03-23-2022, 08:15 AM
RE: SleepyCPAP’s Treatment Thread - Palatal Prolapse AlaxoStent
The sleep study results are in! I have not discussed with my doctor yet, but I have the report from the Type II home study (includes sleep stages) from Home Sleep Test Provider #1.
Summary: using the FDA-approved 6” AlaxoStent brings my AHI down to the treated range (2.7 AHI), although RDI is in the mild apnea range due to RERAs (11.7). Snores were also detected during the sleep test. Contrast this to my original sleep study with AHI of 33.8, and arousal index of 45.3. So the stent does work as a substitute for PAP therapy, should I choose to do so (more on my choice of treatment after the images).
To prepare I did a one-week washout from PAP, where I wore only the stent each night, leading up to the test night. I used my wedge pillow and cervical collar as I could tell they were helping too. My O2Ring recorded good oxygen levels, but also some bradycardia during two nights of the washout week (something that had shown up in my original sleep study, but not while I’m using PAP).
My first night attempt at the home sleep study was garbage (it was past my bedtime due to not leaving enough time to connect the equipment to my body, and then I didn’t sleep well at all). So I repeated the test the next night (I’d saved the electrodes and preserved them back on their cards when I got up, so they were fine for a second try). Many thanks to Sleep Test Provider #1 for the suggestion to do-over before sending back! This second time I had a much more typical night and was confident the results of the test would be accurate. I don’t know what the results were from the first night and I don’t care.
One Quibble: The SpO2 readings in the report do not match my RingO2 report from the same night. The sleep study numbers are about five points lower. I compared my RingO2 at a doctor’s office this month, and the rolling-cart unit used for vitals said I was 96% SpO2, at the same time my RingO2 said I was 98%. Two points difference I can accept, but not five. I don’t believe I was as low as 91% when I was awake, getting into bed, and so I also assume I didn’t desat to 86% for nine seconds. I’ve brought this up with Sleep Test Provider #1 and can also discuss this with my sleep doctor.
Here are images from the report:
During the washout period I functioned, but I could tell things were not perfect. I don’t like seeing AHI >1 because I know I don’t feel (or function) as well. I completely trust the stent alone during naps and in other circumstances for an overnight here or there, but I didn’t like the way I felt with it by itself for a whole week.
After the test I went back to using the combined AlaxoStent and VAuto (currently PS 3.6 over 4-10.6cm). In the past two weeks I’ve had one CA and one H (each on a different night), all other nights were AHI 0.0. That works out to an average 0.02 AHI according to OSCAR. My FL numbers are basically zeros each night - the 99.5%tile column in OSCAR showed 0.00 to 0.07 range over the two weeks (average 0.03). The VAuto makes one or two adjustments in the night, last night for example raising EPAP to 4.06 for a bit, went back to the setting of 4.00cm, and spent about 20 minutes at as much as 4.66 cm later in the night. I don’t need the full range I’ve set. I also don’t use the wedge pillow when I’m on combined treatment, as the VAuto and stent together seem to reduce any positional adjustments. I am using the cervical collar, but on nights when I forget I don’t notice a difference.
What both the sleep study and the combined VAuto & Stent results show me is that I have perfect treatment combined, and I’ll continue with that. [b]If I were not so thrilled with the perfect (AlaxoStent and VAuto combined), I’d settle for great (AlaxoStent).[/b]
I’d never go back to VAuto or CPAP alone, due to the Palatal Prolapse, but I can rely on the AlaxoStent alone in cases of convenience (naps, a night camping, etc.).
- SleepyCPAP
Summary: using the FDA-approved 6” AlaxoStent brings my AHI down to the treated range (2.7 AHI), although RDI is in the mild apnea range due to RERAs (11.7). Snores were also detected during the sleep test. Contrast this to my original sleep study with AHI of 33.8, and arousal index of 45.3. So the stent does work as a substitute for PAP therapy, should I choose to do so (more on my choice of treatment after the images).
To prepare I did a one-week washout from PAP, where I wore only the stent each night, leading up to the test night. I used my wedge pillow and cervical collar as I could tell they were helping too. My O2Ring recorded good oxygen levels, but also some bradycardia during two nights of the washout week (something that had shown up in my original sleep study, but not while I’m using PAP).
My first night attempt at the home sleep study was garbage (it was past my bedtime due to not leaving enough time to connect the equipment to my body, and then I didn’t sleep well at all). So I repeated the test the next night (I’d saved the electrodes and preserved them back on their cards when I got up, so they were fine for a second try). Many thanks to Sleep Test Provider #1 for the suggestion to do-over before sending back! This second time I had a much more typical night and was confident the results of the test would be accurate. I don’t know what the results were from the first night and I don’t care.
One Quibble: The SpO2 readings in the report do not match my RingO2 report from the same night. The sleep study numbers are about five points lower. I compared my RingO2 at a doctor’s office this month, and the rolling-cart unit used for vitals said I was 96% SpO2, at the same time my RingO2 said I was 98%. Two points difference I can accept, but not five. I don’t believe I was as low as 91% when I was awake, getting into bed, and so I also assume I didn’t desat to 86% for nine seconds. I’ve brought this up with Sleep Test Provider #1 and can also discuss this with my sleep doctor.
Here are images from the report:
During the washout period I functioned, but I could tell things were not perfect. I don’t like seeing AHI >1 because I know I don’t feel (or function) as well. I completely trust the stent alone during naps and in other circumstances for an overnight here or there, but I didn’t like the way I felt with it by itself for a whole week.
After the test I went back to using the combined AlaxoStent and VAuto (currently PS 3.6 over 4-10.6cm). In the past two weeks I’ve had one CA and one H (each on a different night), all other nights were AHI 0.0. That works out to an average 0.02 AHI according to OSCAR. My FL numbers are basically zeros each night - the 99.5%tile column in OSCAR showed 0.00 to 0.07 range over the two weeks (average 0.03). The VAuto makes one or two adjustments in the night, last night for example raising EPAP to 4.06 for a bit, went back to the setting of 4.00cm, and spent about 20 minutes at as much as 4.66 cm later in the night. I don’t need the full range I’ve set. I also don’t use the wedge pillow when I’m on combined treatment, as the VAuto and stent together seem to reduce any positional adjustments. I am using the cervical collar, but on nights when I forget I don’t notice a difference.
What both the sleep study and the combined VAuto & Stent results show me is that I have perfect treatment combined, and I’ll continue with that. [b]If I were not so thrilled with the perfect (AlaxoStent and VAuto combined), I’d settle for great (AlaxoStent).[/b]
I’d never go back to VAuto or CPAP alone, due to the Palatal Prolapse, but I can rely on the AlaxoStent alone in cases of convenience (naps, a night camping, etc.).
- SleepyCPAP
![[Image: jW0Yfht.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/jW0Yfht.jpg)
