centrals after starting cpap
So, I started cpap a week ago. My AHI was 6 before I started and has been in the 3 range since, which is theoretically OK, but of course I want it lower. My question here, though, is about the ratio of central events to obstructive ones. In the week since I started I have had 95 centrals and 32 obstructive. I know that there is a probability of increased centrals at the beginning of therapy, but does that seem like a normal amount?
Thanks for the assistance!
RE: centrals after starting cpap
Hi Leemax,
If you have #SleepyHead set up, take a couple screenshots and post here. It would make more sense if we could see your data.
See the tutorials at the bottom of my post. Thanks.
03-01-2017, 02:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-01-2017, 02:02 PM by Sleeprider.)
RE: centrals after starting cpap
Sounds like your treatment is going okay, and I wouldn't worry too much about CA at that level. Probably some room for improvement. Your pressure is in a wide range from 5-15. Are you using EPR? What is your average and 90% pressure. Is there a pressure that seems to correlate with more events? Those are the kinds of questions we can look at and use to solve the problem if you post some sleepyhead screenshots.
My signature describes how to organize and post the charts as a linked image.
RE: centrals after starting cpap
It is next to impossible to speculate without more detailed data. However, you cannot simply use a cumulative total of events as a guideline because each night is simply a snapshot of your performance at that point in time. One bad night (with many centrals) may leave a poor overall impression that is misleading in terms of the effectiveness of your therapy -- especially when just starting out and getting used to the mask.
Sleeprider is correct: more data, especially pressure and flow data, is needed for a more informed analysis.
Just a thought. I appear to hold my breath when I turn over which shows as a central. I have also encountered spurious events at the beginning and end of a session -- known as sleep-wake junk.
Best of luck on finding the magic combination of mask, pressures, and positions to generate more restful tomorrows.
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
