Sleepyhead Data -- Please Help -- Newbie

[dk2011]

**SleepyHead Data Attached via PDF/ZIP**

I've never had a CPAP/APAP prior to 5 nights ago.

Here is my data.

I tried the AmaraView the first 4 nights.  And used the AmaraGel last night.


My concerns are this.... Chronic use of CPAP can lead a person to actually develop Central Apnea, is that correct?  I don't want my CPAP to cause more problems than it fixes.


My "Periodic Breathing" last night went from being 1% with the AmaraView to 8% suddenly when the AmaraGel.


Please help. Thanks!

The 7 PDF files are contained in a ZIP file of all my SleepyHead Data.

DOWNLOAD:  [link to zip file removed per dk2011's request]

[Apnea Infant]

Hello dk2011

I think it would be easier to read your data with simple attachments which all can read without downloading separately. Can you do that?

[dk2011]

Hello dk2011

I think it would be easier to read your data with simple attachments which all can read without downloading separately. Can you do that?

It's 19 pages of data.  How should I go about that?  Make 19 jpeg images?

[Apnea Infant]

I have downloaded your data and feel the first pages of each night are more useful as an overview. Beyond that, someone may chime in and request an enlargement of a particular time zone to analyse.

[dk2011]

[dk2011]

This is the NIGHT BEFORE.........

To compare.  

March 26th I used the Amara Gel.  VERSUS March 25th when I used the AMARA VIEW.

[Apnea Infant]

I am not familiar with the Dreamstation machine and am relatively new myself. However your data shows quite a few cluster of events which usually indicates back sleeping and with your chin probably tucking in to close your airways. I have dealt with that myself by using a soft neck collar which prevents chin tuck and also helps to keep my mouth closed.

Your numbers are wide open from 4-20 cm H2O. Your data shows you do not go above 13 for the nights shown. For most of us 4cm H2O would make us feel starved of air and thus would recommend to raise it to 6.

Try 6-13 for a few nights and see how that goes.

[Apnea Infant]

Also what I know about the Phillips machines from what I have read here is that they are slower to react to events than the Resmed machines so it may be that even higher starting pressure may be better to knock out those low pressure events that are apparent from your charts.

[Ron AKA]

My concerns are this.... Chronic use of CPAP can lead a person to actually develop Central Apnea, is that correct?  I don't want my CPAP to cause more problems than it fixes.

I think there are two parts to this. A CPAP is really only effective in reducing obstructive apnea (OA). CA may initially be a small portion of your total number of events. However when the CPAP reduces the OA portion the CA events become a much larger portion of the total. This may make it appear that CA's are increasing, but really they are staying the same.

The second part and this is more controversial is that use of the CPAP may improve blood oxygen levels and because CO2 is what helps initiate breathing, the lower CO2 levels may convince your brain to reduce the breathing effort and yield a CA.

There is also some evidence that your brain after a while gets used to the lower CO2 levels in your blood, and CA events are actually reduced over the longer period of time.

Keep in mind that as long as you are reducing the total number of events, you are better off. What was your AHI at diagnosis, and the breakdown of what portion was CA and what was OA?

[Ron AKA]

You may also want to check this thread out:

Does EPR increase CAs?