Chasing 0.0?

[DanceDiva26]

No....I'm not really chasing 0.0...I know that's not necessary. However, I was sooo pleased and surprised to hit my Info button and see 0.0 a few times this month!! I started CPAP therapy approximately 10 weeks ago. I feel very lucky and blessed to have had a relatively easy time of it since I've read that so many posters struggle mightily. My AHI has never gone over 1 and has usually been between .3 and .5 right from the start. Since my titration study was at 32 AHI ( 8cm pressure straight CPAP), I honestly didn't trust those numbers as I didn't think it could go down so quickly. I doubted my machine.

BUT...I have had the benefit of usage of 4 different machines over those 10 weeks and I've seen 0.0 to .92 across all of them.

1. My son's PR Bi-Pap set to CPAP (tried it before I received my own machine)
2. My new first AS 10 For Her from insurance/DME = Wheezy Whale
3. My new 2nd AS 10 For Her (replacement from DME)
4. My new S9 I bought from CPAP.com

I have learned soooo much from reading this board and from opinions and suggestions offered by the experienced posters, and for that I am forever grateful.
I finally downloaded SleepyHead a few days ago and am trying to learn how to interpret the stats... (its only taking me 2 crème-filled chocolate covered doughnuts and 2 cigarettes to accomplish, utterly destroying my New Year's resolutions!

So for this post, I am trying to learn how to post the images here from Imgur. I've posted one 0.0, and my 'worst' night of .92. Keeping fingers crossed that it works, so that IF I should encounter an issue, I know I can come to the "pros" here and get good advice! Hmmm...according to the Preview, I will need to learn re-sizing.

Question: Why doesn't Flow Rate appear on some of my charts (including the 0.0 one above), but re-appears on some charts? And what is UA?

[Uncle_Bob]

Resmed gives out 0 AHI scores for free, Show me a screen shot of an AHI of 0 from the PR Bi-Pap and then I'll be impressed

I'm not sure what UA is and more to the point how each of the machines respond to such events.

[Guest]

Show me a screen shot of an AHI of 0 from the PR Bi-Pap and then I'll be impressed

I've gotten many, many zero AHIs on a PR bipap. My avg AHI over 2 yrs is .2.

[cands]

UA on ResMed is Unexplained Apnea = Apnea during high leak rate above 30l/m. The idea is that it is unexplained because the recording may be inaccurate at high leak rate.

[Sheriff Buford]

Diva: your results are good! Enjoy the ride!

Sheriff

[OkyDoky]

Sounds like you are doing good. As far as the Flow Rate graph question, make sure that all the graphs are turned on. Look at the bottom right corner where it says graphs and be sure they are all green.
To help with your Imgur posting, this link explains what is needed. https://sleep.tnet.com/reference/tips/imgur

[TonyG]

I personally feel too many people put too much emphasis on achieving the 0 AHI. I have been using PAP since 2013 and have had 5 zero's over that time, all in 2015. I use the PR system one 561 APAP. I must say on those 5 nights when I woke up I would have never guessed I had a perfect night. I actually have felt a lot better with scores much higher so for me I would rather feel good then have good numbers although that is not to say I don't want good results. My normal AHI is usually well under 2 but varies from under 1 to under 2 constantly . My point is feeling good is my ultimate goal.

[Guest]

My point is feeling good is my ultimate goal.

Not disagreeing but will point out...

If you have large leaks the cpap can't detect events so you can end up with a zero AHI yet have enuff events to make you feel bad. You need to also know what the leak rate is for your mask at your pressure and check to make sure your leak rate falls below that number also. This is where the software comes in cuz the screen display is bad at math and rounds things off and is esp bad at leaks.

I must say on those 5 nights when I woke up I would have never guessed I had a perfect night. I actually have felt a lot better with scores much higher so for me I would rather feel good then have good numbers although that is not to say I don't want good results.

[Pugsy]

UA is unknown apnea. The machine sensed something happened but couldn't decide what to call it.
Unless using one of the high end machines (you aren't) this usually happens when a large leak happens and due to the leak the machine couldn't make up its mind what to call it.

Something to remember about the S9 machines. Due to the way the data is collected and stored on the SD card you will need to download to your software at least once a week or you will have some days/nights where some of the graphs won't be available. This is because the machine starts overwriting some of the data files after 7 days for some of the files and 30 days for some other of the files.
Flow rate is one of the files that gets overwritten after 7 days.
This likely explains the missing flow rate graphs. If you go too long you won't have any graphs. I have a lot of those because I often go weeks or months between downloads on my S9.

It's just the way the S9 retains data. The AirSense model doesn't overwrite so fast and the Respironics never overwrite. So just remember to download at least once a week if you don't want to have some missing graphs.

[DanceDiva26]

Woo-hoo! Pugsy's back!! Hope you're well-rested and enjoyed a wonderful break!

I have been wondering where you and a few others have been.....but didn't want to ask and appear too neeeeeedy! <laughing> But the truth of the matter is, I have needed you guys/this board....and you've all been so encouraging and helpful in countless ways.

Good to know about downloading weekly on the S9. And also reading (on another thread) re: the greater importance of the EPAP setting on preventing the apneas. All these tips and pointers have helped so much!

I've had a few more 0.0 readings interspersed with .6, .4, .17 etc., with nothing significant on the other graphs, so probably not flukes. And I'm feelin' GREAT!
A couple of probable reasons for the better scores are 1) hip surgery recovery going well - I can sleep on my side again! YEAH! Altho' after months of back sleeping due to 2 surgeries this year, back sleeping isn't sooooo bad anymore...and I do both now. As long as I know I have the choice, I go to bed happier.
2) Hubby put on a thick memory foam topper. Heavenly! 3) Bathroom breaks down to 0 95% of the time. 4) I can now invite my 'favorite' dog to snuggle with me from time to time (blue collar dog in my pic....<ssshh...I typed that so pink collar dog, who I also love dearly but is not a snuggler, did not hear me say that)...okay...so not CPAP related...but happier sleepytime...lol..

DanceDiva is back to doing happy dances due to CPAP and CPAPTalk help!! Thanks Pugsy and board!