Help with OSCAR data | Low AHI but still exhausted

Hey ya'll, this is my first post here in hopes of getting some much needed insight and guidance. I was diagnosed with moderate OSA about two years ago and have been on my CPAP ever since. Symptoms and issues that led me to get diagnosed included: low energy/motivation levels, brain fog, snoring, feeling unrefreshed after a night's sleep, depression, difficulty concentrating, and bruxism.

When I first started CPAP therapy, I saw some improvement for the first month or so, but gradually regressed. I talked to my sleep doctor but all he saw were my good AHI numbers and basically chalked it up to my mental issues. My average AHI is about 2-3, but I still wake up unrefreshed and the issues stated above are still all too present. Additionally, I feel like my breathing has gotten shallower and more labored.

I am a 160 lb | 5'10" | 26 y/o male. I usually use Airfit P10 nasal pillows but switch over to a Philips Dreamwear full face mask when I'm congested.

Please see some OSCAR screenshots from last night below:

Thank you!

Your numbers look good, those graphs are good. I like my pressure line a bit flatter, but that's just my opinion.

I don't think there are any CPAP adjustments that will give you the sleep quality your looking for.

Is there a reason your max pressure setting's only at 14 vs 20 (where most leave it except for spec. reasons)? You could also try bumping the min. to 9 while you're at it.

I don't see anything on the report that is just screaming "fix me and you will feel better".
Would a minor tweak here or there help? I don't know but there's nothing urgently needing change on this report anyway.

I would be investigating other potential causes for not feeling the nice numbers you are getting.

How is your sleep quality? Are you waking often during the night? If so, any idea why? This report shows around 8 hours of sleep...do you normally get 7 to 8 hours of real sleep (awake laying in bed tossing and turning doesn't count as real sleep).

Do you have any other physical or mental health issues that might impact how you feel during the day?

Are you taking any medications of any kind even OTC and if so, what?
Do you drink alcohol in the evening?
Any recreational drug use?

dugongdojo wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 19, 2020 2:30 pm

Hey ya'll, this is my first post here in hopes of getting some much needed insight and guidance.


Thank you!

welcome to the zoo! to add to the good advice you have gotten, you may want to google "sleep hygiene". i don't follow everything on the list, but i do try incorporate a bulk of the things.

has helped me quite a bit.

good luck!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but for some people, improved CPAP results don't inevitably lead to less exhaustion/more energy.

I've been on CPAP, with full compliance (i.e., 7 nights/week, 6+ hours/night) for 25 years, but I'm still often drowsy during the day (so I'll nod off if sitting too long). And that's even with the daily use of Armodafinil (generic Nuvigil, at maximum dosage. But I continue using my cpap because I figure that I'm better with it than without, e.g., no heart issues.

Hang in there!