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TheBinarySon's Treatment Thread - TheBinarySon - 06-02-2024
Hello everyone!
At the suggestion of PeaceLoveAndPizza, I am starting a thread to chart the beginning of my CPAP journey. Any thoughts, suggestions, recommendations, etc., are very much appreciated, as is all the work you guys have done on this forum and the corresponding wiki to provide such amazing support and information for folks!
So to begin at the beginning: I have depression and anxiety disorders, as well as ADHD. I mention this because these have symptoms including extreme fatigue, no motivation or energy, inability to start or finish tasks, etc. So this year, after 10 years of therapy, (and while being on 6 mental health meds), and after hitting over 400 lbs due to lack of energy and movement, I was advised by my therapist to also consider other possibilities that might be contributing to my issues, including getting tested for sleep apnea.
My doctor agreed, (as well as putting me on a statin and Mounjaro) and he referred me to Comprehensive Sleep Center here in Northern Virginia. After an initial consult, I had my sleep study, after which I was informed that my AHI and my average brain arousal per hour were both in the 30s, meaning I had severe sleep apnea. I then did a sleep titration study, but while I did not fall asleep for more than maybe a few minutes in total, the doctor said at my follow-up that it appeared that the obstructions could be taken care of with a relatively low pressure level of 8.
So, on May 24th, I went in and was given my Luna G3 from the newly rebranded React Health, chose my Philips Dreamwear Full Face Mask, and I've been using them every night since, and even during the day sometimes to get used to everything.
Now I only happened upon this forum last night, so I'm doing a lot of catching up with knowledge, but thus far I really like the mask and I even like the machine. I have included below what data the React Health phone app reports, and I was given a SD card even though it's set up for transfer of information to my doc via the cell modem. So, as long as when I put the card in it will save all previous data, I will work on setting that up this week.
But to be frank, I'm not sure what good any of the data will be thus far because I'm having trouble falling asleep just like at my titration study, so most of the data is from me being awake. I'm taking a little extra of my nightly medication to try and help fall asleep, but improvement is happening gradually. Thankfully, last night I came across a video that showed me how to access the clinical menu on the machine, and I was able to increase the ramp from 30 mins to the maximum of 60, which I think is going to help.
So there's the story thus far, and below is the data, but right now my focus is on actually sleeping and getting into a good cleaning routine for the equipment.
[attachment=64946]
Anyway, thanks to anyone for stopping by, and while I'll report back when I have a week or two of actual sleep with the machine, if anyone has anything to share in the meantime, I'm all ears!
RE: TheBinarySon's Treatment Thread - Deborah K. - 06-02-2024
For folks here to help you we need data. Download Oscar, the free apnea reporting program that can provide a wonderful chart showing us exactly how a night's sleep went. With this information, folks can offer good advice. Good luck!
RE: TheBinarySon's Treatment Thread - TheBinarySon - 06-02-2024
Thanks for the welcome! Unfortunately OSCAR isn't compatible with my device, but I'm gonna play around with some possibly compatible software this week so I can provide data (assuming I sleep).
RE: TheBinarySon's Treatment Thread - TheBinarySon - 06-03-2024
This I believe is last night, assuming I'm using the software correctly. I tried to sync everything up correctly on the graphs. Let me know if you need something else or want me to go back further, though since I didn't put the card in until last night, I don't know if I can pull detailed data from before last night.
[attachment=65052]
As far as how I felt, it was a rough night where I didn't get much sleep if I recall, and the pause in data is me going to another room that was cooler. I live at the top of a townhouse and it can get pretty hot in there as we have to compromise on A/C with the guy who lives in the basement.
RE: TheBinarySon's Treatment Thread - Deborah K. - 06-04-2024
I don't know how to read the chart you provided. In the meantime post whatever shows up with your SD card inserted. Hopefully, I or someone else will understand it and will be able to help you.
RE: TheBinarySon's Treatment Thread - TheBinarySon - 06-04-2024
Well, these charts are the data I'm getting from the card. The big purple one is the flow chart the word was just cut off in the last chart.
Here is last night's. Again, more trouble sleeping. Maybe slept a few hours. Ended up having to go to the bathroom twice and eventually got out of bed early at around 5:30. I'm gonna get melatonin and zzzquill for tonight because this no sleep thing has to stop and I don't know what's wrong because I'm comfortable with the mask.
[attachment=65104]
RE: TheBinarySon's Treatment Thread - TheBinarySon - 06-05-2024
I SLEPT! It took melatonin and zzzquill, but I slept last night without much trouble for the first time in weeks. The chart is below. Looks like I had one CSA, but no obstructions. Though I still don't know what to make of the flow chart - maybe some heavy breathing from tossing and turning? Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated as always, as this data represents a (mostly) full night of sleep.
[attachment=65120]
RE: TheBinarySon's Treatment Thread - Chrisr - 06-05-2024
I'm glad you found the software. Hopefully someone will be able to help you. It all looks like gibberish to me so I'm no help.
Good luck
RE: TheBinarySon's Treatment Thread - TheBinarySon - 06-05-2024
Thanks, man. I appreciate your help in finding the software, which is simple enough to use.
As for it looking like gibberish, I get you. I think of the four charts that pop up the only one I don't understand is the Flow chart (the purple one). I get that it's measuring inhales and exhales, but with the lack of any events overnight, I don't know what to make of the inconsistent breathing. My guess is I'm tossing and turning followed by deep breaths in and out, but that's just a guess.
RE: TheBinarySon's Treatment Thread - TheBinarySon - 06-06-2024
It's almost 4am here and I've been in bed since 10pm, so despite downing a bunch of zzzquill and taking melatonin it looks like I'm once again not getting sleep. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep well tomorrow night, and then get back to posting data.
In the meantime, if anyone has any thoughts as to why my flow rate amplifications are so erratic despite not having any respiratory events, I'd really like to figure out how to get that bar to look straight all the way across like it's supposed to.