Is this Cheyne-Stokes?

[foxfire]

Looking at the data for an elderly relative this is what I found. Is it Cheyne-Stokes? He does have a heart problem.

   

[Walla Walla]

I would say it sure looks like it. If the issue hasn't been brought up yet you might suggest having your relative consult with a Doctor about it.

[Sleeprider]

This looks like classic Cheyne-Stokes Respiration, in fact I'd like to use it in future posts if it is okay. This condition may or may not be related to congestive heart failure, but a complete cardiac workup is in order. Good catch, and helping your relative get medical attention will be a great service in obtaining appropriate treatment and helping prolong their life. If cardiac health and left ventricular ejection fraction are not found to be a problem, this individual should be considered for Bilevel ASV for treatment. Regardless of ASV elegibility, encourage the physician to evaluate nocturnal SpO2 by using a recording oximeter. The number of apnea and periodic breating events is moderate to severe and if the person needs supplemental oxygen, that can be prescribed.

[foxfire]

Thanks for the replies. I'm only getting information second hand but his sleep specialist has no way of looking at the data on his SD card so it has been frustrating to figure out what is going on. Interesting thing I learned was that he was in ICU a few weeks ago and they added O2 to his CPAP line. For that night his AHI was about half of what it normally is. His caregiver is going to try and get him oxygen at home and he has an appt with a cardiologist in a couple of weeks.

Sleeprider, yes you can use the chart for future posts.

[SnoringInOregon]

Thanks for the replies. I'm only getting information second hand but his sleep specialist has no way of looking at the data on his SD card so it has been frustrating to figure out what is going on. Interesting thing I learned was that he was in ICU a few weeks ago and they added O2 to his CPAP line. For that night his AHI was about half of what it normally is. His caregiver is going to try and get him oxygen at home and he has an appt with a cardiologist in a couple of weeks.

Sleeprider, yes you can use the chart for future posts.

This is the kind of thing that would have me banging my head against the wall if it were happening to a relative of mine.

Some random guy in Australia wants to know what is going on with his sleep apnea. So he writes SleepyHead software. It can perhaps be described as a labor of love. Sure the accepts donations, but I doubt they are enough to adequately compensate him for his effort. And the software turns out to be better than what so-called "sleep specialists" have access to. Arghhh!

If you live near the sleep specialist then take a laptop in and show him the SleepyHead charts in person. Of course, there's a 50/50 chance that the "specialist" will blow you off because it's not "approved" software. C'est la vie.

I used to have a "brick" machine that didn't report anything except for hours. And I stopped using it. A decade ago. When I got my new machine a year ago, it was literally SleepyHead that kept me motivated enough to actually want to use the machine. And I'm so much better off for it.

[Sleeprider]

Thanks for the replies. I'm only getting information second hand but his sleep specialist has no way of looking at the data on his SD card so it has been frustrating to figure out what is going on. Interesting thing I learned was that he was in ICU a few weeks ago and they added O2 to his CPAP line. For that night his AHI was about half of what it normally is. His caregiver is going to try and get him oxygen at home and he has an appt with a cardiologist in a couple of weeks.

Sleeprider, yes you can use the chart for future posts.

FF, the use of oxygen with CSR patients often stabilizes the breathing, and is certainly better than the chronic desaturation.  I honestly would go to his primary or cardiac physician for this need.  The Sleep Doctor may be fine at interpreting sleep apnea, but this is in a different league.  Your relative will qualify for oxygen based on a simple recording optometry test that shows he has low levels of O2.  One way to start this investigation is to obtain a copy of the sleep study that led to CPAP treatment.  If the PSG show the oxygen desaturation, then that is sufficient for Medicare to authorize supplemental oxygen equipment.  Get a copy of the detailed Sleep Study! There may be critical information in here the sleep doctor would ignore, that may be very important to other medical providers. Don't trust sleep doctors to be remotely competent. Many have their reports prepared by the technician, and they simply sign them, complete with math errors and lack of judgement. Hope that's not the case, but it happens more than you'd believe.
 
I think the need for supplemental oxygen here is somewhat urgent, and this result should be forwarded to a primary care physician, who can then refer the situation to an appropriate specialist or deal with it himself.  Be sure the patient expresses their concern with night-time oxygen desaturation likely to occur with these events, and the fact the condition was apparently improved during hospitalization when oxygen was applied.  A record of that hospital stay will certainly show that the patient exhibited signs of hypoxia, and oxygen was applied. That is another piece of evidence.  Your awareness of this history can greatly assist in expediting the provision of a home oxygen generator for use with the CPAP.