[Treatment] Interpreting OSCAR data - any assistance would be incredibly appreciated :)

[SleepyVoyager]

Hi Everyone,

I have been using a SleepStyle+ CPAP machine and a AirFit P30i nasal pillows mask for several weeks.

I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea (AHI of 7-8) in December of 2023.

I am 30, 5'11, 180lb at the moment, and male. I am currently in grad school which has been quite challenging with my sleep issues.

I was getting aerophagia & mouth breathing, but since using a neck brace and mouth tape, this has stopped completely. Each night, I use the following:
- neck brace
- sleeping eyemask
- mouth tape
- CPAP pillow

ISSUE: I have been having trouble getting my AHI down, but I've since found some settings (7-8 static pressure, EPR 3, Humidity 4) (below) that seem the best, at least so far. That said, I am still waking up tired. My CA's and Hyponeas seem to be the most common symptoms in OSCAR.

Does anyone have any recommendations for further adjustments?


Thanks so much!

[SleepyVoyager]

Bump.

I tried turning off EPR, and now I am receiving flow limitations. ?

[Expat31]

Hello, we really need to see a night's complete detailed data (in daily view) , so it would be helpful if you would post the following graphs (in this order):-

1.Events
2.Flow rate
3.Pressure
4.Leak rate
5.Flow limitations 
(Note.Please exclude calendars so that all settings are visible)

You can also set your display to the standard view by:-

(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

For full explanation on posting and charts is consulted  here


Thanks

[Expat31]

Addendum 

(Note.Please exclude calendars & pie charts so that all settings are visible)

[SleepyVoyager]

Heya, here are my photos, redone.

---

and my most recent one, with the flow limitations.

[Deborah K.]

You need to turn EPR back on full-time at setting 3.  That will control the flow limits.

I notice that you slept through 2 out of the 4 nights posted.  

Are you having trouble staying asleep?  

Is your sleep comfortable?  

Do you ever feel air-starved?  

Is your mask comfortable?  We can better help you if you tell us these things.

[Expat31]

Hi, thanks for the graphs 

I would like to add a couple of questions to Deborah's

Why are you on a fixed pressure of 7? I understand that you have found the 7-8 range the best, but, some more pressure should clear up some of the obstructives, then once those reduced, we could isolate on any remaining issue(s). 

Anything in your sleep test that could give us an indication of any underlying issues. 

Last point, minor, but try to reduce the space of each graph so you can get all 5 on one page. A lot of unnecessary space is being taken up at the moment for each graph. You can do this with your mouse. Just a bit neater I think. 

Thanks

[SleepyVoyager]

You need to turn EPR back on full-time at setting 3.  That will control the flow limits.

I notice that you slept through 2 out of the 4 nights posted.  

Are you having trouble staying asleep?  

Is your sleep comfortable?  

Do you ever feel air-starved?  

Is your mask comfortable?  We can better help you if you tell us these things.

Hi Deborah, thanks for offering to help.!

- OK, sounds good - I'll turn the EPR back on to 3.

- I am not having trouble staying asleep, typically. I picked some of the recent nights that had the lower AHI.

- is my sleep comfortable: yes, I think. I wake up sometimes to use the bathroom, but this has always been normal for me. I usually take a little bit of time to fall back asleep afterward. I have anxiety, so occasionally, I will worry for a while before falling back asleep.

However, my sleep hygiene is pretty bad, so my regular bedtimes are variable. That might be more accurately what is being reflected in those graphs.

- No, I haven't felt air-starved on 7-8 pressure. I was having trouble with aerophagia at higher pressures. I tried last night with a pressure of 8 with no EPR, and it was really bad again.

- The mask is comfortable, yes.

[SleepyVoyager]

Hi, thanks for the graphs 

I would like to add a couple of questions to Deborah's

Why are you on a fixed pressure of 7? I understand that you have found the 7-8 range the best, but, some more pressure should clear up some of the obstructives, then once those reduced, we could isolate on any remaining issue(s).

Anything in your sleep test that could give us an indication of any underlying issues. 

Last point, minor, but try to reduce the space of each graph so you can get all 5 on one page. A lot of unnecessary space is being taken up at the moment for each graph. You can do this with your mouse. Just a bit neater I think. 

Thanks

Hi Expat31,

I am on 7-8 because of my previous attempts to rid myself of aerophagia. I was anecdotally trying to find a solution to stopping it. However, this was mainly with EPR off. Maybe I should try 8-9 with EPR on now? I think the neck brace is also helping. I don't have direct access to my sleep test data but I could request it.?

Additionally, regarding the graphs - I don't have a 'flow limitations' graph in my OSCAR, I only have these ones (see below). This may be because of the sleepStyle+ machine?

[SleepyVoyager]

This was last night, but it may have been an aberration. I had a late-night caffeine drink due to study and a sleeping pill.
Sharing it fwiw.