Looking for a Sleep Dr - Interior British Columbia
Hey there,
I feel the need to find a good sleep doctor. I live in the Okanagan in British Columbia and have had no luck finding one I trust.
I have been able to manage my CPAP machine for over a year (with a lot of help from reading this forum) but I've been stuck around 5 AHI for awhile now. I was tested at the Kelowna Sleep Clinic but was less than impressed with their strategy.
So, are there any fellow apnea-ers in the area who have found a doctor they would recommend?
Thanks, Steve
RE: Looking for a Sleep Dr - Interior British Columbia
As I'm sure you know an AHI of 5 is considered treated by most of the professionals.
I see the chart from March of 2017, can you post a typical recent one?
Have you tried higher and lower pressures than your 4.8?
And How do you feel?
Fred
09-21-2017, 12:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-21-2017, 12:21 PM by Stevie1under.)
RE: Looking for a Sleep Dr - Interior British Columbia
Hi Fred,
Yes, I realize 5 AHI is widely considered treated, the specialist I dealt with considered 10 a success. Me ... not so much.
So, I would broadly say I generally feel like my AHI. I can live with what I have now but when I occasionally have a 1 or 2 I know it immediately when I wake up. Conversely I know when I have an 8 or 10 as well. It's all miles better than untreated, even substantially better than the mid teens I struggled with for awhile.
The pressure I use now is 5.0. It seems to be the tipping point between OAs and CAs. I tend to get more RERAs and hypopneas at this level than when I raise it, but the lower pressure is helpful with inflammation and leaks too, kind of balances out I guess. And the duration of the events on average is less at this pressure
Which indicators would you like to see on the screenshot Fred?
Steve
RE: Looking for a Sleep Dr - Interior British Columbia
Don't forget that any pressure you do set needs to be used for a few days, preferably a week to give your body a chance to adjust and settle in. It's not good to decide too quickly about what does and doesn't work unless there is something severely wrong...
RE: Looking for a Sleep Dr - Interior British Columbia
Frankly, I'm not sure that what you have can be improved on with your machine. I would like to see your charts including Flow Limit, Snores, AHI, Event Flags, Flow, Leaks, and pressure (not very important for fixed pressure). The 'experts' here can look and see what can be done.
My point was most Doctors will consider you treated successfully. The issue you have is an underlying CA element. The best treatment for CA is an ASV machine, however you are below the threshold that most Doctors would consider for treating with an ASV.
I truly wish you luck in your search for a good sleep doctor. Several here use their primary doctor and have them write whatever scripts that are needed.
My personal opinion is that any advice that you get here will as good as or better than your Sleep Doctor.
09-21-2017, 02:30 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-21-2017, 02:31 PM by Stevie1under.)
RE: Looking for a Sleep Dr - Interior British Columbia
Thanks Marillion, I'll keep that in mind.
RE: Looking for a Sleep Dr - Interior British Columbia
RE: Looking for a Sleep Dr - Interior British Columbia
Fred,
I'm pretty much in agreement with you. Yesterday though, I was reading the following thread:
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...e-centrals
and saw some similarities with my own story. The resolution so far is an ASV that has virtually eliminated his events, albeit for a very short time period as yet.
I'm not excited about buying an ASV machine, but I would be excited about eliminating my apnea events.
Steve
RE: Looking for a Sleep Dr - Interior British Columbia
That's what I wanted to see, Very nearly the same as in March 5.5 months ago. This is significant because in some cases the CA element goes away as your body adjusts to treatment, yours did not. You may want to identify a neurologist sleep doctor if you wish to reduce your events. An ASV may be in your future. I see a lot of success with the ResMed model here on the forum.
Fred
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