New Poster; Miscellaneous Questions

[Arlo]

I've been using CPAP for a month after being diagnosed with severe OSA (API 49).(I'm 76, not overweight, but do have constant throat congestion.) The number of events per night has significantly decreased but still is not low. The sleep tech (supposedly under the instructions of the sleep doctor; when I write the doctor on the portal, she's the one who answers) has gradually increased the pressure to 16. My average API is now 15 and I see no changes in symptoms, among others still often waking up with headaches or head pressure. I understand this can take time. However, no one has suggested monitoring my blood oxygen level, which hasn't been done since the sleep study in October.

My questions are:
- Is it normal to not have blood oxygen levels monitored?
- Is it normal to not be in touch with the sleep doctor?
- Is it normal for them to not be monitoring my daily results? I always have to write them to get any changes.

Thanks for any input.

[gainerfull]

1. Yes, but just because it's normal doesn't preclude you from doing so (I highly recommend it, to at least find a suitable pressure.)
2. Yes, it's hard to find a doctor that has enough time to be as thorough as one would want.
3. Your daily results are going to your durable medical equipment company that supplied the CPAP and is used for compliance purposes only.

If you using 16cmH20 and still not getting relief I'd bet you're experiencing some sort of positional apnea. Should you decide to share your sleep therapy results via an OSCAR screenshot we can make recommendations to improve your therapy.

[staceyburke]

Welcome to the board.

My questions are:
- Is it normal to not have blood oxygen levels monitored?  Not unless your oxygen level was below 88 for an extended period of time.  Many of us have bought our own ox monitors.

- Is it normal to not be in touch with the sleep doctor?  I never saw my sleep Dr. after being diagnosed.  My personal Dr. would check each time I was in his office IF I was still using it but nothing more.

- Is it normal for them to not be monitoring my daily results? I always have to write them to get any changes.  They only check to see if you are using it 4 hrs a day.  You need to download OSCAR and use the totally free to use.  We use it to help with settings.  If you read some of the posts you can see how much it is used and how it helps.  Without seeing OSCAR charts we can't be of much help and you are seeing that the Drs. will not help either.  

[super7pilot]

Unfortunately the answer to all your questions is "normally" the doctors seem to forget their patents.

But of course there are Dr's who do follow up with their patents. You should at least try to schedule a phone consult about how you are doing and any concerns you have.

What will help the folks on the forum help you. Buy or install an SD card in your AS11. download OSCAR. (there is a link at the top of this page) Then post up the following charts of the whole night.
event flags
flow
pressure
flow limitation
leak rate

close the calendar. and boom! Bob's your Uncle.