Finding optimal CPAP settings

[epsilonD3LT4]

Does anyone have any recommended methods for finding *the* optimal CPAP settings to maximise sleep quality? Is there any sort of data-analytic tool that can be applied to data from a CPAP machine?

Furthermore, does the ramp time play much of a role in affecting someone's sleep quality?

[LSAT]

Free software available to track your therapy.. https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/
If the ramp is on too long you will not maximize your therapy during that period.

[epsilonD3LT4]

Thanks! I've installed it on my computer. Does it actively analyse the data to make recommendations or does it rely on the user experimenting with different things and seeing what works?

[epsilonD3LT4]

Also, are there any subscription services where you can allow sleep specialists to access your data and make recommendations as and when needed based on the data?

[Finnian]

There is a post that talks about how to format screenshots from it. For instance, I made this post and got some good suggestions on settings: viewtopic/t179372/1-year-in-same-brainf ... -help.html

The software only gives info, and it's up to people to analyse what settings should be different to reduce events.

My sleep doc who did my original study and got my CPAP sets up 6month checkups to get hardware and for him to check the settings, but the first meeting with me claiming it had done almost nothing was just "Well, you still need to lose weight, try a full-face mask, if that doesn't help in 6 months then we can look at a different machine" so kind of useless. I don't think anyone does better than that, which is why people have banded together here to help.

[Julie]

There are experts on the forum who usually know a lot more than their doctors about interpreting Oscar... which is why you need to post charts according to instructions given and then we'll see what''s what and, if necessary, help you tweak pressures, etc. for the better. Oscar was designed by a forum member... on a Mac, though of course works very well on PC's.

[zonker]

Thanks! I've installed it on my computer. Does it actively analyse the data to make recommendations or does it rely on the user experimenting with different things and seeing what works?

welcome to the zoo!

as julie has pointed out, you can post the graphs that oscar generates here. right here in this thread.

then those much wiser in the ways of oscar can interpret them for you and make suggestions on what you may want to change in your cpap settings. so get those charts going in oscar. then post three nights worth and set back and start soaking up what they say.

see my link below for "newbies" for instructions. also, see the "announcement" above the "topics" section to start doing some learning on your own.

i think you are going to do well as you're starting off with the desire to learn and take charge of your therapy.

good luck!