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[Tommysnoozer]

The clusters of OA do seem to have resolved, but you have always had CA events, generally fewer than 2/hour.  CPAP cannot treat central events, and the question becomes how disruptive are these to your sleep.  Knowing duration and impact are factors that may help decide if you want to pursue a treatment option that targets CA.  At the current levels, it will be very difficult to persuade a doctor, and especially insurance that this is a significant problem requiring expensive treatment with ASV.  An alternative is to use EERS http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ace_(EERS)  It could work, but we usually don't go there with cases this mild.

Thanks for your reply,
I'm really at a loss what to do here. If I use CPAP I wake up with a headache, but sleep for what feels like a normal amount of time whereas if I don't use it I sleep for too long, feel lethargic in a different way but no headache.

I thought I had a handle on this earlier in the year. I was frequently having 0 OAs and <3 CAs total the whole night, and waking up feeling quite a bit better than I do now, but now it seems to have gotten worse again. 

I'm paying to see a private specialist next month so I'm hoping they can shed some light on it.

Appreciate the reply,
cheers

[Gideon]

Sleepriders has provided excellent advice.
I'd like to try increasing your EPR for a week to 3 to see if it improves your headache.
This should better manage your flow limits. Also to adjust your pressure as needed over this period.

The goal:
1. Your overall comfort - no headache
2. Improve your ventilation. Mostly to eliminate your headache.
3. Manage your flow limits which I think may be part of the problem

To date everyone made the same assumptions I would and attack the central Apneas the best way possible.
I do expect CAI to increase and be it's usual consistently inconsistent self.

My expected conclusion is that we may beat your headache with better oxygenation due to increased EPR. A somewhat higher CAI, further demonstrating Sleepriders suggestion for either ASV or possibly EERS
.
So set EPR = 3
Adjust pressure as needed
Post charts daily.
Duration of 1 week to have solid data because your CAI tends to fluctuate.

[Tommysnoozer]

Sleepriders has provided excellent advice.
I'd like to try increasing your EPR for a week to 3 to see if it improves your headache.
This should better manage your flow limits.  Also to adjust your pressure as needed over this period.

The goal:
1. Your overall comfort - no headache
2. Improve your ventilation. Mostly to eliminate your headache.
3. Manage your flow limits which I think may be part of the problem

To date everyone made the same assumptions I would and attack the central Apneas the best way possible.
I do expect CAI to increase and be it's usual consistently inconsistent self.  

My expected conclusion is that we may beat your headache with better oxygenation due to increased EPR. A somewhat higher CAI, further demonstrating Sleepriders suggestion for either ASV or possibly EERS
.
So set EPR = 3
Adjust pressure as needed
Post charts daily.
Duration of 1 week to have solid data because your CAI tends to fluctuate.

Will do Bonjour, thanks very much for the advice.

[Sleeprider]

Bonjour at his best! Thanks Fred.

[Tommysnoozer]

Hi all. That was a significantly better night in terms of results AND comfort. The airflow profile was much more comfortable with EPR on 
-inhalation was also easier- and I fell asleep quickly. I feel more rested and my head feels clear.

Thanks for the great advice everybody, feeling positive about my treatment again! I've attached the screen below, and will keep on posting them for this week.
Cheers

[Tommysnoozer]

Hi all, here's my screen from last night. Another much better night. Even the mask feels more comfortable and I don't wake up with the skin around my nose being sensitive.

Cheers!

[Sleeprider]

Glad you were able to find settings with EPR that work well for your comfort. Good observations by bonjour that was what you need.

[Gideon]

Thanks,
The headache was the key. I'll suggest one more thing, and not urgently.
Get a recording pulse oximeter that is compatible with OSCAR. The headache implied a possible low oxygen level. setting EPR to 3 should have improved your oxygen levels thus correcting the headache. There are many other causes of a headache, not going there, but your elimination of the headache implied that you had at least somewhat low oxygen levels.
I would suggest very occasional use of the oximeter overnight to confirm good oxygen levels.

[Tommysnoozer]

Thanks,
The headache was the key. I'll suggest one more thing, and not urgently.  
Get a recording pulse oximeter that is compatible with OSCAR.  The headache implied a possible low oxygen level. setting EPR to 3 should have improved your oxygen levels thus correcting the headache.  There are many other causes of a headache, not going there, but your elimination of the headache implied that you had at least somewhat low oxygen levels.  
I would suggest very occasional use of the oximeter overnight to confirm good oxygen levels.

Thanks Bonjour, I'll get around to that. The difference is marked! Had another good night last night. I'm going to bring my humidity down by 1 or 2 as my nose is a bit stuffy this morning.
Thanks all!

[Tommysnoozer]

Hi all,
as predicted my CAs have increased somewhat. Still, my sleep is much more comfortable and I don't oversleep and I don't have a headache. I think I can feel the increase in CAs yesterday/today. 
Cheers