UARS or OSA

I was diagnosed with mild OSA with AHI 3.0 and RDI 6.9. I attached my nights sleep as I begin this journey and wonder if I might have UARS instead as I have seen that increased flow limit can be a sign of it. I’m newbie so any thoughts or information would be helpful. If this is UARS will a straight CPAP pressure be more helpful than APAP pressure. Currently I have APAP pressure of 4-12 but still constantly waking up. Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

https://sleephq.com/public/ba55b73d-8ce ... c86e6a73a1

Also, any information on reading this report and tips would be helpful.

Which positions do you sleep in? Could you have rolled onto your back about 9:50?

bjbeck04 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 11:47 am

constantly waking up

How often? Have you studied good sleep hygiene? Which medications do you take?

The link to the SleepHq report worked fine, no need to cut and paste from it, and usually, out of context cuts don't help us much....

You're using a 20 minute ramp period - put the ramp on Auto, that way therapy pressure kicks in when you fall asleep.

Your machine is given permission to go down to a pressure of 4 if your breathing is stable enough - but in point of fact, you're spending half the night at a pressure of 5, or more.
That's as good a reason as any to set your minimum pressure on 5 - at the very least.

bjbeck04 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 2:06 pm

Also, any information on reading this report and tips would be helpful.

I believe It's a screenshot from the SleepHQ mobile app.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 3:05 pm

Which positions do you sleep in? Could you have rolled onto your back about 9:50?

bjbeck04 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 11:47 am

constantly waking up

How often? Have you studied good sleep hygiene? Which medications do you take?

I usually sleep on my left side, try to avoid sleeping on my back. And my current nighttime meds are 30mg of Buspar, 1mg Klonopin, and 100mg of Seroquel. My ENT just pushed the min pressure up to 10 to see if that helps. I’m new to this and want to do everything I can do to see if CPAP will help my awakenings which are about 10 times between bedtime and 4am that I can remember, until the end of the the night when my brain is just dumped with adrenaline and in fight or flight mode from all the awakenings so can only sleep in like short bursts for the last 2 hours so like 15-20 more times in those 2 hours. Do you agree that the flow limitations are indicative that my UARS is not controlled?

ozij wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 10:51 pm

The link to the SleepHq report worked fine, no need to cut and paste from it, and usually, out of context cuts don't help us much....

You're using a 20 minute ramp period - put the ramp on Auto, that way therapy pressure kicks in when you fall asleep.

Your machine is given permission to go down to a pressure of 4 if your breathing is stable enough - but in point of fact, you're spending half the night at a pressure of 5, or more.
That's as good a reason as any to set your minimum pressure on 5 - at the very least.

We are going to try 10 for minimum pressure. I usually am awake for 20 minutes anyway so will be able to fall asleep during therapy pressure. I want to exhaust all options on treating this with auto CPAP before moving on to a BIPAP or ASV. Do you agree that the flow limitations do indicate UARS probably is uncontrolled?

It isn't really possible to diagnose UARS using the machine's data.

You have fairly heavy flow limitations at some times and none at others, which raises the suspicion that the FLs are connected with your sleep posture. For example, you may be periodically tucking your chin toward your chest, which can compress your airway just enough to make conditions right for FLs. So if you use a high pillow, try using a lower, fairly firm pillow instead. Some people address chin-tucking by using a soft cervical collar.

One of the tools that can help reduce FLs is pressure support, which on your machine is your EPR. I recommend that you increase it to 3. You'll get a drop of 3 when you exhale; by the same token, you'll get a boost of 3 when you inhale, and that might help you inhale more smoothly and with less effort.

If you find the increase of your minimum pressure from 4 to 10 too hard to handle, take it in stages. I'm betting that with EPR of 3, you'll find a minimum of 7 quite comfortable. You could then go up from there bit by bit. But maybe you'll like 10; give it a try.

I see you used the machine for 6 hours and 15 minutes. You probably thus slept less than 6 hours. Most people need at least 7, and many of us need at least 8. Do try to provide yourself with more time to sleep.