Little Olive - Therapy Adventure

[stevew168]

Notice the lower left box has 0/6 events selected.

[Little Olive]

Thank you !  I didn't  even know there was a left side box too.  Sigh.

[Little Olive]

Hi all,  Just a few questions if someone can advise?  Obviously I am very happy with the look of my report. I am sleeping better, even though I am still waking frequently.  fitbit shows an hour and more of deep sleep for the first time ever, for years Ive had less than 30 minutes deep, often just a few minutes.  Mask fit is pretty good.  The collar is a MASSIVE game changer! I look terrible when rigged up for bed now, with mask and hose, piece of soft fabric hanging down out of the bottom of the mask which is there because the foam scratches my chin, and big collar around the neck. It's not a comfortable arrangement but it works.

When they calculate the AHI, I understand it is events, not the duration of the events, so a 10 second breath pause counts the same as a 30 second pause?  This concerns me because my CA events are always longer than 15 seconds and frequently 25 and 30 seconds.  So even if I have an encouraging looking AHI, on closer examination it's alarming to see I am still stopping breathing  for quite long periods all night,. This can't be good? 

Last night I had one obstructive and all the rest CA. And I suppose the flow limits are still not good?   I would still like to adjust things to help reduce the CAs, as you have suggested, but not all at once like last time, when I changed all the settings and had a disastrous night.  So which one or two settings shall I change first?  Change min pressure to 7 ?  

I keep hearing that CAs often reduce and resolve by themselves eventually, do you think this is true in most cases?

Thanks again for your time.

[UnicornRider]

If possible you could try increasing your pressure minimum to 6.4 cmH2O. Your median pressure from the Statistics area of the left hand panel is 9.58 cmH2O. so you are probably spending a good potion of the night at that pressure or more.

In post #69 I inquired about a Pulse/Oximeter, it was a subtle hint that you probably should be wearing a Pulse/Oximeter that has recording capabilities. your graphs from the sleep study indicated a lot of SpO2 drops. After I started hitting 0.00 AHI several times the only flags in the Events area was from the Pulse/Oximeter. I started chasing those SpO2 Drops (SD) and and Pulse Change (PC) flagged events. It helped. If your CA events are that long, it is indeed causing SpO2 drops. Especially where you have back to back clusters of events.

It is getting better, if you have time to worry about your appearance.

[Little Olive]

Haha, yep , l have noticed that l now look nuts at bedtime.  I definitely want to get the oximeter.  I already have one but it just gives a reading in real time, l need one that records my sleep.  Cost around NZ$300 to $400  so need to look at my budget for a timeline on that purchase.

Horrible headache every night in bed and every morning, weirdly its worse since l started cpap, so lm keen to address the oxygen issue.

[jcp519]

Headaches can be a sign that your O2 is dropping during sleep.

I look pretty funny when I sleep too! I've got a nasal mask, collar and mouth tape. But boy do I sleep better that way!

[UnicornRider]

I know I look funny all geared up for sleep, but the dogs and cat still love me and eagerly anticipate bedtime in order to sleep with me.

[stevew168]

I don't have the neck collar, but I have the nasal mask and mouth tape, and my kitties like me too.

[stevew168]

If you can qualify for an ASV,  go for it. I cannot emphasize enough that we are sent to go for the cheap alternatives. 

ASV rules! I know, and have one, after many others.

Go for it!

[stevew168]

If you have mostly clear airways, central apneas, you have to get an ASV, If you want to resolve your problems.
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