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Hello, I have just gotten OSCAR and would appreciate someone taking a look at one of my nights. I typically can't sleep more than 5 or 6 hours anyway, but I'm bothered by leaks waking me up and being very thirsty. The mask I was wearing with this test was a Dream Wear full nasal mask (it goes under the nose and over the mouth). Not my favorite mask, I use a cover and that's helped on the leaking, but not always. I use oxygen set at 2.
I am attempting to attach my screenshots 4 of them
, not sure if it's working.
It's a good start that you have already downloaded OSCAR and uploaded some charts, but we need firstly to get these into proper shape to make analysis as simply as possible.
We need only the following graphs, all in just one chart, in their order of importance:- 1.Events 2.Flow rate 3.Pressure 4.Leak rate 5.Flow limitations
Statistics and Settings sections on the left side should be fully visible.
You can use the F12 key to take the screenshot to get these including snore graph, although sometimes tricky to be able to get all left hand sections included. We can help with this if you have difficulties.
We can then look at the mask and or mouth breathing leaking issues.
The first item that needs to be dealt with are your flow limitations. Currently your 95% value is at 0.30, the recommended objective value should be 0.05 or less. The initial steps I would suggest are to set EPR at 3, and increase your minimum pressure to 7, just for starters, to see where it goes.
We can then look at your graphs to see the resulting impact. Normally this should help with both flow limitations, and cleaning up the hypopneas. Both of these issues can be a source of arousals, resulting in disturbed and poor quality sleep.
As a first step, can you repost your chart after making these adjustments? It would be a helpful to delete the snore graph, as this serves no useful purpose. Takes up valuable space.
After this we need to look at the following:-
1) Mouth leaking, whether mouth or mask leakages. At the moment it does not look too much of an issue. However there are various good solutions for these. In the meantime, as a start, please read through the mask primer link.
2) Sp02 desaturation index of 15.15/hour. This figure should be less than 7. Very often it can follow very approximately the AHI values. We will see what happens after all settings have been optimised as much as possible.
3) The minimum 71% Sp02. What is important here is the duration. If there are just short downward blips of a few seconds, are likely of no consequence.
It is a good move you are already set up to monitor Sp02 and pulse. We can look at the Sp02 and pulse graphs once settings are optimised.
What was the AHI level in your sleep study? We may need to see this study, with of course your personal details redacted.
I finally got one fairly good night of rest, I changed masks and woke up a number of times to sip some water from extreme dry mouth. I switched to just a nasal mask and have to tape my mouth shut, as my mouth opens during sleep. I made the changes you suggested in addition to lowering the top pressure from 20 to 15. I wake up when the pressure gets to 16.
Your graphs are starting to look pretty good. AHI about optimal, but I see still two items that need still to be focused on to improve sleep quality:-
1) Leaking. The 95% leak rate in your first graph was at 3.6l/min, now it is at 24l/min. Is it your new mask ? An "extremely dry mouth" indicates needing to mouth tape, or use a chin strap. Have you actually considered mouth taping?
2) Flow limitations. A bit too high at 0.16. Ideally should be around 0.05. Your relatively high leaks could be distorting this value. Fix the leaking first, otherwise an increase in minimum pressure may be needed, but on the other hand, could push up leaks. Only you can tell what is best action for your sleep quality.
We have lost your settings section again. Try the attached, (see fonts section, bottom of page).
Yes, I did mention in my post that I taped my mouth.
One problem is that my tongue doesn't stay up against the roof of my mouth when I sleep, it falls down, allowing air to come in to my mouth. Taping does solve the air escaping, but it leaves my mouth full of air, thus drying it out. I am doing tongue exercises to retrain it to stay up when sleeping, it can take several weeks for this to happen. Is this something you are familiar with? My dr. looked at me like I was crazy.
I have switched to a different mask, oddly, I didn't detect any leaking, and I was more comfortable with this one and was able to keep it on all night. I usually remove the other one after only a few hours of trying to sleep, which takes up to 3 hours to fall asleep while wearing it.
I did make the changes to my settings under preferences, I'll post my graph again for you if you like.
Thank you so much for your patience with me.
Your mouth should only dry out with the fast passage of air over the skin’s surface, i.e. rapidly escaping. Try doubling up the tape, or curl your lips inwards before fitting tape to get a better seal.
With a full face mask you shouldn't need any tape, your mouth can open freely and vent air out.
, not sure if it's working.
