Newbe's 1st attempt at Oscar

[Pitroad]

removed

[Dog Slobber]

post images, don't regurgitate numbers

[Pitroad]

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[ChicagoGranny]

Do you have questions?

I have one. Why are you using CPAP mode on an auto machine?

[Pitroad]

[Dog Slobber]

. I’m not stupid, I was a mainframe systems programmer but I’m now 78 and some of these hoops are not that user friendly. _uck it, I’ll get through this by myself.

Why the temper-tantrum?

Sounds like you're 7 not 78.

[mlmollenkamp]

I programmed mainframes a long time ago as well IBM 360..... Kind of makes one data driven in my experience

You can figure this out. The first thing to understand is that it's unusual for a doctor to prescribe CPAP these days. Your machine is very smart and and can do a lot on its own. You can get the clinical guide pretty easily, search Google for "Airsense 11 clinical guide". Basically all of the settings are available if you press two fingers anywhere on the screen for about 3 seconds when you are on the home screen. You will see "Clinical Home" appear at the top left of the screen. The clinical menus have all of the settings that the DME sets up.

If you don't already have it, get a copy of your sleep study. The OSCAR chart shows no obstructive apneas, only hypopneas and clear airway (central) apneas. The CPAP setting may make sense in this context if your sleep study shows nearly all central apneas, but probably isn't optimal. My experience is somewhat similar, I have complex apnea which is predominantly open airway (central) apneas. We are a small percentage of the population and doctors typically don't have a lot of experience with us. My initial experience, 20 years ago now, wasn't very good. I wish I knew then what I know now. I've been configuring my machine on my own for 7 or 8 years now, with my doctors blessing because I get better results than the lab did 10 years or so ago.

There are a few ways to proceed. First, talk with your doctor, complain if you are sleepy during the day along with any other symptoms that are of concern. At the very least the settings on your machine are probably not optimal. If the central apneas persist its possible that you may need a different type machine. Basically the medical protocol is to get AHI under 5 and see what happens. If you don't complain they assume you are good to go. But if you are still sleepy during the day they --should-- work to correct it. An AHI of 5 isn't a magic number, I don't feel different at 4.5 than at 5, its just a number they pulled out of almost nowhere in the '70's. You are going to need a doctor for prescriptions anyway (assuming you are using insurance) so you might as well start there. If the doctor isn't cooperative get another one, assuming there are others available in your area. Proper treatment of complex or central sleep apnea really needs a lab sleep titration in most cases.

If you want to try changing some things on your own I can make some suggestions based on my own central apnea experience. Since you don't show any obstructive apneas 13 cm is likely too much pressure. You may want to read up a on complex or central sleep apnea, but basically its caused because your body's instinct to breath is based on how much carbon dioxide is in your blood. Higher pressure decreases CO2 so your brain decides you don't really need a breath. What works for me with an auto CPAP is to set a fairly narrow pressure range and let the machine decide. The idea is to let the machine keep the pressure as low as possible. Try setting a minimum of 8 or 9 cm and a maximum of 13 since that's what was prescribed. Gather OSCAR data for a few nights to see what happens. You will probably need to decrease the 13, but its a starting point. You can decrease it until you start to see obstructive apneas, or the hypopneas increase. The ResMed autosense machines aren't optimal for central apnea but I can get decent results with one if its well tuned. I use ASV now which simplifies things greatly, but they are expensive and getting insurance to pay for one is next to impossible without higher AHI's. But I still travel with an S10 and it works well.

I suggest you redact all your personal information and send us a copy of your sleep study, that will help to give better advice. Include more OSCAR data with the settings above if you decide to try them.

Good luck!

Good luck.

[Pitroad]

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[ChicagoGranny]

I’m now 78 and some of these hoops are not that user friendly.

Make it easy.

1. Get a free account at SleepHQ.com
2. Upload your data to your new account.
3. Post the link that the site gives you.
4. Post it in this thread.
5. Personally identifying info is redacted in the link.

We will be able to click on the link and see your data. Importantly, we will be able to zoom in on events and try to see what is really happening.

I am skeptical that you are truly having central apnea events. With SleepHQ, we can zoom in and make a determination.

In the meantime, I suggest you change your pressure mode to Auto, mimimum pressure to 11, and maximum pressure to 15. This will help us analyze your SleepHQ charts.

[Pitroad]

https://sleephq.com/public/teams/share_ ... 828cd7644d

[ChicagoGranny]

https://sleephq.com/public/teams/share_ ... 828cd7644d

Your breathing is a mess. I suggest you change your pressure mode to Auto, minimum pressure to 10, and leave maximum pressure at 13. Let's look at the charts after a night with these settings.

[Pitroad]

sleep study to follow

[ChicagoGranny]

Is there a brief diagnosis narrative that you could type?

[Pitroad]

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