AHI or SPO2

[alshayed]

Sleeprider, do you know of a good resource explaining how to apply PEEP to CPAP/BPAP for the purpose of raising SpO2? I looked at the wiki page on PEEP and there wasn't a lot of info. I guess I'm looking for guidelines and warnings, etc.

[Sleeprider]

Does this help, or need more?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441904/

[ajack]

I'd only add that if they were co2 retainers and lived in 88-92% in an awake state. You would still target to be above 90%.
drgrimes said 15 and set by the provider, the script may have been through a titration, He didn't like it and lowered it. It's possible he needs the 15cm for o2. If he asks for the sleep study, it will show what they did. For now it's just increasing min pressure, that he is happy to do and using the spo2 meter to justify it. The spo2 meter have a +/-2% accuracy. So you don't take the number as gospel. I just use what appears to be a good average and see if the lows can be bought up to this. On page 1, 93-95% seems like what was the good average o2 level for this night, with large sections below this. The doctor would be the person you would talk with about the accuracy, perhaps do a comparison with his spo2 and any need for further testing, if in doubt.

[drgrimes]

Sleeprider, thanks for the advice.  I will give it a try and see what happens.  In the past with higher pressures i experienced much larger leaks.  If i tighten my nose gear more, i wake with  painful ridges on my face and nose.  But I have a new nasal pillow mask so maybe it will be ok.  Regardless I will give it a try.  I think we all are searching for a better way.

[drgrimes]

   
WELL  you guys must be on the right track.  I made the changes last night and significant improvements on O2 and my AHI was .4   WOW i am impressed.  I think i am starting to understand why it works. 

As far as having any meaningful discussion with sleep doctor.  I've never seen her, cannot get in to see her.  I've only been able to talk with her technicians who are not especially helpful.  I've been told she does not like it when patients get into their own data or make changes.  In the beginning when i was having such a hard time, I told the technician about it and she said, "well you don't have to use it."  The guys at the DME shop helped me through that disaster.

All the more reason for this forum.  I have learned more here ten times over than from the sleep study that was done on me.  I don't think i ever actually went to sleep.  I felt like i was suffocating the whole time.

SleepRider after reading that article that you linked to, I now can see that with some increase in pressure, the pipes will remain more open all the time allowing for more oxygen exchange. It's pretty technical but it does make sense and my results seem to prove it. I think there is a point of diminishing benefit with higher pressures. When i was at a flat 15 i felt like i couldn't exhale especially as i fell asleep. I seem to be a shallow breather especially when asleep (hiypopnea?). Also the biggest problem for me at higher pressure was mask leakage.

By the way THANK YOU, THANK YOU for this amazing advice!!