Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.
Login or Create an Account
Hi, I recently got diagnosed with mild sleep apnea (AHI 4.3/hr, RDI 5/hr, Arousal Index 27/hr). As some background I am a 23 year old, 70kg slim with a receded jawline (apparently this causes me to be more susceptible to sleep apnea) My symptoms include very fragmented sleep, waking up mostly every hour with a high heart rate, significant daytime sleepiness and brain fog. Iv'e been on CPAP for one month, at the beginning I didn't get much benefit and didn't have the correct mask, but recently Iv'e gotten a mask which Iv'e liked a bit more and noticed less fragmented sleep and I'm feeling a bit more rested but still quite sleepy and brain fogged during the day. My current settings are
APAP: Fisher & Paykel Sleepstyle
Pressure: 4-10
EPR Level: 2cmH20
Humidity: 4
Ramp: Off
Sens Awake: Off
Mask: AirFit N20 L (really like this one)
I have attached my last three nights of OSCAR data, as you can see there are still some hypoapneas and flow limitation events.
Do you have any recommendations on any setting changes to further improve therapy? I see from other threads that it is recommended to increase EPR/min pressure to prevent flow limitations. Do you recommend this to reduce the amount of flow limits?
I can't give you any advice on setting changes, but rest assured someone will be along who will advise you.
Wow, you sound quite a bit like me. Have been struggling for years to obtain therapy benefits. My flow issues have always been substantial and with the help of the members here it looks as though some progress is being made. Through the use of setting changes, sleep hygiene, medication adjustments- apparently antidepressants can be a BIG issue, and the addition of prescription cannabis products like gummies and tinctures, things are coming together.
Oh, and a video camera has been invaluable. It shows everything I go through during the night. I can line up my side sleep vs. my back sleep with my OSCAR by looking at the times. Long story short, I just ordered a special device that you wear and iit prevents you from sleeping on your back. I should be receiving it today.
Best Wishes!
WARNING: It may take a while to sink in...I tend to get befuddled at times.
Although you have low AHI numbers with no apnea, your Flow Limitation is too high.
FL can cause many disruptions to sleep. The usual fix is to use EPR (expiratory pressure relief). I'm not sure what it's called on the SleepStyle machines.
The problems is that your pressure is set too low to get the full advantage of EPR.
I would like to see you set your minimum pressure to 7cm. Move your maximum pressure to 12cm. The machine will only go as high as needed. Set the EPR to 3.
This change will aid in comfort but most important should help lower the FL and Hypopnea.
I don't know what's causing your FL, although your receded jaw may be part of it.
Also, your leak rate is a little high. Either your mask doesn't fit properly, or you are mouth breathing. Which do you think it is?
Make the suggested changes. Give it a day or two, then post another chart.
Summary:
Minimum pressure 7cm
Maximum pressure 12cm
EPR - set to 3
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.
Thank you very much for your responses @Plmnb, @OpalRose, last night before I read your messages I set my min pressure to 5 and EPR to 3 and had 0 hypoapneas and only 3 flow limitations. Perhaps increasing the pressure more will yield even more results. It's amazing how different the world looks with even a bit better sleep, everything seems brighter! I will try 6 tonight and see how I go. I'm not sure what my leak rate is caused by, I think my nose mask fit securely on my face so I assume it is mouth breathing? I tape my mouth but leave a bit of room in case the CPAP breaks so I don't suffucate. I've ordered a chin strap I will see how that goes.
@Plmnb Thanks for the idea of the camera, Iv'e ordered a wyze nighttime cam. Hope your device that makes you sleep on your side works!
Hey guys, had a few good nights where Iv'e only had a few awakenings during the night but mostly still feel very tired most of the time. Iv'e set EPR to 3 which seems to be more comfortable and have tried various minimum pressures (5, 6 and 7). I seem to feel more rested on 5 or 6. Do you have any other tips on any settings I can change to feel better? Here are my three last nights of OSCAR data. Iv'e also zoomed in to a flow limitation to show what it looks like. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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.
Your minimum pressure is too low to see any advantage from EPR 3.
Minimum needs to be set at 7cm with EPR 3 = exhalation relief of 4cm. In order to lower the high Flow Limitation, the full use of EPR is needed. The FL is very disruptive to sleep.
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.
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.
WARNING: It may take a while to sink in...I tend to get befuddled at times.
