by the machine, including those used for small children.  Most adults need to start at 7 or 8.  I suggest that you set your range to 7-16, and see how that goes.

Turn off ramp.  You don't need it now and you get no real therapy with ramp.

Also, turn on EPR full-time, set at 3. This will help too.

You have Positional Apnea.  This shows on your chart where events are clumped together, and give you a high AHI.  Your chin is dropping toward your chest causing a kink in your airway, somewhat like a kink in a hose that hinders water flow, but it's hindering your airflow.  PA cannot be fixed with a setting.  You need to unkink the airway.  Some can solve this by sleeping on a flatter pillow, but most end up wearing a soft cervical collar.  If the right size, such a collar will hold your chin up while you sleep, resulting in a much lower AHI and better therapy. You can get cervical collars at any drugstore, or Amazon offers lots to choose from.  

As to your Trazodone, can your doctor prescribe a lower dose for you? It works well for me.

Good luck with achieving great therapy and comfort!

[Deborah K.]