Newbie and Lost

[ScottyV1956]

I just found this forum and joined it today.  I got my BIPAP machine back in January (2017), and after some initial adjusting pressures and getting the mask adjusted correctly, I'm sleeping pretty good.  I can tell you I'm feeling 1000% better than I did when I wasn't sleeping.

I've looked through several of the threads here, and I see all kinds of acronyms and numbers I'm not familiar with.  Is there anything here that explains what all these things mean?  All I know is that my doctor said my apnea score was terrible, and I thought I was gonna die (I had a prior heart attack, and I was convinced what I was going through was worsening heart disease). Now that things have gotten better, any kind of help understanding what I'm experiencing would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Walla Walla]

Here's a link for medical terms used here. http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ical_terms

Also you can download sleepyhead for free. It's a program that allows you to get detailed data. You can post that data here and fellow members will assist you on reading charts and give advice. Check the links just below. Welcome to the board!

[HalfAsleep]

Read a lot of posts by other newbies, and I think it will start to make more sense.

Dig out your sleep study and post some of the key points here, including the AHI number, obstructive apneas, central apneas, hypopneas, oxygen ranges...

Those details will be a good place to begin to make sense of your personal data.

[dracus]

Welcome aboard..

[Gideon]

Welcome to the forum.

I strongly suggest that you post a copy of your Sleep Study(s) as each one will say something different
Then post your Daily Sleepyhead charts.

Ask any question you wish about your data and/or what you do not understand.

http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...SleepyHead has most of the info, and then some, that you are asking.

Fred

[trish6hundred]

Hi ScottyV1956,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Which Resmed S9 do you have? The name is by the on/off button.
Hang in there for more responses to your post and good luck with CPAP therapy, and also with getting it fine-tuned to meet your needs. Some times, it takes a while before you get to feeling better, just stick with it, it does get better over time.

[ScottyV1956]

Dig out my sleep study?  Nobody gave me anything to dig out.  I don't have any kind of documentation on my sleep study.  Can I get that from my doctor?

[ScottyV1956]

It says VPAP COPD by the On/Off button.  I was a pretty heavy smoker until I quit in 2001, so I've got a moderate case of COPD.

[SarcasticDave94]

Dig out my sleep study?  Nobody gave me anything to dig out.  I don't have any kind of documentation on my sleep study.  Can I get that from my doctor?

Yes, your doctor (possibly the pulmonary doc or maybe even your primary care doc) should have that on file. Legally, you are able to get the copy of that sleep study. It's considered a good idea to have one because then you've got a copy in case you ever need it. It helps as well to know what info is on there for situations like this forum.

Dave B

[HalfAsleep]

Dig out my sleep study?  Nobody gave me anything to dig out.  I don't have any kind of documentation on my sleep study.  Can I get that from my doctor?

Yes. It's your body and all your medical records are yours. Just call your doctor and request it. Follow up if they don't get it to you in a few days (they should be able to email it). If you have online access to your medical records, you might be able to find your sleep study summary there. The summary will be enough information for most purposes (it's what non-specialists like your PCP read): that's what I rely on.

Working your way through the summary (with help from this forum) will give you a very good base to address how to use a CPAP most productively for you. It all starts with the sleep study and what the numbers and terms there indicate about how your sleeping body works.

If you don't have online access to your medical records, maybe it would be a good idea to set this up while you're in health-related learning mode?