04-02-2019, 01:01 AM
Incompetent ENT? Or sleep clinic? Both?
Hello all,
Have been treated for OSA since October 2015. ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto in BiPAP mode, pressure 11-15.
My AHI never got to a clinically treated level -- usually stayed between 6-12 on a given night. Had multiple titration studies. My ENT told me about a year and a half ago: huh, yeah, it'll get better if you lose a little weight.
Last fall, as I started losing weight, my AHI started going up. I started looking at the SD card data in Sleepyhead and noticed I was having increasing Central events -- and the number was getting higher than my obstructive number.
Messaged my ENT this January, was very clear about what was going on, six weeks later finally had another titration study. I tell the nurse who monitoring me when she asked why I was having another study that I was having increasing CSA events. They tell my doctor after the results come back to have me up the pressure to 14-18.
My central apnea events started sorting through the roof. One night I had close to 20 events per hour, although it tended to be more like 5-6 central events per hour.
I messaged my ENT again and was like, dude, what the heck, this is not right. He refers me to a specialist for central apnea. I had an appointment last Thursday. The new doctor takes one look at the SD card data and was like, you're being overventilated, this is ridiculous. Said it was almost certain changing the settings would get rid of the CSA. (And if not, then they'd need to figure out what was wrong with me.) Sets my machine up for APAP mode, 4-16. My AHI has been below 4 every night since. I have taken a nap twice in the last couple of days -- AHI of 1 each time, a single obstructive event.
So here's the thing: I've been using a CPAP for three and a half years and in spite of multiple titration studies, they weren't able to get me fully treated. I figure out the problem using Sleepyhead, go to a specialist, he changes the settings, and all of a sudden I've finally got the correct CPAP therapy.
Is this kind of incompetence common? I'm kind of stunned.
Have been treated for OSA since October 2015. ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto in BiPAP mode, pressure 11-15.
My AHI never got to a clinically treated level -- usually stayed between 6-12 on a given night. Had multiple titration studies. My ENT told me about a year and a half ago: huh, yeah, it'll get better if you lose a little weight.
Last fall, as I started losing weight, my AHI started going up. I started looking at the SD card data in Sleepyhead and noticed I was having increasing Central events -- and the number was getting higher than my obstructive number.
Messaged my ENT this January, was very clear about what was going on, six weeks later finally had another titration study. I tell the nurse who monitoring me when she asked why I was having another study that I was having increasing CSA events. They tell my doctor after the results come back to have me up the pressure to 14-18.
My central apnea events started sorting through the roof. One night I had close to 20 events per hour, although it tended to be more like 5-6 central events per hour.
I messaged my ENT again and was like, dude, what the heck, this is not right. He refers me to a specialist for central apnea. I had an appointment last Thursday. The new doctor takes one look at the SD card data and was like, you're being overventilated, this is ridiculous. Said it was almost certain changing the settings would get rid of the CSA. (And if not, then they'd need to figure out what was wrong with me.) Sets my machine up for APAP mode, 4-16. My AHI has been below 4 every night since. I have taken a nap twice in the last couple of days -- AHI of 1 each time, a single obstructive event.
So here's the thing: I've been using a CPAP for three and a half years and in spite of multiple titration studies, they weren't able to get me fully treated. I figure out the problem using Sleepyhead, go to a specialist, he changes the settings, and all of a sudden I've finally got the correct CPAP therapy.
Is this kind of incompetence common? I'm kind of stunned.
