central apnea questions

MoSleep · Post by **MoSleep** » Mon May 16, 2005 6:37 pm

I have been following the forum since I started with bipap. That is about 3 weeks now. The information seems to be accurate and the people responding seem concerned. I really appreciate the forum as a source of information and support.
I was reading tonight and someone was saying that AHI of 52 while on the machine was a matter of concern. My question is how much concern? Should there be some urgency involved? What are the likely consequences. The reason I am wondering is that my AHI while on the machine was 66.7. Central apnea was at 62 per hour. I have read of some of the possible problems of untreated apnea. I had gotten the impression that they were long range problems and not for immediate concern. Is that the wrong impression? I have Googled "central apnea" without much success. Mainly learning that central apnea is a bit more unusual and caused by the brain not communicating the breath response.
I am currently on a bipap pro 2 set at 17 / 13, with an ultra mirage full face and heated humidifier. I have gotten to where I can use it for about 6 hours a night with a break for water after about 3 hours. I wake up tired and end up sleepy most of the day. Breathing does feel looser and I don't get breathless as often.
Comments advise and observations welcome.
Thanks

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Mon May 16, 2005 7:11 pm

What was the reason you have a Bipap ? AHI of 62 is severe and your symptoms show it. I would try a lower pressure for a while to see if your AHI improves. Unless you have some other problem such as asthma a good auto should help. The c-flex model if your pressure is truely 17. Somehow this doesn't seem right. Good luck .

Cheers,

Chris

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Mon May 16, 2005 7:53 pm

Yeah, if you're having an AHI of 66, of which 62 are centrals, it's very possible your pressure is too high, and you're getting pressure induced centrals... so I've heard.

It's all hear-say, but that's the word on the street. Lowering the pressure might just help the problem. (Increased pressure helps eliminate OSAs, but not CAs. If OSAs are not the problem you're having, maybe the pressure is too high).

Liam, learning a lot from his Encore software.

meister · Post by **meister** » Mon May 16, 2005 7:55 pm

They say "Once you go Bi you never go back!" Chris, you should
give one a try! They are really cool. Mine has S/T mode and breathes
for me so I can sleep at night while it does the breathing. You get
better rest . With the Auto you need to keep breathing and your lung
muscles get tired. Now if I can just figure out how to give my heart
some rest.

ballast949 · Post by **ballast949** » Mon May 16, 2005 8:13 pm

When you say your AHI is 66, etc. are you talking about your original sleep study? Or do you have the card reader and software to read your BiPAP results? There is a big difference. My Sleep study AHI was 74, but on the bipap, most nights my AHI is below 5. I know that because I have the card reader and download my reading to the computer each morning.

If you are averaging 6 hours a night on the BiPAP, and your AHI is around 66, then there is something wrong. (In my non-professional opinion. "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV.")

MoSleep · Post by **MoSleep** » Mon May 16, 2005 8:16 pm

Liam, it appears from the report that OSA is a problem as well. Prior to the machine I had 231 minutes of sleep recorded with 330 obstructive events. AHI of 85.7 events per hour.
As I have said I am very new to this and have had no explanations. I spoke to the doctor today and he is sending me for a consultation with a sleep doc.

ballast949 · Post by **ballast949** » Mon May 16, 2005 8:23 pm

As to what the dangers of apnea are....
To my understanding, you will get more and more tired, feeling like you can never get enough sleep (I can vouch for this one - I hadn't hit the stage where you fall asleep at the wheel, but several people on this forum can tell you about that - and that is immediately life threatening.) It is bad on your heart. It scares your significant other when you stop breathing for 10 seconds or more. There are more reasons, but I will let some others chime in.

As to feeling sleepy in the morning... some people get immediate relief on their xPAP machine. For the rest of us it is a slow process - I have been on my bipap (at 20/17.5) for about 6 weeks and am just starting to see some results. It can be very subtle and gradual. I am still usually sleepy when I get up, but I have less and less tendency to fall asleep at my computer terminal at work or at home.)

If you have the Respironics BiPAP Pro 2, you can buy a card reader & software to monitor your results.

gailzee · Post by **gailzee** » Mon May 16, 2005 9:14 pm

Hi MoSleep:
Hang in there, keep working at it. I am only on ''it'' for almost 4 mos. Initially my sugar (diabetes) numbers were lower, even sleeping deeper, I've gone back to sleepy during day, numbers up etc. I will never give up, and will wear it at night forever. I do notice a bit more energy. Many folks are lucky, they can slap it on, sleep for 7-8 hrs, and feel great, can fall asleep easily, etc. But for many of us, and of course, I can't speak for everyone, other than my experiences, but it took me years of apnea induced problems, so I am being patient and taking it day at a time, or should say night at a time.

