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I was diagnosed w/ OSA years ago. It was mild and I was told I could use a dental device. I went ahead w/ a CPAP. I couldnt adjust so I lost a lot of weight and it seemed to have fixed the SA.
Flash forward-- The last 2 months my wife has noticed my snoring getting bad, stopping breathing, etc.
I no longer have insurance. I bought a used RESMED AIRSENSE 10 AUTOSET.
I found recommended starting settings in the forums and attached is my 3-4 hour sleep I got last night. Something I noticed the first night I tried it was I just stopped breathing on exhale when falling asleep, almost like Central Sleep Apnea and not OSA.
The biggest issue I've had the last few months is I only sleep 3 hours, sometimes 4 and then wake up. From there, I fall asleep about an hour, wake up for 20 minuets, back to sleep an hour, until its time to get up to start my day.
I was hoping the CPAP would fix that. As you can see, I made it about 3.5 hours last night. When I wake up, I wake up frustrated with the mask (I bought a nasal mask and its not as bad) but I remove it after that first go. I'm going to attempt to keep it on all night tonight.
I was hoping someone could look at the data provided and tell me if the settings seem to be fine and if anything jumps out at them that I need to change, or if theres anything showing why I'm waking up after 3 hours every night, or any indication of CSA rather than OSA.
I'm just a point of frustration. I take melatonin before going to sleep which seems to work, but in the last 2 months I have not slept more than 4 consecutive hours. Typically, after 3 hours I wake up and am up and down all night from there, almost exactly every hour.
One thing I did notice, is I'm actually having or remembering dreams with the CPAP. Prior to using it, I've had zero dreams that I can remember. So maybe this is a sign its working?
12-19-2023, 06:57 PM (This post was last modified: 12-19-2023, 06:59 PM by PeaceLoveAndPizza.)
RE: Oscar Data Attached - New User - Can't Sleep!
Before we dig in too deeply, what is going on with the time on your CPAP machine? Have you set the time and date? It is currently in January of 2008.
Note that it takes time to acclimate to the CPAP, so the early days can feel very strange. With proper setting management it becomes much more comfortable.
Before I forget, please read the link in my signature on “Organising your OSCAR Charts”. Initially, the graphs we need to see are: Events, Pressure, Flow Rate, Flow Limitation and the Leak Rate Graph. Always include the entire left side bar, minus the calendar and pie graph. You may have to drag a few things around and shrink them, but you are probably way more computer savvy than me so already know how to do that.
There is not much going on in your charts. In fact, things look quite good for most of them. A bit of flow limitations, nothing too significant. You could consider trying a pressure range of 7-12 (or 8-12) with EPR 3 full-time, no ramp. That may help with comfort.
I wonder if there is something external to the CPAP setup affecting your sleep. Flatter pillow, cervical collar, proper humidity, etc. So many things can affect sleep. If someone has experience with melatonin hopefully they will chime in if that may be impacting sleep quality.
For now, check the date on your machine, give those settings a go, and post a few charts in a a few days. Folks here can help.
12-19-2023, 07:37 PM (This post was last modified: 12-19-2023, 07:43 PM by kevinmallard.)
RE: Oscar Data Attached - New User - Can't Sleep!
I thought I followed those settings, maybe I missed something or are you saying it's not in the correct order? I removed the pie chart and calender, and each screen shot I scrolled the left bar down to give the full layout/all of the information there. I'll scroll and look at other's screenshots and see what I'm missing.
I'll dig into the settings and make those adjustments.
I turned ramp off, EPR on, EPR Level to 3, and adjust min. pressure to 7 and maximum to 12. I also changed the time and date on the machine, lol. I was so frustrated trying to figure out why OSCAR was showing those times and thought it was an error with OSCAR. Good and easy fix!
I'll try to get a better sleep tonight with these setting and potentially post a better post later after organizing the charts!
Set your display to the Standard view. (View > Reset Graphs > Standard)
Take a screenshot of your Daily screen.
* For Windows or Linux: Use the F12 key
* For a Mac: Use Fn+F12
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
12-19-2023, 07:46 PM (This post was last modified: 12-19-2023, 07:47 PM by PeaceLoveAndPizza.)
RE: Oscar Data Attached - New User - Can't Sleep!
No worries. Easy peasy lemon squeezy to fix.
It is easiest if the five graphs are on the same page so we can see a big picture view on one screen. We can make it work with multiple screens, it is just a bit more difficult for folks like me to flip back and forth.
Give those settings a try and we can see how things go.
(12-19-2023, 05:16 PM)kevinmallard Wrote: I'll try to be short here for easier reading.
I was diagnosed w/ OSA years ago. It was mild and I was told I could use a dental device. I went ahead w/ a CPAP. I couldnt adjust so I lost a lot of weight and it seemed to have fixed the SA. How old are you now? General health? Special conditions?
Flash forward-- The last 2 months my wife has noticed my snoring getting bad, stopping breathing, etc. Was this a rapid onset, or just a gradual sneaky increase of noticeable snoring and apnea?
I no longer have insurance. I bought a used RESMED AIRSENSE 10 AUTOSET. Good machine!
I found recommended starting settings in the forums and attached is my 3-4 hour sleep I got last night. Something I noticed the first night I tried it was I just stopped breathing on exhale when falling asleep, almost like Central Sleep Apnea and not OSA. When you are new to APAP Therapy these things sometimes are noticeable.
