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Hi, first time poster here, so please let me know if I need to provide anymore additional information.
I've started CPAP therapy about 1 month ago with a Resmed Airsense 11. I've been trying to adjust settings myself and look through the OSCAR data, but I can't make sense of most things myself, so any help would be appreciated. I've noticed some nights I've been having a lot of leaks especially last night, which I think are affecting my therapy. Most of my events seem to be marked as "Clear Airway", which I'm not sure how to resolve. I saw a suggestion and decreased my EPR from 3 -> 2 which seemed to improve it, but not sure if I should adjust more.
I'm currently using a P30i, which has been the most comfortable for me, and has allowed me to sleep the most peacefully. I previously had a N30i, which I was having leaking issues as well. My first mask I tried was a N20 during my trial period. I don't remember having any leaking or CA issues with that mask, but I absolutely hated it. I could not sleep through the night at all.
I also noticed my recent night has a CSR event, which I'm not sure if I should be concerned about. Trying to search online has only made me more concerned.
Again any help would be greatly appreciated, and please let me know if any additional information or screenshots I should need to provide!
02-22-2025, 07:18 PM (This post was last modified: 02-22-2025, 07:19 PM by SarcasticDave94.)
RE: Help with improving my sleep and settings
Welcome to Apnea Board,
For being on the CPAP a month, you're not doing too badly. The leaks you mention can be an issue, if they continue frequently. Look at your leak chart, and we can see what's going on. The spikey areas are the mask itself, typically. They're little bursts of air. The other, wider and relatively arched type will be a mouth leak. You have some of both.
The CSR area, unless you know specifically you have a heart condition that you have a cardiologist working on, it's not going to be but some variable breathing. Like I said, you'd know if you have the best the condition that causes true CSR flags.
CA on the CPAP are clear airway, and also mean Central Apnea. Check your detailed sleep study report. Were there many, any CA? If no, then this is treatment emergent CA. Lowering the EPR may help avoid them. The root cause of these CA will be due to the CPAP flushing out some extra CO2, which in turn briefly throws off the signal to breathe next. Given time, your nervous system will adapt and the CA will diminish.
PS I mentioned the detailed sleep study report, if you don't have it, call the ordering physician that scripted the CPAP. Request your copy of that detailed sleep study. HIPAA law gives you the right to request and receive it.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
02-22-2025, 07:29 PM (This post was last modified: 02-22-2025, 07:41 PM by Deborah K..)
RE: Help with improving my sleep and settings
Your number of CAs is not very high, so I think yours are treatment-emergent and will lessen as time passes. I would put your EPR setting back to 3. It may cause your AHIs to rise slightly, but EPR treats flow limitations. Flow limitations are very short time apneas, too short to be reported, but good to keep low.
As to your one night with CSR, I would not worry right now. Let's see if it shows up often. If so, we can consider what to do later.
Again, welcome, and best wishes for great therapy and comfort!
Machine: ResMed AirCurve 10 Vauto
Mask: Bleep DreamPort Sleep Solution and F&P Nova Micro
02-26-2025, 11:59 PM (This post was last modified: 02-26-2025, 11:59 PM by uberboi.)
RE: Help with improving my sleep and settings
Thank you Deborah and Dave for the helpful replies. Glad to hear that the CSR area shouldn't be anything to worry about, and it hasn't appeared since. I've set my EPR back to 3 as suggested, and here are my results from the last two days. I've tightened my mask a bit and the leaks seem to have gone down. I've also started using mouth tape, so I think that should've eliminated all the mouth breathing? Hopefully I won't have to use mouth tape forever as it's not the most pleasant thing to sleep with.
I did the at home sleep test with the watch, and I will attach that in a following post. I'm not sure if that is the sleep study report you were referring too?
Any more helpful suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Here is the sleep test results from my in home study
AHI seems to be higher on average recently, and still feeling tired most days. The CA events don't seem to be decreasing. Again any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Are you a side sleeper? If sleeping on your back, consider a wedge pillow or use and adjustable bed if one is available to elevate your head. Also consider using a soft cervical collar to prevent tucking your chin to your chest and cutting off your airway.
I would consider using Kinesiology tape, regular original cotton elastic athletic tape, cut into 5x2 inch strips to minimize your mouth leaks.
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