Another ‘please help with settings’ thread

[MJtheGOAT]

Hi, long time lurker first time poster etc. I’m looking for guidance based on OSCAR data to drop AHI and improve sleep. I have no issues tweaking pressure range etc. myself. I’ve recently dropped my max pressure back to 12 as I was getting central apneas and had read this could help. But any advice appreciated and happy to answer any questions.
 

   
   
   

[OpalRose]

Welcome to Apnea Board!

The biggest issues you have is "Positional Apnea".  This is usually caused from '"chin tucking".  Possibly you're sleeping in a position that allows your head to tilt forward into your chest, thus cutting off your air.  Somewhat like a water hose that has a kink in it, and stops the flow of water.  

Positional Apnea is evident by the clumps of apnea.  Look through this link describing what position apnea is.  You will notice that your graphs look similar to the examples.

https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph...onal_Apnea

Some things you can do to help with this are:  

If sleeping on your back, use only one pillow, preferably flatter but firm and supportive.  A pillow that is too tall, or using more than one pillow can cause your head to tilt forward.  This can also occur if sleeping on your side, like sleeping in a fetal position.  

Some folk here use a soft cervical collar to overcome this problem, but I would first try a different sleeping position and a different pillow.  

Question:  Did you have a sleep study and did it show any Central Apnea?  The CA's on your chart may be caused from the way you are sleeping and may lean more obstructive.  

I think once you can get the positional sleeping solved, you will see way less apnea period.  

Right now I wouldn't recommend any pressure changes as raising pressure won't blast through those clumps of apnea and could make it worse.

[staceyburke]

I totally agree with the positional apnea.  If you clean that up you will feel better, that is the most important part of helping you.

The other thing I saw was 45 minute ramp.  It starts up again each time you try to get back to sleep and during that period you are not getting any therapy..  Please turn off your ramp.

[MJtheGOAT]

Thanks for your advice staceyburke and OpalRose. 

There was never any central apnea indicated in my sleep study and when I started using CPAP the machine didn’t pick up central apneas - this is based off the ‘screen’ report from the machine, wasn’t using an SD card at that stage. 

I’ve turned off ramp as per your comments. 

I’ve added some more OSCAR photos to consider. The ones from 24 and 25 March are using a single pillow, rather than my usual 3 pillow tower.

The pic from 29 March is with a low pillow and a cervical collar. Seem to still be getting some hi AHI numbers, but the cervical collar looks to have dropped the CA number significantly.

Thanks again for anyone who can help.