The biggest issue I've had the last few months is I only sleep 3 hours, sometimes 4 and then wake up. From there, I fall asleep about an hour, wake up for 20 minuets, back to sleep an hour, until its time to get up to start my day. Is this waking up to pee? Do you sense any other discomfort? Did the 3-4 hour sleep start after APAP use started. or was it pre-existing condition? Do you nap during the day?
I was hoping the CPAP would fix that. As you can see, I made it about 3.5 hours last night. When I wake up, I wake up frustrated with the mask (I bought a nasal mask and its not as bad) but I remove it after that first go. I'm going to attempt to keep it on all night tonight. So the waking up issue started prior to APAP Therapy? Most of use have mask issues when we first start therapy.
I was hoping someone could look at the data provided and tell me if the settings seem to be fine and if anything jumps out at them that I need to change, or if theres anything showing why I'm waking up after 3 hours every night, or any indication of CSA rather than OSA.
I'm just a point of frustration. I take melatonin before going to sleep which seems to work, but in the last 2 months I have not slept more than 4 consecutive hours. Typically, after 3 hours I wake up and am up and down all night from there, almost exactly every hour. I take Melatonin, it is a safe sleep aid. I also take a cup of Sleepytime Tea, with Chamomile flowers and Valerian Root, about an hour before bedtime. It is also important to get physical exercise during the day and outside exposure to sunlight. It aids in resetting our natural Melatonin. Try spending a week camping in the wilderness with no watch to guide your daily activities, to fully comprehend what sunlight will do for you.
One thing I did notice, is I'm actually having or remembering dreams with the CPAP. Prior to using it, I've had zero dreams that I can remember. So maybe this is a sign its working?
You are on your way to a better sleep.
Thank you for your time in helping. That is why we are here.
I'm 35 years old now and in the best shape ever. I've been body building for about 2 years now. I'm 6'1, 185lbs and lean (8 pack, probably 12% body fat, strong lifts, etc.)
The snoring and such seemed to have been a pretty rapid onset after being sick. I just got the CPAP machine a week before making this post. I was sick for almost 3 weeks w/ what the doctor said was probably a cold. During this 3 weeks, I stopped eating my clean meal prep food, and stopped the gym until I was better. Since then, it kicked into high gear.
Generally I just wake up, I don't think its to pee as it isn't a major urge to pee, but I do generall get up and pee. I then hit the kitchen for some water and lay back down and am pretty awake at that point so it takes me a minute to get back to sleep. This was going on before getting the CPAP. In fact, this was the reason I got the CPAP because I was thinking that I was waking up due to the apnea so I bought the CPAP and have been winging it trying to figure out how to get a full nights rest
I made the adjustments recommended above your post and it did seem to help. Last night I actually made it almost 5 hours without waking up. Thats the longest I've slept without waking in months.
The background information, age,weight, health, activity, dietary and sleep help us to understand your likely needs, and provide better assistance.
Last September our whole house got sick, 4 adults, the Doctors said the same thing, tests are negative for Flu, Covid, and other common respiratory issues, therefore must be the cold. Being as how we social distanced and sanitized throughout the pandemic, it has been years since we caught anything and the cold now hits us harded.
We also suffered similar to what you described, weeks of malaise, lack of appetite and lethargy. We have two, Wellue Checkme O2 Max Pulse/Oximeter/Motion recording monitors in addition to the common finger clamp Pulse/Oximeter. Because we had documented "norms" on each of us prior to getting sick, I was surprised to see it took over a month after we started feeling well, for O2 and pulse to return to a more normal level.
Where you are just starting out with CPAP, it normally takes several weeks to months for most users to acclimate to mask fit and therapy pressure.
However, there are some who get their therapy pressure, timing and tuning set properly for their needs, shortly after requesting assistance on this forum. The immediate restorative sleep is so dramatically relieving of their prior symptoms, that they just fall right into the rhyme and rhythm of CPAP therapy, life is all sweet dreams and beautiful sunsets. I hope this is your response.
After a few days at your current settings, post back with OSCAR Reports. You can shrink the height of the graphs by grabbing the bottom border of an individual graph with your cursor, and dragging it up. This enables more graphs to be visible in each screen shot. As PL&P stated above five graphs per Screenshot are Ideal.
PL&P has several useful links in his signature, in addition I would suggest reviewing OSCAR - The Guide , often, repeatedly and very very frequently when first getting started. https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph..._The_Guide
Your obvious interest in personal fitness, health and self care would suggest you might be interested in the ability of OSCAR Reports to provide current as well as historical data recording of health metrics. Just above the orange AHI bar in the left hand side bar of the Daily page, are four Tabs labeled Details, Events, Notes & Bookmarks. I keep daily notes and utilize Bookmarks to identify Events of significant importance in the zoomed Flow Rates graph. Later when I am reviewing the Overview page and notice some patterns, deviations from norm or other interesting oddities, I have information recorded on the Daily OSCAR Report page to refer back to. I also find the Statistics page, both Monthly and Standard format, useful for monitoring the progress of my therapy. Useful information, combined with data recorded on Apple Health and the Pulse/Oximeter records when I am working with my health care providers.
Feel free to inquire about additional information, we are here to assist you and enjoy to hear the progress reports.
We all learn through various media, do not forget YouTube," Lanky Lefty", that Australian guy "CPAP Reviews", "Adventures with CPAP" , and my friend "CPAP friend" who has current, very pertinent concise information about OSCAR and CPAP life in general.
