First Night with CPAP - help adjusting settings

[julianhtc]

Here's some more data from night #2
I changed the pressure settings to 6-12 and had an EPR of 3, and had ramp off. Like you mentioned, it seems like I only have CA events. If I only have central apnea, is there a point to trying to figure out these settings? I went to a sleep doctor months ago and he said he was fairly confident I didn't have sleep apnea, so we didn't do the sleep test. I'm afraid to go back to him since he was kind of dismissive but I feel like maybe I should?

I've had brain fog, memory issues, and concentration issues for like 6 years now (I'm 27), and I feel like sleep apnea would help explain everything. I was really hoping this would fix it

   
   
   

[jdougc]

Sorry to hear that you are fighting those issues.

I suggest raising your pressure to 7 cm, the minimum for an adult.

Lower your maximum pressure to 7.4cm just above your 95%

This very tight pressure range may decrease what appears to be treatment emergent CAS.

Since your flow limitations are controlled, lower your EPR to 2 for a few nights and see if those CAs do decrease. 
If the Flow Limits increase, then raise EPR back to 3

[SarcasticDave94]

Personally, it seems like some details were missing on the test results. Unless you're confident that's all there was, you might need to request the detailed version. No offense, it just seemed like a dumbed down summary in a way.

As for the machine you have now, you can try to avoid the CA. Whatever variant these CA are, the bilevel ResMed AirCurve 10 or 11 VAuto will be better capable to help. If the CA just can't be controlled, then you might want to consider the ResMed AirCurve 10 or 11 ASV, which is specifically used to treat Central Apnea.

[ejbpesca]

An OSCAR sleep report can be uploaded as you did your sleep study report by a screenshot.  I have found it necessary at times to save the screenshot as a file to my computer and then choose the file, not drag and drop it.

I see an AHI of 5.4 on the sleep study report which as indicated places you in Normal.  You are below Mild sleep apnea.  By that study, you would not need to use a CPAP/APAP machine.

I do not see classifications of apneas of Central, Obstructive, or Hypopneas.  I would be concerned that by using a CPAP machine Central Apneas may be triggered.

An in-lab study will produce a more extensive report and give settings other than 4-20.  For example, my Severe Apnea settings as prescribed by a sleep study are 12 min. - 20 max. (12-20).

Researching sleep apnea online typically gives ≈ 5 AHI as Normal and not in need of therapy.  My sleep study produced an AHI 32 over a six-hour sleep session.  I can experience as high as AHI 70 for over an hour during a sleep session.

[ejbpesca]

Low quality sleep can have many causes outside of Sleep Apnea.  Your doctor agrees with your Sleep Study report that you are Normal.

I would be concerned that by using an APAP machine CAs are being caused by the therapy.

Another indication of not needing APAP therapy is the blood oxygen levels on your Sleep Report.  From what I see on them you remained at normal O2 levels during sleep.

[julianhtc]

I was able to get the detailed test results

   
   
   

I haven't used the CPAP machine in case I actually shouldn't be using it. I've scheduled an appointment with a sleep doctor to go over the results and see if I need an in-lab exam to see if I do have central apnea.

[SarcasticDave94]

AHI of 5.5 is just within the mild Apnea category. You did have some Apnea in the test. Under pAHI 3% there's 38 events in about 7 hours. Zero Central Apnea listed.

Your call on using the CPAP, it may help but you're at minimal required treatment. All users need the CPAP tuned to the individual.

[julianhtc]

Do you know if mild apnea could be the cause for memory and attention issues?

[ejbpesca]

Your test results are interesting.  Thanks for posting them.  I would investigate other possible causes of memory and attention problems before deciding that borderline mild sleep apnea is to blame.   

 Julian, you are doing the right thing by consulting a doctor with your sleep study results and asking about an in-lab study.  Best of luck.  

What severe sleep apnea did to me was a daily feeling of overwhelming fatigue and having to struggle to not fall asleep.  Memory and attention problems did not come until I was much older and may be due only to aging.

[julianhtc]

Thank you to everyone for your responses