Returned to my machine - appreciate feedback on Oscar data

Hi - I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in the past but had such a bad time with my mask I stopped using my machine (stupid I know)

I went to a different doctor and got a new mask. 8 months later I'm feeling much better, often sleep the entire night and don't seem to have the leaks and discomfort I was having in the past. I'm actually enjoying going to bed for the first time in years. At the hospital they ask me how I feel and look at AHI on the machine and that's about it. I don't expect more but I'm wondering is there anything else obvious in this data. I don't know how to read it. Any advice appreciated, this is a typical night.

Many Thanks

Look at your pressure line. After you fall asleep the machine is taking it to 9.0 and above. It's not running below 9.0 for the rest of the night. Pressure 4.0min is the factory setting. Change your minimum to 9.0 and post another chart the next day.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 4:49 pm

Look at your pressure line. After you fall asleep the machine is taking it to 9.0 and above. It's not running below 9.0 for the rest of the night. Pressure 4.0min is the factory setting. Change your minimum to 9.0 and post another chart the next day.

Thanks - why should I do that?

Because pressures below 9.0 don't treat your condition.

We also need to figure out why your VS2 is so frequent. Do you have a bedroom partner who tells you that you snore while using CPAP?

KC1977 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 4:56 pm

Thanks - why should I do that?

Your machine keeps coming down to pressures at which you snore (all those red lines).
According to the table, your Median pressure is 15. That means you're spending half the night at a pressure of 15, or more.
Chances are high that if you keep the machine from letting you drop back into "snore" territory, you'll sleep better, and possibly not be pushed into the very high pressures you're being pushed into now.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 5:05 pm

Because pressures below 9.0 don't treat your condition.

The way of telling the machine "don't go there, stupid, I don't want to start snoring" is by raising your minimum pressure. You machine isn't smart enough to keep you at a pressure that prevents the snores - or a majority of them - from recurring.

ozij wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 9:18 pm

KC1977 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 4:56 pm

Thanks - why should I do that?

Your machine keeps coming down to pressures at which you snore (all those red lines).
According to the table, your Median pressure is 15. That means you're spending half the night at a pressure of 15, or more.
Chances are high that if you keep the machine from letting you drop back into "snore" territory, you'll sleep better, and possibly not be pushed into the very high pressures you're being pushed into now.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 5:05 pm

Because pressures below 9.0 don't treat your condition.

The way of telling the machine "don't go there, stupid, I don't want to start snoring" is by raising your minimum pressure. You machine isn't smart enough to keep you at a pressure that prevents the snores - or a majority of them - from recurring.

Looking at the chart carefully, I see that the pressure climbs past 9 at around 1:30 and never drops below 9. So setting a minimum pressure of 9 would simply cause the 'start' pressure to be higher, surely? If the pressure were dropping, even momentarily, below 9 during the night I'd understand what you are saying but since it remains above 9 at all times after 1:30, I can't see what setting min pressure to 9 would do other than raise the start pressure (which seems like a good idea).

The aim is to have one's minimum pressure high enough to prevent obstructive events.
Snoring is an indication of partial obstruction.

I didn't suggest setting the start pressure to 9. (that was ChicagoGranny - edit: this was a hasty statment... CG suggested setting the min to 9 - and reviewing the reults again. A good ided) precise - as ) Nor did I say which the minimal pressure should be.

I did note that the OP is spending half the night at 15 or above.

If these were my results, I'd aim to raise both my start pressure and my minimum pressure gradually, to as high as is necessary to prevent most of the snores. And I'd do it at a rate that was tolerable.

Start pressure and minimum pressure are not the same thing. The minimum is the more important one.

(Edited to correct and clarify -- quotes on the responses were correct, but I changed the text now...)

ozij wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 17, 2023 4:07 am

I didn't suggest setting the start pressure to 9. (that was ChicagoGranny) Nor did I say which your minimal pressure should be.

I didn't say set the minimum pressure to 9. I said this,

Change your minimum to 9.0 and post another chart the next day.

"9.0" is in the context of "post another chart the next day." Based on his chart, I believe it will take more than 9.0 to give optimal treatment. 9.0 is an interim step to what could lead to a higher pressure after seeing the results.

ozij wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 17, 2023 4:07 am

And I'd do it at a rate that was tolerable.

He is already running at higher pressures than 9.0 without complaining. Advise to raise by 0.5 and watch what happens over several days is common in this forum. I don't see any reason to dilly around given the pressures he has already tolerated.

I wasn't careful e enough in my response.

Agree with what ChicagoGranny posted.

Steerpike58 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 17, 2023 12:03 am

(which seems like a good idea)

Then, why are you interfering with the post of a person who needs help?

JKN (kinda)

Over the years, people have wondered exactly what VS2 measures. They have also wondered whether sometimes VS2 reflects vibrations from non-snoring events, e.g., the hose rubbing against a pillow. There's lots of information here:

https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php/OSCAR_snoring

One thing you might want to do is to zoom in to see whether you can see snoring indicators in your flow rate in the areas where you're seeing VS2 flags.

KC1977 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 4:38 pm

. . . I'm feeling much better, often sleep the entire night and don't seem to have the leaks and discomfort I was having in the past. I'm actually enjoying going to bed for the first time in years. . . .

Congratulations on returning to the machine and all of that successful problem-solving that you have already done. Raising that minimum may get you feeling even better, but it was encouraging to read how you're already enjoying the benefits of having put in the work that you have so far!