Zero AHI with one weird trick? (Vitamin E)

[Russ6813]

OK, I will continue to work on sleeping the whole night going forward.  Also keep track of the results the next week with the Vitamin E oddity.  Then review the Vauto option with my sleep specialist next meeting.

All good news, thanks again. 

Russ

[Russ6813]

Hey SnorryBob, 

I'm looking to build your creation but can you photograph a couple different angles?  Not quite sure from the one pic where to cut and where on the body you wear it.  

The foam cuts easily through the middle and you thread the suspenders through?

Wearing - I put the two suspender straps around my stomach and chest area and the block lays flat against my lower back?  As opposed to perpendicular sticking out from my back?  

Why suspenders and not some velcro type straps?  I assume it was easier than trying to find straps and adding velcro ends.

Thanks,

Russ

[Hydrangea]

WRT sleep patterns...

My sleep patterns have ebbed and flowed since starting on xPAP therapy.

At first, I slept awesomely for a good amount of time (8-9 hours). (My body was soaking up the restful sleep.)

Then, I could only sleep for a few hours (4-ish hours). (My body felt more rested than ever before in my life, so why would I need to sleep?)

Then I got more sleep, but fragmented (7-8 hours, but fragmented). (I was working at teaching my body that sleep is good, and to not let myself be distracted by All.The.Things.)

Now I get non-fragmented sleep, but a bit less of it (6-7.5 hours).

Our bodies have been deprived of restful sleep for such a long time (for me, I'd say it was at least 25 years), so it's an adjustment for the body to make this jump.

[E.W.]

The topic of vitamin E actualy may be very involved. Some mega studies show that
the use of vitamin E as a supplement may increase the risk of early death exactly why
this happens is not known. On a personal note a while back I had my DNA analyzed and
ended up getting some health recommendations tailored to my DNA. In my report it indicates
that suplimental vitamin E is something I need to avoid as it will down regulate my natural
antioxidants. Again this recommendation was aimed toward my individual DNA and might
not apply to anyone else here,

[snorybob]

Russ6813:
I'm sending you 2 pictures asked in your PM.

The white section goes on your back. The light blue is where you slice the block top & bottom.

The materiel bands with velcro is a better idea then the suspenders. They stretch & the block moves like your pillows.

Improving is ok with me. Thank you. I'll change them later on. I used them because they where not warm (2 in. wide).

Hopefully, like me, you'll get used to sleep on your side & won't need the block anymore.

Occasionally I have to use it for a little while to bring me back to order.  

Any ?'s, don't hesitate!  

                             sb.

[Russ6813]

Fantastic, it's clear now how you set it up, I'll get to work on it.

Thanks again!

Russ

[snorybob]

Russ6813:


Just a few things to help with side sleeping (you might already know) beside block or pillow, you can get knee cushion & hose buddy.

Both on amazon, use full & cheap $$$ especially the hose buddy, keeps the hose untangle & out of way (you'll like it) or DIY device.


                            sb.

[Russ6813]

An update on my situation.  My one time Zero AHI night appears to be an anomaly.  Not sure if it was related to vitamin E at all at this point.  The holidays eating and drinking and different bedtimes may have made it hard to reproduce anyway. I have had off and on sleep success -been able to sleep more through the night most nights.  With the holidays over my sleep schedule and eating habits are more normal.

SnoryBob,  I built a similar device to yours but apparently I need to move more as the side of my hip started bothering me from being in one position all night.  I went back to the pillows to keep me on my side but still let me move more.  I still seem to keep my overall ahi numbers down with pillows and wearing the neck collar.

Biggest problem I've had lately is on nights I can't fall asleep for an hour it shows massive obstructive apneas even though I'm awake and breathing what I think is normally.  At these points I can hear the tube breathing with me on inhale and also feel some stuttered pressure fighting against me at the end of each exhale.  Last night got frustrated and turned the machine off, got out of bed and read for an hour.  

Is there a way to reset the counter on nights like these?  

All attached pics are from the same night.  First pic is the full nights data, 2nd pic is 45 mins of awake showing 15 AHI, third pic is last 6 hours showing 2.02 AHI.  

I'm guessing I should not put on the mask until I am about to pass out lol.  Trying not to be a perfectionist but curious if there is another solution?

Thanks,

Russ

[Hydrangea]

Biggest problem I've had lately is on nights I can't fall asleep for an hour it shows massive obstructive apneas even though I'm awake and breathing what I think is normally.  At these points I can hear the tube breathing with me on inhale and also feel some stuttered pressure fighting against me at the end of each exhale.  Last night got frustrated and turned the machine off, got out of bed and read for an hour.  

Is there a way to reset the counter on nights like these?  

I'm guessing I should not put on the mask until I am about to pass out lol.  Trying not to be a perfectionist but curious if there is another solution?

I don't believe you can reset it.

I think the best advice is to try not to be a perfectionist.  :-)

Those I know IRL who use CPAP have *no clue* about their therapy.  They don't know what "AHI" means, nor what their usual (treated) AHI is.  They really are clueless (don't realize there is a choice in masks, that there are various machine capabilities, etc.).  All they know is they put on their mask, push the button, sleep, and feel better (hopefully).

And here we are, analyzing our data, and being bothered by imperfections in our numbers. 

So I like to remind myself that it's good to ride the middle on this.  I am aware of my data, and I do pay attention to it to see one aspect of how my treatment is going.  But I also know that what the machine records really means nothing, as long as it is adequately doing its job and I'm breathing well while I'm sleeping.

[Russ6813]

Yes thanks for the reality check. You are correct that others don't track their numbers as tightly as we do here.  Just by finding this forum and changing my sleep position plus wearing the cervical collar my numbers have been consistently under 4 AHI.  So I shouldn't be complaining and trying to delete the bad segments or get "credit" for the good segments of my sleep!  I'll be grateful the machine is doing its job and I'm getting better sleep.

Thanks again,

Russ