I have the PB 420E and have the silverlining software so I monitor my nightly events, and average around maybe 8-10 episodes per night, usually more hypop's than aps, so proof in the pudding, the treatment works. I have mine set on autopap 6-14, and average around a 9-11 at night, so I'm considering my treatment in a ''maintenance" mode.
We are works in progress, some of us slower to ''get it'' than others. But hang in there, we all need encouragement....this is not an easy lifestyle change to deal with, but we're all here to help.

Hope this helps...?

MoSleep wrote:I have been following the forum since I started with bipap. That is about 3 weeks now. The information seems to be accurate and the people responding seem concerned. I really appreciate the forum as a source of information and support.
I was reading tonight and someone was saying that AHI of 52 while on the machine was a matter of concern. My question is how much concern? Should there be some urgency involved? What are the likely consequences. The reason I am wondering is that my AHI while on the machine was 66.7. Central apnea was at 62 per hour. I have read of some of the possible problems of untreated apnea. I had gotten the impression that they were long range problems and not for immediate concern. Is that the wrong impression? I have Googled "central apnea" without much success. Mainly learning that central apnea is a bit more unusual and caused by the brain not communicating the breath response.
I am currently on a bipap pro 2 set at 17 / 13, with an ultra mirage full face and heated humidifier. I have gotten to where I can use it for about 6 hours a night with a break for water after about 3 hours. I wake up tired and end up sleepy most of the day. Breathing does feel looser and I don't get breathless as often.
Comments advise and observations welcome.
Thanks

MoSleep · Post by **MoSleep** » Mon May 16, 2005 10:31 pm

ballast, the numbers posted are from the original sleep study. I am considering getting a reader and associated software when finances allow. I think it would be an advantage to be able to review each nights numbers. What numbers will the bipap pro 2 provide?
Thanks to all for the replies.
Any information is more than I had before this posting.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon May 16, 2005 10:45 pm

MoSleep, this may not apply to you at all, but since the subject of your post had "Central Apneas" in the subject line, others who turn this topic up in future searches might benefit from these links.
__________________________________

Here are some links to posts about central apnea. Note especially the posts by "christinequilts", who has firsthand experience with central apnea and provides very well thought out information:

Mar 26, 2005 subject: 1 mo. CPAPer/mild apneac with doubts & detailed PSG resu Click "Page 2" of this topic and read christinequilts' 2nd post on Page 2 -- for reassurance regarding central apnea.

Jan 26, 2005 subject: Apneas, Central Apneas and Hypopneas

Apr 26, 2005 subject: Newbie to the CPAP World, Also a few questions...

May 26 2004 subject: Apnea worse with CPAP!?

Feb 04 2004 subject: Resmed VPAP II ST vs Respironics Synchrony ST

Jan 31 2004 subject: Seeing new Doc for Central !

Aug 07 2004 subject: CPAP vs AUTOPAP vs BIPAP?

Jan 21 2005 subject: AutoPAP failed, Bi-Level is worse, Help!!! (a post by christinequilts is next to last one on page 2)

Jan 05 2005 subject: APAP VS. BPAP Question (a post by christinequilts is the last one on page 2)

Sat May 14, 2005 subject: having to noticably catch my breath

ballast949 · Post by **ballast949** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:57 am

MoSleep, Assuming you have a Respironics BiPAP Pro 2, the software will provide the following...

1. Hours used each night
2. graph of OA (Obstructive Apneas), HA (Hypopneas), SI (Snore index), leaks for each night recorded + an average for each and your avg AHI
3. for each of the last 7 nights, a detailed graph of that night showing the occurence and length of each of the events in 2 above plus the average for the night of each.
4. a summary page

I'll go look for a web address for the software....

John

ballast949 · Post by **ballast949** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:13 am

Actually Derek (from this forum) has posted a very comprehensive review of the software reporting on the APAP machine. The BiPAP reporting is similar with the following exceptions. No "Flow Limitation" information. All pressure info just shows the BiPAP High & Low setting. No daily events/hour @pressure# chart at the bottom of the detail page (with bipap you are actually at a constant pressure, so this data doesn't exist). No summary of details page, just the summary of compliance page. Derek is writing some software that enhances the Encore data. It does work with the BiPap data, but still is a work in progress.

John

ballast949 · Post by **ballast949** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:14 am

I forgot the link to Derek's review

viewArticle/Encore-Pro-Respironics-CPAP ... Derek.html

central apnea questions

central apnea questions

Don't knock the BiPap

Re: central apnea questions

forgot

Machine	Mask