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+--- Thread: [CPAP] Need help deciphering OSCAR data please (/Thread-CPAP-Need-help-deciphering-OSCAR-data-please)
Need help deciphering OSCAR data please - apneabro956 - 09-02-2024
Hi folks, I need some help deciphering OSCAR data. My main issue is that I am still having apneas while I am on CPAP, for example I woke up today with my heart pounding and even though my pressure is set to 8-16, the pressure was only 8.2, shouldn't it go higher?
I looked at the data in OSCAR and it shows I am having some Central Apneas, can EPR cause that? How can I minimize central apneas.
I also would like the optimal pressure settings. Resmed software shows I am minimal AHI but I can feel that its wrong because I am still waking up with apneas.
I am using a nasal pillows mask. My Settings are
Pressure 8-16 (my sleep dr reccomended 5-20 but I am playing around with the settings for optimal results)
EPR 2
Humidifier is on but I am not using it.
Thank you
RE: Need help deciphering OSCAR data please - PeaceLoveAndPizza - 09-02-2024
You have significant leaks going on. Until those are resolved there is not much you can do.
In the first chart you have large leaks > 24 l/min for 85% of the time. In the second leaks are less at around 5%, but other than that things do not look too bad.
RE: Need help deciphering OSCAR data please - apneabro956 - 09-02-2024
Thank you
RE: Need help deciphering OSCAR data please - Deborah K. - 09-02-2024
With a pillows mask lots of people need to tape their mouths. I sure do. If you want to try it, lots of folks here like Cover Roll Stretch tape or Hypafix tape. Both work very well. I prefer Theraband Kinesiology tape because I find it more comfortable, but it does cost more. With your high leaks, you probably need to stick with 2-inch wide tape. I need to cut mine to 5-1/2 inches long, well past the sides of my mouth, or I still leak.
Good luck!
RE: Need help deciphering OSCAR data please - apneabro956 - 09-02-2024
Thank you for that I will look into it.
Another question I had was how would I know what my optimal pressure settings are?
RE: Need help deciphering OSCAR data please - Deborah K. - 09-02-2024
Your pressure looks okay for now, but until you get your leaks under control it's impossible to say what you'll need for the long term.
RE: Need help deciphering OSCAR data please - apneabro956 - 09-02-2024
Thanks again any opinions on epr settings whether they should be kept on or off. Or rap only versus full etc
RE: Need help deciphering OSCAR data please - Dodies - 09-02-2024
Mostly people recommend EPR on, set to 3.
As others have said, you have massive leaks, where it says LL means "large leak" and you have LL 82% of the time -- maybe you are breathing out of your mouth?
RE: Need help deciphering OSCAR data please - PeaceLoveAndPizza - 09-02-2024
To the question, how do we know what your optimal pressure settings should be. I use titration to find the applicable range, then work on narrowing it to the minimal needed to get a good nights rest.
For example, in your case your pressure range is 8-16, but it hovers between 8-10. You could easily change it to:
Mode APAP
Min pressure 8
Max pressure 10
EPR 3 full-time
No ramp
Depending on how things go there are a few more tweaks that can be made, but we prefer changing only one thing at a time if at all possible. Other than the above changes I would leave things as they are for now. We can review after you have a few more nights OSCAR data.
Regarding EPR, leave it as I show above for now. We can always adjust from there but it seems to be working for you.