Should I be considering an oxygen concentrator?

[gainerfull]

It seems like w/ EPR enabled even at 1 my time spent at lower blood oxygen levels are much worse. Monday night w/ no EPR I spent 7 minutes at sp02 between 90-94% and last night I spent 28 minutes. All other settings the same and sleep duration nearly identical. Luckily, with all of the focus on sp02 / optimizing cpap I'm only rarely dipping below 90% but continuing to optimize where I can with advice from this board.

Also, given that with EPR my sp02 data is worse (although small sample size) does this bode well for bipap therapy?

[Sleeprider]

I can't find data on your charts that helps correlate this problem with pressure. Oxygen saturation is generally a function of EPAP pressure and respiratory events. So when is your SpO2 relatively low? Does it correspond to lower pressure or events? EPR is just pressure support in reverse, and if can result in poorer perfusion. I'm usually focused on respiratory volumes along with pressure to try to make sense of these situation, so looking at a chart with flow rate, mask pressure, minute vent, tidal volume, resp rate and any SpO2 data usually reveals the issues.

[gainerfull]

What is a normal amount of pulse change events on a nightly basis? I range from 150-350 per 8hrs and feel the best with the lowest number of pulse change events. I haven't had much luck using EPR as it causes me to stay at lower sp02 levels for longer and I have trouble adjusting to the feeling of suffocation w/ EPR 3. Here is my sleep data from last night and it looks like my heart rate spikes correlate to large leaks and flow limits - is this right? Most nights I see either 0.7 AHI or 1.7 AHI and don't usually see the cluster of events from last night. I have a bipap titration scheduled for 8/15 - aside from getting a better mask fit are there any other options to get my pulse change events lower?

[Sleeprider]

Seriously? You want us to comment on what is a normal frequency of pulse changes? I don’t recall your results with different levels of EPR but that looks the most promising to resolve the hypopnea.

[gainerfull]

Seriously?  You want us to comment on what is a normal frequency of pulse changes?  I don’t recall your results with different levels of EPR but that looks the most promising to resolve the hypopnea.

Yes, seriously. I'm asking from a position of ignorance and assume there is a normal range - did I insult you somehow? Surprised at your tone / response.

[Gdim]

Ouch 

[G. Szabo]

I'm asking from a position of ignorance and assume there is a normal range - ...

Though I did not search the medical literature, I understand that the expected frequency of pulse changes is ideally zero during a solid sleep. The HR change is associated with some disturbance, including movements. Hence, your question might have caused some surprises.  

[Crimson Nape]

gainerfull - While I'm unable to find any standard for your question, I would speculate that it is dependent on the number of apnea events and sleep stages.
- Red

[Sleeprider]

I recently had covid, and my resting heart rate went from 50-80 to 120-146. Not all pulse changes are from apnea or even exertion. Aside from other symptoms, I sure hope I don't have that experience again.