New to CPAP and struggling (sort of)

So if the data on my watch is showing I am going into the 80's, does that mean I need more pressure?
The numbers on Oscar are confusing and I don't really know what they mean.

For one thing, a standard Cpap won't address those centrals and neither will raising pressure - a slightly different version does... but others more knowledgeable will tell you about it and you can then ask your MD.

2young2bawake wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 08, 2023 12:16 pm

So if the data on my watch is showing I am going into the 80's, does that mean I need more pressure?
The numbers on Oscar are confusing and I don't really know what they mean.

The numbers are only part of the story.
If you're asking about how to understand that charts, you have this:https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.p ... _The_Guide
and excellent videos from The Lanky Lefty.

An important part of understanding the nightly chart is knowing how you feel and how you slept. For example, the 40 or so minutes from about 23:27 to 00:12 look like a bout of sleepless tossing and turning, in which whatever the machine tells you about your breathing tells us nothing about what happens to your breathing when you sleep. And there's a big leak during that time.

There's a bizzare combination of "Ramp off" and EPR (exhale pressure relief) for "Ramp only". Ramp off is usually more helpul for most of us. EPR is a comfort feature that helps when we have trouble breathing out against higher pressures.

The charts also show that your minimum pressure is rather useless - you often zoom up and away from it.

Take time out from your day (not when you're tired and going to sleep) to learn about fitting your mask. Some manufacturers have trouble shooting instruction. Use the machine's maks fit opton to see how your fit functions at high pressure, and make sure to make the fit lying down.

If this were my data, I would raise the minimum presser to 7 -you're spending half your time at 7 (6.96) or above it as is. The "more" you need is the higher minimum, you don't need "more" in the maximum.

ozij wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 08, 2023 8:00 pm

An important part of understanding the nightly chart is knowing how you feel and how you slept. For example, the 40 or so minutes from about 23:27 to 00:12 look like a bout of sleepless tossing and turning, in which whatever the machine tells you about your breathing tells us nothing about what happens to your breathing when you sleep. And there's a big leak during that time.

I have a beard and mustache so it might be why all the leaks. I will see if I can get leaks down.

ozij wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 08, 2023 8:00 pm

There's a bizzare combination of "Ramp off" and EPR (exhale pressure relief) for "Ramp only". Ramp off is usually more helpul for most of us. EPR is a comfort feature that helps when we have trouble breathing out against higher pressures.

So I turned off the ramp, I felt like it was not enough to breath and was getting short on breath. I was not aware the EPR was for the ramp only. I will have to speak with Dr. about that one.

I have been reading about the terms and hopefully can assist my Dr. with my care.

2young2bawake wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 09, 2023 10:48 am

ozij wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 08, 2023 8:00 pm

There's a bizzare combination of "Ramp off" and EPR (exhale pressure relief) for "Ramp only". Ramp off is usually more helpul for most of us. EPR is a comfort feature that helps when we have trouble breathing out against higher pressures.

So I turned off the ramp, I felt like it was not enough to breath and was getting short on breath.

Good.

I was not aware the EPR was for the ramp only. I will have to speak with Dr. about that one.

Not sure I understand you. Was it the Dr. who set EPR for ramp only, and off for the rest of the time?

https://imgur.com/a/YJRwEHr oscar from last night.

My stats looked good on resmed ...... woke with terrible headache and O2 stats were down to 84 %. Something is not adding up.

ozij wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 09, 2023 11:05 am

Not sure I understand you. Was it the Dr. who set EPR for ramp only, and off for the rest of the time?

I only turned off the ramp feature. Was not aware whom set the EPR feature to only on ramp. My screen input does not allow for me to change that setting. I will ask the Dr about that feature

https://imgur.com/a/aTrWTCz

Here is the same data in sleepHQ. i dont know if is better or worse than OSCAR.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 6:37 pm

The SD card MUST be in the machine for someone to see/get their detailed data.
Right now your old data is just the summary data that is stored on the machine itself.
Any of the good detailed stuff has to be written directly to the SD card while in use.
So that's why you don't have any detailed data or more useful graphs....nothing to see....if the machine doesn't write to the SD card all you get are summary numbers.
Doesn't matter what software you use....if the machine doesn't put the data on the card then the software can't make it up.

