Can Clear Airway Apnea not be Central Apnea?

[Sleepster]

Here is what I have from Sleepyhead for lat night:

Hyponea .29
Obstructive 1.45
Clear Airway 3.62
PB/SCR .51%

The Hyponeas seem to always coincide with the CA

This is not bad at all. Especially for a beginner. I suspect the numbers were a bit higher in the past? Did you look to see how long these events are lasting?

Just started 11 days ago and they put me on Max pressure on the BiPAP (25/21). I am using the Mirage FX and I know it is technically not rated for 25.

I was told in my sleep study my AHI was 109.

Well, you're doing much better than that now!

Did you check to see what your leaks look like?

[tomko44]

Here is what I have from Sleepyhead for lat night:

Hyponea .29
Obstructive 1.45
Clear Airway 3.62
PB/SCR .51%

The Hyponeas seem to always coincide with the CA

This is not bad at all. Especially for a beginner. I suspect the numbers were a bit higher in the past? Did you look to see how long these events are lasting?

Just started 11 days ago and they put me on Max pressure on the BiPAP (25/21). I am using the Mirage FX and I know it is technically not rated for 25.

I was told in my sleep study my AHI was 109.

Well, you're doing much better than that now!

Did you check to see what your leaks look like?

I'll take a look when I get home, but I believe the avg is 68. I know that the leaks SEEM high, but a large part of it is due to the pressure and the mask type (at 20 the rate is listed as 45 and mine is 25/21).

[Sleepster]

I'll take a look when I get home, but I believe the avg is 68. I know that the leaks SEEM high, but a large part of it is due to the pressure and the mask type (at 20 the rate is listed as 45 and mine is 25/21).

Yes, that's right. But look at the leak graph and see if there are times when it spikes upward and stays there for several minutes. These could be periods of time when you're mouth-leaking.

BTW, how'd that new chinstrap work for you?

Another thing you can do is look at the machine's on-screen display. Scroll down to "Percent time in large leak" and see what it says. If it's anything above 0% that's another indicator that you've got a leak problem somewhere.

[tomko44]

I'll take a look when I get home, but I believe the avg is 68. I know that the leaks SEEM high, but a large part of it is due to the pressure and the mask type (at 20 the rate is listed as 45 and mine is 25/21).

Yes, that's right. But look at the leak graph and see if there are times when it spikes upward and stays there for several minutes. These could be periods of time when you're mouth-leaking.

BTW, how'd that new chinstrap work for you?

Another thing you can do is look at the machine's on-screen display. Scroll down to "Percent time in large leak" and see what it says. If it's anything above 0% that's another indicator that you've got a leak problem somewhere.

0% Large Leaks. 0% Snore. I usually wake up if I start mouth breathing or if the mask shifts, and the mouth is generally barely open so the machine is not really classifying it correctly it since there is no snore.

[zimlich]

I've seem a great increase in those asking about central apneas since the new machines measure CA. I don't know if they are truly central apneas, only the lab with a polysomnogram can say with certainty. Wiki says 0.4% apeneas are CA, 84% are Obstructive and 15% mixed. Sleepsteer gave (as did others) a good reply.
Good luck. The most important things are good sleep and using the machine.

[genes]

I just started using my Bi-PAP machine 11 days ago and most of my Apneas are "Clear Airway" per Restronics. I have no detectable snore, but I know that at times my mouth is opening slightly. I think that that is being detected as Clear Airway. Is that possible? Thanks!

I am not quite sure how the machine determines that you have a clear airway apnea or exactly what it is. Cpap does not work when you breath or leak thru your mouth so before you can figure out how to solve the problem you have to eliminate mouth breathing and leaking. If you switch to a full face mask it is ok to breath thru your mouth with cpap so it would be a good idea to get a full face mask then see if your problems go away. If not you can then make adjustments knowing that the problem is not really caused by mouth breathing or leaking.
GeneS

[archangle]

From what I know about the algorithms, the physics, and the human respiratory system, I have a fairly good bit of confidence that when the CPAP machine says "clear airway" or "central," it's a real central apnea vs. an obstructive apnea.

I have a lot less confidence that all centrals are flagged as "CA" by the machine.

I'll also point out that centrals aren't necessarily more harmful than obstructive apneas. They're just harder to eliminate and often aren't fixed by a higher CPAP pressure.

[vsheline]

I think you need to start a new thread what mask works for high pressure so folk on high pressure can help with their suggestion.

It would be great if there was a list of all masks and their pressure ratings.

And it would be great if the new section includes tips like using the ResMed Gecko "nasal pad" nose guard.

For me, it completely fixes leaks near the nose and eyes, and it prevents my nose from getting chewed up by my Full Face mask.

--- Vaughn

[sleepyp]

It's also quite common to hold your breath during a temporary awakening and when you're rolling over or changing position.
Sleep studies understand when you're sleeping or not and ignores awake 'CA's, your machine can't.
Leaks can often wake you causing a pause in your breathing and registering a CA. If your breathing is jaggy before it stops then it usually means you've been disturbed and can ignore the CA, you still need to solve whatever causes the disturbance though.