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02-02-2016, 05:16 PM (This post was last modified: 02-02-2016, 05:23 PM by rhodesengr.)
OA Events preceded by flow spike
I was looking at the data for the last few nights. I notice that most of my OA events are preceded by a large spike in the flow rate. So I am curious what that is. Is that like a gasp followed by not breathing for a while? I would think if there was an apnea starting it would be preceded by a decline in flow as the blockage set in. It looks more like a gasp followed by holding by breath.
Attached is a zoomed in view of one of my typical OA events
That's an interesting observation. I do not have the same patterns with my OA's. Generally my flow rate curve starts having a lower amplitude, like a hypopnea, but then I stop breathing.
Do any of the other graphs reveal anything interesting happening right before the OA? Since your pressure was steadily increasing before the OA, I'm wondering if you were snoring, and that was that last loud snore right before the airway closes. That seems to be a common pattern for those with that cycle of snore followed by an OA.
Machine: Resmed AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her Mask Type: Full face mask Mask Make & Model: Resmed f20 Humidifier: Resmed Integrated humidifier CPAP Pressure: 11/14 CmH2O CPAP Software: Not using software
Other Comments: I started CPAP in 2008. Totally blind since birth.
02-02-2016, 08:58 PM (This post was last modified: 02-02-2016, 09:02 PM by Sleeprider.)
RE: OA Events preceded by flow spike
You may be holding your breath. There is a large inhale and no exhalation, on the graph during the OA event, then a second inhale and normal breathing. I would 'guess' you may have exhaled through your mouth, registering an OA. Could be a dream or a yawn, but I doubt you experienced much, if any desaturation. there is just a bit of recovery breathing.
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02-02-2016, 10:04 PM (This post was last modified: 02-02-2016, 10:07 PM by rhodesengr.)
RE: OA Events preceded by flow spike
(02-02-2016, 07:50 PM)Possum Wrote: Since your pressure was steadily increasing before the OA,
well it looks that way on the zoomed-in timescale but that pressure change is just one of the random pressure test pulses the PR560 puts out. It is not due to anything going on with my breathing. I asked about these pressure spikes elsewhere and was informed that PR machines just do that, i.e. they randomly poke you with a pressure pulse. If you look at the zoomed out graph, there are many of them throughout the night.
There may be other graphs of interest but I think they show the same thing. For example, there is a big spike on Tidal Volume showing a lot of air going in and slowly going down. So that also looks like a gasp before an OA.
(02-02-2016, 08:58 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: Is this typical, or a one-off?
typical of pretty much all my OA events. The spike varies some and I generally only have about 3 per night but I'd say the one I posted is pretty much like almost all of the others over various nights.
I would guess that you took a large breath and then tossed and turned in bed and it took you 10+ seconds to settle in the new position. And the machine duly noted this as apnea.
PRS1 Auto & Dreamstation Auto w/ P10 and straight pressure of 8cm
