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Controlling Positional sleep apnea - GeorgeGus - 09-10-2024
I have positional sleep apnea. When I sleep on my back, I can record 30 obstructive apneas in one hour. On my side I basically have zero apnea and excellent charts in Oscar.
I use a Resmed air curve 10 BiPAP. I read that finding the right EPAP pressure can control positional supine obstructive apnea. I have just started experimenting with the EPAP pressures so no success yet
Has anyone been successful in controlling positional sleep apnea using a BiPAP?
RE: Controlling Positional sleep apnea - OpalRose - 09-10-2024
Post a recent OSCAR chart. Let us see what we're dealing with.
RE: Controlling Positional sleep apnea - Deborah K. - 09-10-2024
No. No setting on any pap machine can affect positional apnea. It is caused by tipping your chin toward your chest. Some people can overcome it by sleeping on a flatter pillow, but most end up needing to wear a soft cervical collar. Drug stores offer a few of them and Amazon offers lots of them. If you're going to get one you need to choose one that is high enough to hold your chin up. I like the Caldera Releaf Collar, which is available on Amazon, but some men need one that is higher than the Caldera offers.
RE: Controlling Positional sleep apnea - GeorgeGus - 09-10-2024
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After the break I decided to sleep on my back at around 3:30. I stayed on back for the next 45 minutes and had a constant barrage of obstructive apneas. I then slept on my side where I experienced very few apneas. Sure would like to be able to control those supine apneas.
RE: Controlling Positional sleep apnea - OpalRose - 09-10-2024
No, you can't control positional apnea with pressure adjustments. But there are other things you can do. It's not so much that you're sleeping on your back, but how you are sleeping.
You have to be aware if you are tucking your chin into your chest, thus cutting your air off, like a kink in a hose cuts off water. This can happen if you're using more than one pillow or a too tall pillow. Use a thinner type pillow, but still supportive. Some folk use a soft cervical collar to keep their chin up. Nothing wrong with sleeping on your back, but you'll have to take measures to change how you're sleeping.
Have you read through this article: Positional Apnea
Again, pressure adjustments won't fix this.
RE: Controlling Positional sleep apnea - SarcasticDave94 - 09-10-2024
The above is correct in Positional Apnea. However your pressure settings aren't ideal either. Consider removing Ramp as you get no effective therapy each time Ramp occurs, which is every therapy segment start, not just the beginning of the entire session. This last OSCAR chart shows 3 segments start, include 3 Ramp times.
Second, your EPAP pressure is beginning a bit low as well. Instead of 4.6 let's try 5.8 or 6, as this was at your 95% EPAP number. This you get you right into therapy without delays, it may be more comfortable in case you feel any air starvation.