How can you tell a Central From an Obstructive Apnea

[bgalb]

I have been using a Resmed S8 Elite for the past five years along with the Optilife mask and taping my mouth. Had been on a setting of 9 with EPR of 3. I have gained 25 pounds in the past 3 years and have started getting that sleepy tired feeling in the daytime. Went to the sleep clinic and the guy told me to up my pressure to 11 and I did. Didn't help much. Downloaded the ResScan 4.1 software and started looking at the data. I had AHI averaging around 5 or 6, but had an extremely high leak rate (leaking around the tape). Got a Mirage Quattro FX mask and that cut the leak rate way down. Have used it for five days at setting of 11 and EPR2. Still waking up tired and AHI has gone up to 6-12. My apneas cluster densely around my arousing periods, with almost none in between. Could these be centrals? I don't know how to tell the difference.

Starting to lose weight and am going back for a full sleep study. I have ordered an S9 Autoset, which will arrive in a few days. In the meantime how do I tell a central from a garden variety obstructive epnea episode?

[BlackSpinner]

The s8 can't tell but the s9 can. Be patient.

[archangle]

Even the S9 doesn't absolutely, positively, tell whether it's a central or not, but it probably does a pretty good job. "Technically," you need a chest effort belt to tell for sure.

Also, don't obsess over centrals vs. obstructive. They're not necessarily more harmful than obstructive, just harder to treat.