First time, needing advice

[pholynyk]

Is it cheating to look at the tick marks that OSCAR puts above the events? Follow them up to the Events chart...

[00derek]

Yes I peeked...but what I'm really asking is how can you tell the difference between a OA and a CA from the flow rate chart - the plotted line itself, not the labels?

It is intuitive to me that an obstructive apnea, by definition, would cause an increase in pressure, and a clear airway apnea would not.

[Gideon]

It depends on the cause of the centrals. The most common centrals are, simple explanation, CO2 induced And are caused by the flushing out of too much CO2 from your system. This happens gradually resulting in the typical waxing waning pattern with a CA events at the nadir or low point of the pattern. Note the very slow restart to the breathing. OA events often have a recovery breath, a large breath following. Also learn that awake breathing is very irregular. Start there then ask us about a specific case as you need. Also realize that single events are mostly insignificant, it is when they occur frequently that the become an issue. In other words don't chase zero events.

[Sleeprider]

I realize I dropped a bombshell in my last post, that your needs are for ASV, and I did not offer sufficient explanation for that conclusion.  You stated your sleep test result was "severe central apnea".  Your charts show you have extended episodes of central apnea that result in an AHI from 12 to 24 events per hour in what we have seen so far.  When I said your flow charts are filled with central apnea artifacts, I meant that you fluctuate between hyperventilation and hypoventilation over long periods of time, with and without central apnea in the hypoventilation phase. Your chart showing tidal volume shows a classic central apnea / apneic threshold characteristic of periodic breathing or regularly spaced hypo/hyper ventilation.  Just look at the flow rate graph here and it hits you in the face. Also you posted the fluctuating tidal volume chart.

CPAP and bilevel therapy without a respiratory backup rate cannot treat these problems. Our wiki article on ASV may help you to understand how this device works.  It look like any other CPAP, but it works to maintain an even minute vent rate and respiration rate by using adaptive pressure support. http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...tion_(ASV)   I do not anticipate that you will ever achieve efficacious treatment with CPAP. If you doctor is clueless on how to treat central apnea, then you need to go to one that is aware of the condition and how to treat it.  Your diagnosis and results all point to a central apnea problem, not obstructive sleep apnea.  You are not being helped currently.