OSCAR results, could someone please clarify?

[vanillagorilla]

Hi, could someone please comment on my results?

It looks to me like I am sleeping okay, but I am having a lot of mask leaks which are causing events. Although the 17th looks all kinds of messed up.
For context, in my sleep study I had no apneas and all hypopneas.

Thanks!

edit: Just had a thought that maybe the leaks are caused by me rolling onto my back. I also have a lot more events in this position according to my sleep study.

   
   
   

[Phaleronic]

Welcome to the forum vanillagorilla!

With your min pressure at 5cm and epr/softpap on 3 you're epap pressure is much too low and is likely causing you to gasp for air during sleep which in turn causes mask leaks, please raise your min pressure to 7.6cm for now. You can leave EPR where it is and try this pressure for a few nights to see how it feels.

[vanillagorilla]

@Phaleronic, hi and thanks for your reply. I will change my minimum pressure to 7.6cm and see how it goes.

[vanillagorilla]

First night of trying 7.5cm (doesn't go to 7.6). I woke up a LOT. I'm trying to figure out if I'm waking up due to leaks or I'm waking up and causing the leaks. I've attached a screenshot of my breathing changing before a leak begins (I think?). Also I have attached two screenshots comparing my breathing waveform on 4cm min and 7.5cm min. It looks like it's a more full breath on the higher pressure? 

Any input is appreciated. Thank you

   

   

[HalfAsleep]

Could you do a chart for the whole night and not a micro selection? With the exact charts and layout that are standard for the Apnea Board? That would be more helpful. Macro before micro: you're not ready for micros yet. There are big picture issues.

A settings maven will be along soon, I'll bet, to help you with settings.

In the meantime, your leaks are a significant factor, and may be interacting with your settings to create a night with troubled sleep.

People have different ideas about what position to sleep with—and this can help with leakage—but my view is: if you need to back sleep, you need to back sleep. If you side sleep, go with that. If both, do both. Don't work too hard at sleep position for the moment. Too many variables when you're new, especially, can make things really complicated IMO. Figure out other ways to deal with leaks. And, if you're rolling over and causing a leak, you can try holding the mask on your face until you finish the roll over.

Overthinking can come along with changing a lot of variables, and that can interfere with CPAP usage entirely or keep you awake. So keep things simple, especially for now.

You know how to figure out if the mask is leaking, yes? Tracing your finger around the edge of the mask, and if it hisses like fiddling with a bike valve, that's a leak spot.

At least one major possibility is that the mask doesn't fit and never will. It can take a while to come up with a mask that fits well. Maybe try a Resmed mask as your next option if the F&P doesn't work at all. You could even try a nasal mask of some type, and figure out how not to let your mouth breathe. Otherwise, I'd choose a hybrid, if you want to try a different FFM mask; IME they're less prone to leakage than an FFM that fits over the nose.

The mask may fit, but you have it too loose or too tight.

Your pillow may not accommodate side sleeping or back sleeping. For back sleeping, use the flattest pillow in your arsenal. For side sleeping, pick a pillow where the mask can hang off the edge.

Your lower lip might be dropping below the edge of the mask.

Your face may go flaccid during sleep.

The corners of your lips might be wider than the mask.



So, this takes a little analysis on your part... but we're here to help.

[Expat31]

Hi, 

My opinion is that your enemy n°1 are your leaks. I would suggest you stop these as a priority. 

Your machine sensors are working in a chaotic environment, and the algorithms are not designed to operate correctly in this way. 

We cannot be sure that your reported AHI is accurate. 

Please read through the mask primer which is very informative and may help to get a better seal. 

Don't dismiss the importance of positional apnea, especially supine sleeping. See also supine positional apnea (video)

It is quite well known that for many people it can be the worst position possible. Your sleep study illustrated this, but of course it was just a one night's sample. 

I cannot sleep anymore in this position, although it was the most comfortable. It can take some time to adjust to.

[vanillagorilla]

@HalfAsleep Thanks for the advice. I will upload some full charts after I figure out how to get these leaks sorted, so the information is more accurate.

@Expat31 Thank you for the info! Yeah my favourite way to sleep is on my back also, unfortunately. I think I'm more likely to wake up on my side too.