Fragmented Sleep and CA Events

[newtocpap552]

Hi all,

Was hoping I could get some help. I've been on CPAP for the last two months after getting diagnosed with SA w/ AHI 17.7. Didn't sleep much during the study so they weren't able to clearly tell whether the hypopneas were central or obstructive according to my doc. Even with CPAP treatment I've been waking up a lot and needing to sleep a lot to feel decently rested, although I think I'm subjectively more tired with CPAP treatment. Noted a lot of clear airway events on OSCAR at different pressure and EPR settings. I've tried 5-8cm APAP, fixed 7, 8, and 9. Some charts are attached.

If anyone has any insight I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks.

[ChicagoGranny]

Noted a lot of clear airway events on OSCAR at different pressure and EPR settings.

In the two nights you posted, the CAs are minimal and normal.

How good is your sleep hygiene? Do you take any prescription medicines or OTC drugs and/or supplements?

[newtocpap552]

Thanks for your reply.

I will say that I am a night owl, I usually sleep around 2-3am and try and wake up for 10-11am. However, most of the time I end up oversleeping (up to 12 hours) cause I feel really groggy and tired upon waking. I have never been able to sleep through the night, with or without CPAP.

In terms of my sleep environment, I use a white noise machine and sleep mask, and try to keep my room cool. As for supplements, I take 225mg of L-theanine every night.

One thing of note is that I tend to have clusters of central events towards the end of my sleep and I am able to recall my dreams most of the time. Not sure if this is a good or bad thing. I am gonna attach another OSCAR chart that shows it happening a bit more.

Before my sleep study I was told by my girlfriend that I would stop breathing during periods of the night and don't usually snore, which led me to think I had CSA to begin with. However, I was apparently snoring during the sleep study and some hypopneas came up. Doctor wasn't too sure exactly, but he said based off my age (I am 24 years old) it is unlikely to be idiopathic CSA, so he told me to try CPAP and see if it would provide any relief.

[ChicagoGranny]

One thing of note is that I tend to have clusters of central events towards the end of my sleep

The ones you zoomed to are post-arousal centrals. They are not a problem. Your arousals are the problem.

I am able to recall my dreams most of the time.

More evidence of arousals. Dreams are only remembered if there is an arousal during the dream.

BTW, SleepHQ.com is easier to use and easier for us to analyze.

[newtocpap552]

Okay, will use SleepHQ for future charts!

Do you have any tips on reducing arousals? Could it have something to do with my flow limits as well? Thanks!

Come to think of it, I have noticed that my nose does get itchy at night from my nasal pillows (P30i) mask and have used lanolin which only helped a bit. Maybe that could be why?

[ChicagoGranny]

Personally, I would change the mode to APAP, the minimum pressure to 7, the maximum pressure to 20 (The machine will not go higher than necessary.), and the EPR to 1.