I have data from the last three nights if you need to see the detailed data

I am sorry but I have a family emergency to deal with......we will have to have the others help out.
My plate is full.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 09, 2023 12:54 pm

I am sorry but I have a family emergency to deal with......we will have to have the others help out.
My plate is full.

Understood, take care of family and I will send prayers.

Imgur is temporarily down, and I didn't see a link to SleepHQ data. So I can comment only on the remark that "O2 stats were down to 84."

It's important to know more than that. How much of the night did you spend below, say, 90? If you mostly just had a few dips into the 80s, that might well just reflect a brief loss of full contact with your measuring device. If you spent 30 minutes at 84, that's another story.

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 09, 2023 3:24 pm

Imgur is temporarily down, and I didn't see a link to SleepHQ data. So I can comment only on the remark that "O2 stats were down to 84."

It's important to know more than that. How much of the night did you spend below, say, 90? If you mostly just had a few dips into the 80s, that might well just reflect a brief loss of full contact with your measuring device. If you spent 30 minutes at 84, that's another story.

https://sleephq.com/public/472e14a3-e4c ... 9c5531d0d9

Sorry i am still figuring out this CPAP and posting.

2young2bawake wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 09, 2023 11:55 am

https://imgur.com/a/YJRwEHr oscar from last night.

My stats looked good on resmed ...... woke with terrible headache and O2 stats were down to 84 %. Something is not adding up.

ozij wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 09, 2023 11:05 am

Not sure I understand you. Was it the Dr. who set EPR for ramp only, and off for the rest of the time?

I only turned off the ramp feature. Was not aware whom set the EPR feature to only on ramp. My screen input does not allow for me to change that setting. I will ask the Dr about that feature

I understand you want to work closely with your doctor.
Does he look at your charts? Will he look at them if you show him?
The pressure swings on your charts show that the machine is dropping to pressures that allow partial obstructions to happen.
Will you doctor agree to your making pressure - and setting - changes based on your own monitoring ?
It's very easy to get into the clinical menu and change anything you deem necessary. Do you want to do that? Or do you feel its important to have each change OKayed by your doctor?
Looking at the charts, you see how flow limitations appear as the pressure drops, causing the pressure to go up again.
Your leak - especially large leak - is not acceptable.

The following explanation of PAP (Positive Air Pressure) from Dec. 2022 is well worth reading:

Treatment of sleep-disordered breathing with positive airway pressure devices: technology update

To the OP: I'd still like to know how much of the time your O2 levels were in the 80s.

ozij wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 09, 2023 10:02 pm

I understand you want to work closely with your doctor.
Does he look at your charts? Will he look at them if you show him?
The pressure swings on your charts show that the machine is dropping to pressures that allow partial obstructions to happen.
Will you doctor agree to your making pressure - and setting - changes based on your own monitoring ?

So, i spoke with the Dr and she is setting me back up with the sleep clinician to address my issues.

ozij wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 09, 2023 10:02 pm

It's very easy to get into the clinical menu and change anything you deem necessary. Do you want to do that? Or do you feel its important to have each change OKayed by your doctor?
Looking at the charts, you see how flow limitations appear as the pressure drops, causing the pressure to go up again.
Your leak - especially large leak - is not acceptable.

I don't understand the "why" so I don't know how to change the setting to fix. I was hoping someone here has had similar problems and could help.

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 10, 2023 11:10 am

I'd still like to know how much of the time your O2 levels were in the 80s.

My average for the night is in the 90's. It is like I have many clear air events where I just stop breathing.

Edit:
Partial post escaped before I finished. Deleted text.