[Diagnosis] Looking for advice on how to make my machine work better

[Nathan37]

Hello, I have been on my CPAP for 14 months now, and as of November I lost my job and with it my health insurance. Before that I was told the doctors monitor and adjust my machine regularly, however I feel like it never got better and in fact got worse. I have the Oscar data and would appreciate some feedback on my statistics as well as advice on what to adjust my machine to.

[Crimson Nape]

Hi Nathan37!  -  
You need to do the following:

1. Make sure that your display is set to the Standard view.  (View > Reset Graphs > Standard)
   
2. To take a screenshot of your Daily screen, select one of the following:
   • For Windows or Linux: Use the F12 key
     
   • For a Mac: Use the Fn+F12  key combination.
     

This will provide the additional information on the left side we need to offer any worthwhile help.

Please review the links in my signature.

- Red

[Nathan37]

Thank you for the reply! Does this look correct?

[Crimson Nape]

You might have the wrong type of CPAP for your type of apneas.  Usually when the apneas are predominantly CAs, an ASV CPAP is the machine of choice.  With that said, and recognizing your financial predicament, I would try the following:

• Turn off the Ramp.
  
• Set the pressure range to:
  • If you leave it in the Auto mode:
    • Minimum Pressure: 7.0
      
    • Maximum Pressure: 7.0
      
  • If you set the AS10 to the CPAP mode:
    • Pressure: 7.0
      

Both of the pressure settings above achieve the same thing, it's whichever is easiest for you.  I am trying to see if I can get the CAs reduced by eliminating pressure change induced events.

Good luck!
- Red

[Nathan37]

Thank you very much! At one point I called into the sleep lab and the nurse was looking over my numbers and mentioned it was odd that i had so many CA events but then nothing came of it. I will adjust the settings and reply with results in a couple days or a week. Really appreciate the feedback and suggestions!

[Nathan37]

Hello, I noticed that i had a period of just over 25 min where I was experiencing Cheyne Stokes Respiration. I just wanted to check and make sure that is normal and nothing of concern. Thank you!

[Nathan37]

In addition to the CSR question, i was looking over some of the other graphs and this caught my eye, I am wondering if its related and if it's of any concern.

[Crimson Nape]

CSR was used by Resmed to even include periodic breathing. This is more likely the case since it was just a short period. The usage of this term has caused concern by many that experienced it.

- Red

[Nathan37]

Oh ok, I hadn't heard of it before and it seemed like it could be an issue. Anything of note for how i have very low events and then they build up to 45 then taper back down over the course of an hour and half or is that normal for CA?

[Crimson Nape]

That is a rolling average and really doesn't provide any therapeutic information.  

Here is the technical explanation of this graph:
The AHI Graph
"This graph is often misunderstood by many new CPAP users and because of that, we often recommend new OSCAR users simply ignore this graph.

The y-value in the AHI graph gives a running count of the number of apneas scored during the last 60 minutes of the current CPAP session. In other words, the y-value of the OSCAR AHI graph at time t is the total number of events (OAs+CAs+Hs) recorded during the last hour of run time in the current session. When a particular event becomes one hour old, it is dropped from the running total. Because each event that is scored remains part of the AHI graph until it is an hour old, the AHI graph will remain above 0.0 for long periods of time when no events are being scored. "

- Red