New CPAP user needs help with central apneas

[tiredtony]

Hey everyone,

Shoutout the contributors on this website! I've learned a ton from my lurking and am excited to post my first thread.


I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea and am new to CPAP therapy. And am struggling to get my AHI down (and have energy throughout my workday). The main contributor to a high AHI is my central apneas events.

Here's some info.

-Male Mid twenties
-Nonsmoker, non-drinker
-Good sleep hygiene
-Take no medication
-Took at-home sleep test last month (Results http://www.imgur.com/a/64Eod5h -> AHI was 17.5 without therapy which were roughly half obstructive, half central apneas.).
-Also took in lab titration test last month too (Results: http://www.imgur.com/a/SNJD2Lv -> Achieved 2 AHI, on pressure settings 5 to 9, only 1 central event)
-Bought and am using Resmed Airsense 10 with N30i.

Since using my therapy, my AHI has been quite high (still high single, low double digits ) . I've been experimenting with different pressure settings as I learn new things, and try understanding my results in Oscar.

Since using oscar, I've noticed my AHI is high because of my apneas are from central events.

Here's an example of my oscar results, from last night:
http://www.imgur.com/a/GknZGAn

What am I doing wrong? How can I get my AHI and central events down?

Thanks in advance,

ps. my EPR settings have are and always have been off.

---

Ps. I uploaded screenshots of my results on imgur so you can see them. They arent linked in the text above (because forum rules) but you can copy and paste the URL. Thanks!

[SarcasticDave94]

You should be able to post your OSCAR screenshots as New Attachment.

OK I did see your test result, and yes pretty much 50/50 split on Obstructive/Central count.

A few questions:
What exact CPAP do you have? It should say in metallic lettering on the lower right front. There's 4 AirSense 10 models, CPAP, Elite, AutoSet, AutoSet For Her.
What exact settings are you using? Pressure is x? If you have EPR, it is x?

[OpalRose]

tiredtony,
I fixed your links for you.

[SarcasticDave94]

The CA flag at the end of the test results may have been SWJ, which is sleep wake junk. If true that CA was false in that you may have been moving or a breath hold while about to wake up.

No other CA that I could detect.

A possibility is your current CA may be treatment emergent Centrals and may be avoided by editing settings.

[Gideon]

I am not seeing classic treatment emergent central apnea so I'm assuming they are ideopathic. And you flow limits are a little high.

I would like to take the pressure swings out as the central are triggering when your pressure goes high.

Set min=max=7 and let's see what happens,. And address the flow limits latter if needed.

[tiredtony]

You should be able to post your OSCAR screenshots as New Attachment.

OK I did see your test result, and yes pretty much 50/50 split on Obstructive/Central count.

A few questions:
What exact CPAP do you have? It should say in metallic lettering on the lower right front. There's 4 AirSense 10 models, CPAP, Elite, AutoSet, AutoSet For Her.
What exact settings are you using? Pressure is x? If you have EPR, it is x?

Thanks for all of the comments, everyone! Very much appreciated.

@SarcasticDave94, I have the Airsense 10 Autoset. My pressure settings are min 5.0 - max 9.0. And EPR is off.

@Gideon, Thanks for taking a look & the suggestion. I will try setting min and max to 7 and report back.

[SarcasticDave94]

OK copy let's see what the pressure edit does.

[ubersteiny]

Good luck in your journey, I'm in a similar situation as yours.

[tiredtony]

Hey yall,

So I updated my settings to:

6.0 - 7.0 pressure.

It seemed to work for a few nights, where my AHI was high single digits, but it's back to the teens again. No additional changes were made.

Aug 31 oscar results:
imgur.com/a/6XJBkqv

Sept 1 results:
imgur.com/a/1NI2Bu0

Mostly central events, still.

Any ideas on how to improve this AHI? ?

[Gideon]

Yes, get an ASV

Compl;ain to your doc that your CPAP is not working and get a same day appt to talk with him and resolve.

You NEED an ASV