Well Rested Newbie

[retired_guy]

Snap, I don't think increasing the pressure will help you at all.

When you first turn on the machine, the ramp runs. It starts at 4. That's why you feel starved for air. That's also why when you wake up at night and think you're doing well, but get up then restart the machine, you are once again starving for air.

I know the DME told you that ramp only happens when you hit the button. But that's not the case.

Turn the ramp feature off, and you will be fine.

[DariaVader]

I have a lot of long hair ...

I notice you use the Airfit P10 which is the same mask I use. I don't have a ponytail but I do get up during the night. Rather than take off the mask, I uncouple the hose on the mask ...

I also have the P10 and while no ponytail, longish hair...

I put the bottom strap behind and the top strap in front with the part that goes to the nose and put it all the way over my head onto my neck. Then i slide the top strap back so that it pulls back the "bangs" adjust it all around the ears and nose til it is on right. I sometimes rip it off b4 thinking (although i seldom get up anymore... w00t!) and that process is so easy that i have no trouble getting it back on while half asleep

[sansnap]

An update - just finished my 4th night. Still fighting the ramp issue but the rest is all good.

Interestingly I'm finding that I am sleeping about 7 hours now instead of the 9 I used to need. This is a big deal. I get 2 hours more in my day, 14 hours each week that I can do stuff, have fun, read books, work or any other dang thing that strikes my fancy. It's amazing to consider this...

2 hours per night that I reclaim as alert time
14 hours per week
56 hours per month
672 hours per year.
That's a WHOLE month!

I get to a whole extra month each year to do stuff!! What could you do with an extra month? The possibilities are astonishing.

[retired_guy]

What could you do with an extra month?

1. Visit Lincoln City OR for the "Great Oregon Coast Garage Sale." (1 day)

2. Visit Seattle and go to that neat oriental market down by the train station & look at all the "Hello Kitty" merchandise. (3 days)

3. Visit Portland OR and try to find the Ikea store without a GPS locator. (1 day)

4. Same as above, but find the "Sweet Tomatoes" restaurant for lunch. (1 day)

5. Same as above for pretty much everything in Portland. (infinite)

6. Visit Bandon on the Beach Oregon for some really great power shopping. (2 days)

7. Visit Winchester Bay, OR for a nice slice of apple pie with cheddar cheese on it. (1 day)

8. Sleep.

............... as you say, the possibilities are endless.

[DariaVader]

we PNW types are taking over the board. bahahahahahaha!

[PaytonA]

Yes but please leave the dampness back in PNW. Even though we could use some of it in dried up Socal.

[sansnap]

More questions... I have a follow up appt with the sleep lab in a few days and was wondering if you could help me understand my sleep study numbers.

I am seeing a bunch of posts that refer to various metrics but don't see them listed this way on my report.. here's what I have:

TIB - 460
TST - 304
Sleep onset - 21 mins
Sleep efficiency - 66.1%
% inter Sleep/wake - 31.1 %
REM onset - 390
AHI - 75.4 /hour
RERA - 97.1/hour
RDI while on back - 104.0/hour

Oximetry data:
Average O2 awake - 96
Average O2 in REM - 95
Average in nonREM - 93
SAO2 @ lowest was 75
Mins below 90% - 34.1


Questions:
What is RERA?
Do the O2 averages add up/seem right to you?

[retired_guy]

As AHI's are reporting on the average per hour number of actual apnea events, RERA is telling you about "Respiratory Event Related Arousals," which typically are apneas that never actually had the opportunity to grow up.

The Repiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) is probably the most useful number you have. This considers apnea events and rera events and calculates how many times per hour is your sleep being screwed up.

The medical goal usually cited is to get the AHI below 5. Depending on the machine a person has, that's probably the number that will be focused on. But the combination of whatever that number is plus the rera is important.

Your O2 numbers (dropped to 75, below 90 34.1 minutes of the night) seem appropriate to me. Those things will vary depending on the patient however.

[DariaVader]

More questions... I have a follow up appt with the sleep lab in a few days and was wondering if you could help me understand my sleep study numbers.

I am seeing a bunch of posts that refer to various metrics but don't see them listed this way on my report.. here's what I have:

TIB - 460
TST - 304
Sleep onset - 21 mins
Sleep efficiency - 66.1%
% inter Sleep/wake - 31.1 %
REM onset - 390
AHI - 75.4 /hour
RERA - 97.1/hour
RDI while on back - 104.0/hour

Oximetry data:
Average O2 awake - 96
Average O2 in REM - 95
Average in nonREM - 93
SAO2 @ lowest was 75
Mins below 90% - 34.1


Questions:
What is RERA?
Do the O2 averages add up/seem right to you?

RERA are events that did not last long enough to score as an apnea. Means you roused and started breathing before 10 seconds. RERA can be very damaging to a goods nights rest, and I am jealous of you for having them on your report - my S9 autoset lacks that info.

I don't use an oximeter, but I would be concerned about 75, unless you know it fell off of your finger.

[DariaVader]

oh - wait. that is your sleep study not your treated levels. lol!