Central Sleep Apnea, Anyone try supplemental O2 via nasal canula

I would guess, without actually knowing and/or having experience, that supplemental oxygen would only work if it was a defect or deficit in your oxygen exchange mechanism BEYOND where the apneic processes take place...that is, in your lungs. As you know, there are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex (a combination of both types). If you do indeed have solely central apnea, you are not reacting systemically to hypercapnia. Your brain breathing regulator doesn't notice that your level of serum CO2 is rising beyond a safe limit, and it fails to induce breathing. If you're not breathing, what would a canula supplying oxygen do?

If you don't already have one, your central apnea can only be effectively treated by an adaptive servo-ventilator (an ASV). Some therapists and sleep labs will tell you that you can use a bi-PAP, but that's too often not the case, and our patients suffer as a result.

If you do get better saturation in trials using a canula, by all means continue to use it! However, this would suggest to me that you are breathing well enough to use the supplement, and that you're problem is likely not so much centrals where you simply don't react to high concentrations of CO2.

Thanks for the reply. I don't know whats going on, and so far am not very happy with the treatments provided. They seem to be just throwing things at the wall, try this, if it doesn't work then we will try something else. right now using a Resmed set at fixed 10-14 pressure setting.
higher setting priviously with auto setting was not good. waiting for them to eval the new data from the WatchPat One I did at home. I think they are looking for restless leg or periodic Leg movements, and possible medication.
Any way thanks for you evaluation. I think its something with the feedback loop and
CO2 and O2 and shallow breathing. I can be awake and just relaxing and breathing at 25-30 breaths a minute and watch the O2 go down with each breath from 98 to 88 and then back up at the just short of 1 minute cycle.
again. thanks for you evaluation. I will provide more data when I get data.
As an scientist and engineer, I am looking for an explanation and then a suggested treatment that makes sense instead of just try this, try that, etc.

One common generator of centrals is pressure that is too high, especially the EPR (expiration pressure relief). You might want to try a max of about 12-ish, with some fiddling by adjusting every three/four days to ensure you get a good sampling at each pressure, but also reducing your EPR. You could try a lower limit of, say, 8, with an EPR of 3, and if that doesn't improve the CAs, then try 2, and finally 1. Don't be surprised if you eventually need a 'fixed pressure', as I happen to need (but I have very few recorded centrals). Mine is 8/5.6, with an EPR of 3, and it works really well. But we find that an EPR that is too high might flush your system too much with O2 and then leave you cascading over the next 30 seconds into hypercapnia.

I see that your images show that you already use OSCAR from apneaboard.com. Good. What kind of feedback have you had from the wizards over there like Sleeprider?

My first sleep study they jumped on after first hours and spent rest of session trying to control with mask and all attempts never trallybcontrolled it.
Moved to a university clinic and did whole 2nd whole nite session in sleep clinic just recording data including CO2 measurements.
Problem was my Hemoglobin was down to low 70’s due to bleeding hemeroids . Ferritin, Iron and all the Red cell numbers were low at the time.
After surgery for hemeroids and blood transfusions and iron infusions i had 3rd sleep clinic study to titrate machine settings that work.
Never could control the apneas but got the best they could. Ordered a ResMed curve auto machine with auto control set to 4 over 14-18. Not good, caused emergent CA. Changed to fixed 10-14.
Still getting 20-40 CA per hour. Now requested the home study WatchPat One while wearing the mask with ResMed set to fixed 10-14. Oscar showed. 40 events per hour.
I will get back with more data once doctor get bach with results. I did get a call that the doctor scoring the watchpat wanted to know if i was wearing the mask when i took the test!
So, I seem to be an unusual case.

Sheeesh!! I can't imagine what it's like when the 'hired help' can't manage to bring one's problems under control. I have done well by the sleep care system, but I'm beginning to wonder if I am in the small group who seem to skate through with little or no difficulty. When you look at all the help being sought on apneaboard, you'd think the system is either not using real science or it's almost pathologically indifferent to the problems people have getting their breathing regulated during sleep. Still, as you know only too well, sleep apnea is an extremely complicated field that requires hard ingenuity and solid engineering to get it beaten into submission. And, it's still not a safe bet. I hope you get things sorted out. I'd be curious if you do, and what the solution was. And, please return to the other site and tell everyone what went right...or wrong.

Well I can tell you I've had sleep apnea like issues for 30 years, almost always within first 30 to 45 minutes of falling asleep, rarely after. First sleepp doc said I had mild sleep apnea. CPAP seemed to make matters worse. Next doc said I don't have sleep apnea. Last two had no idea. I finally gave up.

I have s!eep apnea and.use a CPAC every night but really irritates my small nose! Would.it be ok to just use this new "anti snoring chin strap " instead? Thank you.

Whoever prescribed the CPAP should be working with you. The mask also bothered my nose, i tried a nasal pillow but you cant open mouth or it leaks out. Can use chin strap WITH the mask. We switched to a nasal mask which was like the pillow but also covers your mouth. Pretty good.
Talk to you supplier or doctor.
My init was a RESMED and i can name their specific masks if needed

Thank you so much!

You can purchase cloth and foam liners for many masks. You can use a Barriere Cream....that spelling. See your well-stocked drug store.

You should consider trialing other masks, as well.

Chin straps for CPAP users are meant to keep the jaw closed and to help prevent leakage through open mouths or lips...which negates the therapy. The chin straps are not meant to control snoring per se, although they may have that salutary effect for some people. I happen to tape my mouth closed. A suitable bandage, medical tape, PAPMD brand tape pads....all will work, but it's not for everyone. While I won't/can't sleep without my mouth taped shut, the idea gives my brother the heebie-jeebies. Again, it won't be a solution for everyone.