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+--- Thread: Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause (/Thread-Puzzling-Sleepyhead-Graph-looking-for-cause)
Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause - Snowbird47 - 10-10-2015
Last night I added a few new things to my APAP routine; used a nasal strip to help widen nostrils and limit irritation from the pillows, and used a nasal spray because I was slightly congested. I thought and felt I had slept well and expected to see a low AHI on Sleepyhead this morning. Got a big surprise!
[attachment=1775]
As you can see, for about an hour I show vastly different OA events, flow rate and other indicators, which then goes away for the rest of the evening. I was totally unconscious during this time AFAIK, my wife did not mention any unusual activity during the period (although she may have been sound asleep).
Any ideas what is going on here? I am a very short-time APAP user, but this has never occurred before.
edit - I am sorry but I guess I am too knew to the forum to be able to post attachments even though it looks like I can; sleepyhead data will have to wait.
RE: Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause - AlanE - 10-10-2015
I used to get clumped together events like you described. Shortly after I fell asleep. Maybe an hour into sleep I would get a bunch and then little for the rest of the evening. It went away when I raised my pressure. Not saying that is your answer but I too found it weird that it was almost always an hour after I went to bed with no rhyme or reason.
RE: Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause - OpalRose - 10-10-2015
Hi Snowbird47,
You should be able to post an attachment.
Here is a "how to" link.
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/misc.php?action=help&hid=19
RE: Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause - Snowbird47 - 10-10-2015
(10-10-2015, 10:01 AM)OpalRose Wrote: Hi Snowbird47,OK OpalRose I will try again.
You should be able to post an attachment.
Repost of original post hopefully with graph this time:
Last night I added a few new things to my APAP routine; used a nasal strip to help widen nostrils and limit irritation from the pillows, and used a nasal spray because I was slightly congested. I thought and felt I had slept well and expected to see a low AHI on Sleepyhead this morning. Got a big surprise!
[attachment=1776]
As you can see, for about an hour I show vastly different OA events, flow rate and other indicators, which then goes away for the rest of the evening. I was totally unconscious during this time AFAIK, my wife did not mention any unusual activity during the period (although she may have been sound asleep).
Any ideas what is going on here? I am a very short-time APAP user, but this has never occurred before.
(10-10-2015, 08:54 AM)AlanE Wrote: I used to get clumped together events like you described. Shortly after I fell asleep. Maybe an hour into sleep I would get a bunch and then little for the rest of the evening. It went away when I raised my pressure. Not saying that is your answer but I too found it weird that it was almost always an hour after I went to bed with no rhyme or reason.
Thanks, Alan - I will try raising the pressure a little. I start to get a lot of "CA" if I go much higher that 12, but I do not know if that is a real issue or not.
RE: Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause - OpalRose - 10-10-2015
Snowbird47,
The first thing I notice is the high leak rate, probably from your mask, or possible mouth breathing.
If you look at the leak rate graph, it correlates with the Obstructives on graph.
The thing is, when you experience leaks, the APAP will try to compensate and shoot the pressure up. It's hard to say if the AHI is accurate at that point.
The first thing to do is determine if you are mouth breathing, and mabye use a chin strap.
Make sure you are using the correct size nasal pillow. Try one size up.
Other than that, you can move your minimum pressure to 9, as that would help clear up Obstructives. I would leave the max pressure alone right now, unless you see on the graph that it is staying at max for a good part of time.
RE: Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause - justMongo - 10-10-2015
Snowbird47: You had to compress the image to get it under 200kB right?
It's barely legible.
Does look like big time leaks in the time frame of that clump of scored apneas.
Machine results cannot be trusted when leak rate is high. You need to tame those leaks.
Looks like you can get a seal at that pressure later in the night.
You may need the next size up pillow for the P10 mask.
RE: Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause - zonk - 10-10-2015
Don't dwell on it too much, blame it on your congested nose. Try saline sinus rinse an hour or two before bedtime
Full face mask is your best friend on those occasions
Edit: some people get congested on higher humidity settings, some on lower settings, and some happy without
Matter of trial and error, might get lucky to find the sweet spot
Avoid sleeping on your back helps, try the tennis ball trick or something else prevent from rolling on your back
RE: Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause - PoolQ - 10-10-2015
zoom in on that area and see how the leak spikes relate to the OA's
RE: Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause - zonk - 10-10-2015
I don't think, leak is the main problem, only after the fact
When your nose is congested and using nasal mask, no sufficient air passing through
You'll have to open your mouth to get some air to breathe, that results in mouth leaks
Hence the large leak during this time and none at other times
RE: Puzzling Sleepyhead Graph - looking for cause - Snowbird47 - 10-10-2015
Thanks to all for the ideas. I suspect it was a mouth-opening problem, I did have a looser chinstrap than usual.