Help with OSCAR data.

[alarsen77]

I have been using my CPAP since 2016. Not much has changed with machine settings since then. I feel like I am getting good sleep. I never really looked at the data too much. But downloaded OSCAR and was looking at the data and it looks good to me. But I really don't know what I'm looking for. So figured I'd post my last few days to see what you guys think and if there are any recommendations you have for me.

[Geer1]

I feel like I am getting good sleep. 

Data looks fine, if you were complaining about sleep quality I would give a couple ideas to try out but since you feel like you are getting good sleep you are best sticking with what you are doing.

[staceyburke]

Please remove the calendar by clicking on the triangle in the dateline. That is hiding some important information.

I can not see your EPR BUT looking as your pressures it looks like you have it set to 0 or 1.

Set your EPR to 3 FULL TIME.

That should make it easier to exhale and stop the large pressure swings.

Try when you post again to include flow limits chart.

[alarsen77]

Here is just one day with more of the graphs and the calendar hidden. I was t thinking about the extra data when I took the screenshots. 

I feel like I am getting good sleep but there are still some days that I am still a bit tired. I fight with mouth breathing I do know that. I have tried a chinstrap which seems to help a bit, but not completely. My wife said before the chinstrap the leaking sound would wake her up. 

I will change the EPR to 3. It was on 1 and full time right now. I just wasn't 100% sure if my current pressure settings were correct or should be adjusted in anyway either.

[staceyburke]

Yes that is about what I thought. I would also raise min to 8. Not much of a change

[Crimson Nape]

Since your current settings are providing a low AHI and plus you are feeling good, any modifications would be just to play.   The standard rule-of-thumb (there are always exceptions) is the EPAP pressure controls hypopneas and some OAs.  For this reason, if your current EPAP pressure is preventing hypopneas and OAs, then an increase in the lower pressure should match the same increase of the EPR setting.   Since you are at an EPR of 1, increasing it to 3 as recommended would necessitate increasing your minimum pressure by 2 cm.  Your maximum pressure is high enough that it doesn't need any change.

It's your call if you want to jack around with the settings.

[Geer1]

EPR has some therapeutic effects but is largely a comfort feature. You can get an idea of how changing EPR affects the machine operation by adjusting it while your machine is running and seeing what feels best to you. Many find higher EPR to be more comfortable but not all do.

As mentioned changing EPR and pressure by the same amount keeps EPAP (pressure that prevents airway from collapsing) the same so 7.6/1, 8.6/2 and 9.6/3 all have the same min EPAP of 6.6.

Feel free to play around with EPR settings (0-3) and min pressures ranging from 6-10. Make one change at a time and run it for multiple days. You are unlikely to see significant changes in your data so you need to base results on how you feel. This is why I originally said don't bother changing anything because you said you feel you sleep good.

Crimson "play" is a good word, you are just testing minor changes out to see if anything is actually better. If in doubt go back to what you were using before.