Centrals a problem?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Deborah K.
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Centrals a problem?

Post by Deborah K. » Tue Dec 28, 2021 12:22 pm

I have recently gotten my leak rate and flow limits under better control. Since doing so, my ahi has remained nice and low, but every day I show central apnea. As you can see last night's reading shows only central. This is common. I'm guessing it's because I started using EPR 3 to help lower my flow limits. Anyway, surely this does not mean that Centrals are a problem for me, does it?

Also, my leak rates are not great, but I always have congestion, so could that be why?
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Pugsy
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Re: Centrals a problem?

Post by Pugsy » Tue Dec 28, 2021 12:39 pm

I suspect these are sleep onset centrals (assuming you were asleep when they were flagged) meaning you are just experiencing a normal and to be expected central apnea during the transition to sleep.
These are entirely normal and no big deal unless you have so many of them that desats are caused or you continually get bounced out of sleep because of them....and you aren't anywhere near that many of them to be causing a problem.

So no....your 2 centrals aren't a problem at all.
They are NOT because of adding EPR to your routine. If EPR was the cause you would be having a lot more of the centrals than you are having.
Either your centrals are arousal related or sleep onset related...and no matter what related...not nearly enough to be a cause for a problem or worry.


As for your not so pretty leak line...we've talked about that before. I know you tape your mouth shut....either the Bleep is coming loose or it's not attached properly or your tape isn't holding well.

Now as to the congestion causing a central....wouldn't be impossible for congestion to be causing an arousal and thus maybe another transition to sleep which might increase the chance of a sleep onset central or even an arousal central. Impossible to know for sure and with only 2 during the night I don't know that I would want to go through all the work needed to maybe figure it out.

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Miss Emerita
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Re: Centrals a problem?

Post by Miss Emerita » Tue Dec 28, 2021 12:43 pm

Were you wondering whether the congestion could be causing the leaks? If so, I'd say "maybe." The congestion in your nose may be causing you to try hard to breathe through your mouth, and you may be loosening your tape as a result.
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Deborah K.
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Location: Colorado

Re: Centrals a problem?

Post by Deborah K. » Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:40 pm

Yes, I was wondering whether the congestion may be causing the leak rate. I'm pretty sure that was the advice for some others who struggle with congestion. I cannot find any leaks from around the mouth tape or from the Bleep. I checked the connections inside my pap machine, and they all are in place, plus the whole machine, hose, etc., are all new, so I don't think they are leaking either.

I'm not going to give the occasional central or two another thought. As to the leak rate, I can live with it. I don't know anything else to try to get them further down. They are a lot better than they were.
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