New here, help with sleepyhead data

[Cranberry Ray]

Mark, great job! The longer sleep will come and you should continue to see an improvement on how you feel during the day. We all respond differently and for those lucky ones it happens right away. For others it takes more time but it is always worth it in the end. Couldn't agree more about Sleepriders help along with all the wonderful folks on this board. They have changed my life as well. I'm actually at the point where I can't sleep unless I have my APAP on. People still say "how can you sleep with all that stuff on and air blowing up your nose". I just smile

[Mark71]

Here is a screenshot of last night.  What do you make of the breathing pattern for this half hour ?

[Sleeprider]

If that is an infrequent occurrence, I would not worry too much about it. It is a periodic breathing pattern with centrals and this is a problem for individuals with heart problems, but as an isolated event, it is not very meaningful, and could be sleep disruption or even an active REM sleep. Note there is a high leak rate throughout, so this could easily be mouth breathing. No way to really know.

[Mark71]

The periodic breathing usually happens at least a little each night, but this was 30 min of it. I am wondering, does this indicate that I should get my heart checked? I use 2" tape on lips so not much of a chance of mouth breathing, I think. The leak rate is still below the accepted rate of 38 for my mask at that pressure. Am I not understanding that acceptable leak rate correctly?

[Sleeprider]

Mark, your machine and that graph measure the excess leak. If it was perfect, it would stay near zero. Perfection eludes me as well, but during that series of events you are just barely below the large leak threshold.

If you had the kind of heart problems (congestive heart failure) that leads to Cheyne-Stokes respiration, you would not have to ask. People with those kind of heart conditions cannot walk to the end of the driveway without stopping for recovery. Your annual health exam would uncover most problems of major concern, so I doubt that you have anything to worry about here. What is your 30 day average AHI, and what is the CA and H component of that?

[Mark71]

Ok, I hear ya on the leak.

I can make it to the end of the driveway, but I do notice shortness of breath, as well as other symptoms, which is why I ask.
Being self employed and without insurance for the last 26 years means I dont have the luxury of an annual exam.(ever)
As I type this, I can answer my own question of what to do. (get checked)

30 day Ahi- 2.42
CA- .85
H - .15

Thanks

[Sleeprider]

Your long-term stats are good with a little over 50% obstructive. That's normal, and doesn't point to a chronic periodic breathing, or severe CA issues. I won't argue that a routine check up might not be a good idea. Take the opportunity to establish a relationship with a doctor you trust, and discuss any issues you are concerned about. It is not a bad idea to take in copies of CPAP prescriptions, sleep studies an a summary of your usage, and see if he can help you keep prescriptions current as needed and avoid new sleep studies. That is how I use my own primary care doc. Even without insurance, having the established relationship can be a good investment that saves over the long-term.

Keep in mind, even the lowest price, high deductible insurance comes with negotiated rates that are far lower than an individual payer. Also, you can negotiate more favorable price terms ahead of any appointment by stating you are a cash customer and expect an appropriate discount from book rates. Insist on prices for physician services up front, and shop. The system is no friendly to this, but it can be done...you just don't go where they can't tell you your rates up-front.