[Diagnosis] Ridiculously-high AHI - I Comply or I Die an Untimely Death

[Sleeprider]

I ended up buying another one and then saw your post so I bought the large version of what you suggested too .

I'd like to take a higher-resolution look at the breathing graph after doing some research on abnormal breathing patterns. My breathing pattern during this cycle of sleep seems to resemble the cluster breathing variant of a rare breathing pattern known as Biot's Breathing. Could someone with more expertise than me analyze the data ? I don't want to give into Dr. Google's health anxiety. I plan to sleep tonight and will take 20mg olanzapine, so I will do my best to get more data .

Interesting chart.  Take a look at the Flow Limitation wiki I put together http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...Limitation  

I think you will see that your apnea strongly fits the profile for Positional apnea, and may even be a candidate to add to that wiki. What I see is i creasing flow limitation from relaxing into a choke, leading to full obstruction regardless of pressure, followed by arousal,recovery breathing, and the cycle repeats.

[Angstromicus]

Thanks Sleeprider . Looks like I won't need to post any more graphs until I get my cervical collars (you can definitely use my graph in the wiki article if you'd like ). Hopefully then I can reduce my EPAP and have a more comfortable breathing experience .

[ColoradoMom]

I plan to sleep tonight and will take 20mg olanzapine, so I will do my best to get more data .

Olanzapine to help you sleep so you can get more data, have you cleared that with the prescribing doc? 
Olanzapine could potentially cause even more nighttime respiration issues, if I were you I would clear the Olanzapine with both the Psychiatrist and Pulmonologist.
Also consider when collecting data to evaluate treatments it is important to not change more than one thing at a time.


Your case is complex, our medical system doesnt always deal well with complex. Specialists often fail patients because of compartmentalized thinking and a failure to communicate with other doctors. I recommend that you tell your psychiatrist about your severe sleep/ nighttime breathing issues and request the psychiatrist call the pulmonologist so together they can determine appropriate medications for you. I also recommend that you call your pulmonologist's office and push for an earlier appointment. Doctors can get insurance to cover appointments prior to the generic guidelines if they can justify medical necessity, with your crazy high treated AHI numbers the medical necessity of better treatment is apparent.

Good luck to you! Your positive attitude is inspiring! Love your alarm/ hose management system!

[Angstromicus]

Ok thx ColoradoMom . I'll make a game plan for getting a walk-in appointment in with my pdoc on Monday with the other day's data for clonazepam and this weekend's data (hopefully good Zzz... and DATA DATA DATA!) for the olanzapine. Definitely stopping clonazepam because I'm very suspicious of the 4mg needed at the probably minimal medication tolerance level I was at to fall asleep with the mask contributed to the insane AHI even at the high pressure level.

I'm a bit hesitant to request an earlier appointment with my initial Bi-Pap therapy evaluation because its just another month away; but depending on this weekend's data I may have to if AHI > 5 at least right? Although,  I'm still waiting on the cervical collar to get here (from the many recommendations it seems like it could be a game changer ).

I don't know if I've posted it here by my follow up appointment is on Jan 4 but it won't be with the pulmonologist then but instead with a sleep tech I believe (still may get my machine settings adjusted though). If I have a bad AHI this weekend should I request an appointment with the pulmonologist instead? I'll be sure to talk to my psychiatrist about that too.

Again ColoradoMom and everyone else .

Edit: Oh and yes the Olanzapine is cleared for as needed. Its a back-up to vraylar.