[Diagnosis] AHI, ODI, nose conditions and sleep position

[FranckDG]

Hi,

I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea almost 3 years ago with an AHI of 17.7 and an ODI of 12.2. I have been using a CPAP machine ever since and it's been working great for me (I got my life back basically!). However, I have not given up on someday curing myself of the condition. I have tried losing weight and I am now playing the didgeridoo religiously in the hope of toning these flabby tissues in the back of my throat. In order to measure progress, I have bought my own home test kit straight from China: Commercial Link Removed, Instead search BMC store at aliexpress.
The results I was I getting were similar to my original diagnosis at first. I lost about 25lbs and did not see any improvement. I started playing the Didgeridoo and saw some immediate improvements with my best recording having an AHI of 5.4 and an ODI of 4.2 after 6 weeks. However, while these results were encouraging, they seem to be fluctuating heavily, the worst being last night...  I slept great but the machine recorded an AHI of 17.2 and an ODI of 10.6...

It seems that in the instances where I had the worst recording (like last night), I had a pretty stuffy nose (due to breathing smoke right now in socal). Is it related and can it affect the test that much? Another possibility I thought of is sleep position... It's possible I had my best score because I slept only on my side that night. I was told I did not have positional sleep apnea but my in-lab study was conducted pretty poorly in my opinion and when I looked at the report it really seemed like my sleep apnea was much better when sleeping on my side (but I'm no doctor obviosuly). Finally it's possible my machine is a piece of junk but this seems like pretty straightforward technology to me.

Anyway I am going to try one of these pillows that forces you to sleep on your side for my next test but I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on all that!!

thanks!

Franck-

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[Walla Walla]

Smoke can irritate the tissues in you throat causing them to swell. That could lead to more apnea events. Also sleeping on your back also can cause more events. Tucking your chin in while you sleep can cause your airway to cut off. That also shoes up as clusters of events.
Finally you can have clear airway events that can't be controlled by CPAP.

But with out a sleepyhead chart to look at it's hard to say which one it's likely to be. If you could post a chart it would be helpful.
Guidelines for posting are just below.

[FranckDG]

Hi,

I have the data in the PolyLogic Analysis Software that came with the Test Kit but I have not been able to import it into SleepyHead. I'll do more research on that to see if there is a way. Thanks for the tips!

franck-

[Walla Walla]

I don't think sleepyhead will work with that. Sorry I saw the Remed in your profile and assumed you were using that.

Does your PolyLogic software have detailed data? If so you could post that.

[Mogy]

Hi Franck,
Shin Ryoku posted an interesting link in another recent thread that speaks to some of your questions.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28185772

Apparently, weight loss may reduce apnea when sleeping on your side more than it does when supine. 

The thread
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...re-kick-in

Good luck with your endeavors. I am very interested in how you make out.

[FranckDG]

Yes I have detailed data from the PolyLogic software... not too sure how to output it here... I'll try taking a bunch of screenshots maybe.

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Thanks Shin! I will check that link! I am planning to keep on playing the Didgeridoo 5 times a week 20 minutes a day for at least the next 2 years as I hope there are at least long term benefits and when you get into it, it's a fun hobby anyway!!

f-

[Walla Walla]

If you take screen shots post them on Imgur and post the links here. The link is just below.

[trish6hundred]

Hi FranckDG,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
CONGRATULATIONS! on your weight loss and good luck as you continue CPAP therapy, and have fun with the new hobby.

[FranckDG]

Hi,

I've just about reached 3 months of "didgeridoo therapy" which is 5 days a week 20 minutes per day with circular breathing. I did another home test last night with great results although I think that I slept mostly on my side which explains the good results. Still, these are the best results I have ever got so it's encouraging: AHI=4.4, ODI=3.3. Is that within acceptable range?

I am going to keep at it (keep the CPAP for now, keep playing the didgeridoo and keep testing myself every now and then) but if I see this trend continue, maybe I will be able to put the CPAP away... (I would still have to test myself regularly).

I was able to generate some PDF reports from the Polylogic software but they are around 400kb each and it seems the attachment size is limited to 200kb. Is there any other way I can post them?

thanks!

Franck-

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Actually I was able to do it with Imgur: https://imgur.com/a/d6jA4. Let me know what you think!

thanks!

franck-

[Sleeprider]

Within the next few hours your member status will change and you can then post links to Imgur or other hosting site. There is free software to convert PDF to IMG or PNG if you want to post as images.