Predictable panic attacks

[Sleepster]

These are the three biggies:

1. Number of hours used (Are you using the machine every time you sleep, all the time you're sleeping?).

2. Leaks (Look at the leak graph and note any spikes that indicate unusually large leaks for large amounts of time).

3. AHI (Keep it under 5. Also zoom in on the flow rate graph and see how long each apnea or hypopnea lasts).

Once you've mastered that you can move on to other stuff. But as long as you do those three things and you feel like you're getting a good night's sleep, there's nothing to worry about. Just enjoy life.

[vsheline]

Seems like I average 15 to 20 vibratory snoring events (which is surprising) ... 1 - 3respiratory effort related arousals, a hypopnea from time to time, a clear airway apnea every couple of days, one obstructive apnea here and there (not always when the session ends which surprised me ... figured that was what was waking me up), and a pressure pulse from time to time.

Hi chd3143,

You might benefit from an APAP machine which would perhaps avoid some of the hypopneas or apneas which may at least sometimes be waking you up.

But first (as you apparently may already have done) zoom in closely on the Flow plot showing the time right before you awaken, and on the Flow Limitation plot. Flow Limitation indicates an obstructive condition, which usually is avoided by higher pressure, or staying off our back while sleeping.

If some of your awakenings are immediately preceded by obstructive events, raising the pressure, or staying off your back while asleep, or getting an APAP machine which allows the machine to adjust its pressure higher during FL, may help.

Take care,
--- Vaughn

[Sleepster]

I agree with Vaughn. The snoring and flow limitation could be an indication that your airway is partially closing, Not enough to completely stop the air flow (an apnea) or even enough to be scored as a hypopnea.

You could try raising your pressure from 11.5 to 12.

Have you got your leaks under control?