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First Time Comments
#1
First Time Comments
I'm glad I found this forum. There are lots of great insights and I have so much more to learn. The cloud of secrecy about my treatment is slowly beginning to fade. My sleep study revealed an AHI of 32 and 36 central events. I was sent to my supplier by my[/size][/font] doctor. In November 2015 I got a Remstar Auto A Flex, headband and medium nasal mask. My pressure setting is 8cm. I asked about buying the machine verses renting and was told I couldn't. I now know that is not true. That hurdle is for another day. It took about a week to get used to the machine. I was averaging about 5-8 AHI and 15-20 periodic breathing. I was on a 30 day compliance, visited my doctor and told him I was feeling a lot better. When I got my first set of supplies included was a small mask, which I decided to try. It seemed a bit tight, but my AHI went to about 1-3 and periodic breathing of about 5-7 with a couple of nights at 0. After about a month I got the flu and couldn't breath through my nose so I missed about 6 days. Since I have been back on the machine, I have been averaging 15-25 AHI and 50 periodic breathing. I'm not sure what is going on. The therapist who is an hour and a half away, wants me to drop off my SDI card. I just downloaded the software to read my card. I didn't even know I could do that. I am glad to be able to get the information before I sent my card to the black hole. Thanks to this forum, I am going to take a larger role in my treatment.
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#2
RE: First Time Comments
G'day refreshed, welcome to Apnea Board.

The fact that you had 36 central apneas (assume that was over a full night) plus some periodic breathing might indicate the need for a more thorough investigation. Centrals and PB can be associated with heart conditions so it would be wise to eliminate that possibility. They can also be associated with certain drugs such as opioid painkillers.

The fact that your AHI went down to 1 - 3 and has now jumped back to 15 - 25 could be caused by a whole lot of things. First off, check for large leaks. If you have extensive periods of large leaks then the results are suspect. When you refer to a small mask, do you mean a nasal type which just covers your nose? In that case it is possible you're sleeping with your mouth open which will cause a leak. It could also be a positional thing. Do you sleep on your back or side? Do you sleep in such a way that your chin is pressed against your chest, which can constrict your throat?

So many questions - worse than filling out a government form! Wink

Can I suggest you get hold of SleepyHead software http://OSCAR Official Download Page ----> CLICK HERE ./ and use that to view your sleep data in detail? That will give you a lot of detailed information which may help answer these questions.
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#3
RE: First Time Comments
Hi refreshed,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Yes there is lots of helpful information here on the board, and it's great to hear that you want to take control of your treatment, that's what it's all about.
Hang in there for more responses to your post and much success to you with your CPAP therapy.
trish6hundred
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#4
RE: First Time Comments
(04-29-2016, 08:43 PM)refreshed Wrote: It took about a week to get used to the machine. I was averaging about 5-8 AHI and 15-20 periodic breathing. I was on a 30 day compliance, visited my doctor and told him I was feeling a lot better. When I got my first set of supplies included was a small mask, which I decided to try. It seemed a bit tight, but my AHI went to about 1-3 and periodic breathing of about 5-7 with a couple of nights at 0. After about a month I got the flu and couldn't breath through my nose so I missed about 6 days. Since I have been back on the machine, I have been averaging 15-25 AHI and 50 periodic breathing. I'm not sure what is going on.

Hi refreshed, welcome to Apnea Board.

Our AHI is often strongly affected by changes in sleep position. For most of us, OSA is strongly positional, with sleeping on our back usually being the worst position.

I think about a third of new CPAP users have more than 5 central apneas per hour when first starting on 'PAP therapy, and, for about half of those, the frequency of central events tends to reduce gradually during the first few weeks or months to well less than 5 per hr as our body gets accustomed to CPAP.

For some of us, the number of central apneas goes up as the pressure gets higher.

If we are still having more than 5 central apneas per hr after a month or two this may indicate we need an expensive Adaptive Servo-Ventilator (ASV) machine which is able to treat both obstructive and central apneas.

Take care,
--- Vaughn


The Advisory Member group provides advice and suggestions to Apnea Board administrators and staff on matters concerning Apnea Board operation and administrative policies.  Membership in the Advisory Member group should not be understood as in any way implying medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.
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