[Treatment] RERAs and Hypopneas

[Zandervexed]

   

Hello all,

I have light to moderate sleep apnea and have a problem with sleeping and being fully rested, especially since I work nights and have a high BP. Also I have extremely loud snoring and recorded it with the Samsung health app, also being able to use a Galaxy Watch I can see that my SPO2 blood oxygen dips the lowest into the mid 70%s or low 80s without the CPAP mask. I know it isn't an accurate medical device but I usually keep it on most of the day and night for consistency.

There's a small period of an Obstructive Apnea surrounded by Hypopneas and then several RERAs ending with another Obstructive Apnea. Would this be a cause for concern? I did not record my snoring that time as my phone wasn't plugged in.

ResMes Airsense 10
- APAP 7-15
- EPR 2

Also because of the doctors office and insurance company having a fluke, I have a brand new AirCurve 10 VAUTO and they basically said to just keep it as a backup device in case the original one fails. Would it be better if I used that as my main device in VAUTO mode? Since it lowers the pressure when exhaling in theory it would be more comfortable to use I would think? Would there be any potential downsides to it?

Thanks for any assistance!

[Plmnb]

HI!  I'm sorry I can't help you but someone will be along that will.  You have come to the right place! (And good job posting your chart).

[OpalRose]

Hi Zandervexed,
Your AHI is very good, but with the Snores, Reras, and Hypopnea, this could be tweaked a little.   You also show Flow Limitation of .09.  We like to see this a little lower if possible.

I believe a small adjustment should help.  Set your minimum pressure to 8cm, also raise the EPR to 3.  The EPR will help with the exhalation, Flow Limitation, and Hypopnea.  

The snoring indicates a need for a little higher pressure, thus the recommendation to set at 8cm.  

Summary:

Minimum 8cm
Maximum 15cm
EPR - set at 3

Questions:  You mention High Blood Pressure...  are you currently being treated?  Are you on medications?  

Also, are you being monitored for your O2 levels?  You may want to invest in an overnight recording oximeter while sleeping. Also, your low levels without Cpap are a concern. Talk to your doctor about this.

Wanted to add that the VAuto is a great machine. But I think you should try to get the Apap dialed in first. Although, I believe the VAuto allows for greater comfort.

[Zandervexed]

Thanks for the recommendations! I've done those minor adjustments. I am treated for high blood pressure with telmisartan and the blood oxygen readings are from a smart watch but they do seem to line up with heavy snoring.

I also have a small snoring clip where I'm sleeping and start gasping for air when I wasn't wearing a CPAP mask recently. Would this be a RERA?

https://audio.com/anonymous/1762616626301287

[OpalRose]

Look at your graphs and line them up visually around 18.42.

FL, snoring, and Reras occurred at the same time, in which the FL causes the pressure to rise.  I can only "guess"  that the snoring may be the culprit.  You may also be laying on your back and causing some chin tucking (cutting off your air supply) for that short period of time.  

If you weren't wearing a mask during that snoring clip, there's no way to tell what events are happening without data.