Variable Breathing

[CorgiWalker]

So, my AHI’s have returned to an average of 9.32. While investigating, I found the data channel of Variable breathing. On my worst AHI night 16.07, the variable breathing was 54.53% and periodic breathing was 11.2%. I am beginning to suspect that these worse episodes coincide with my AFIB. I see my sleep nurse again in September. She just ups the pressure which increases my leaks, which wakes me. Any suggestions of resources to read or doctors to pursue? Cardiologist nor sleep nurse were very concerned last year, and AHI’s are now worse.

[Miss Emerita]

Could you post an Oscar chart so we can take a look?

[CorgiWalker]

Sure. I will follow the instructions tomorrow for that.

[CorgiWalker]

This is a picture of a really high night and an average night. I am using an Airtouch F20 with the recalled DreamStation 1. My upper pressure is set at 15. I usually only reach this pressure briefly as in the average night picture. And, I usually wake and press the ramp button to bring it back to my starting pressure of 9.0. I was not able to turn off the pie chart.

[Pugsy]

How much time do you spend sleeping on your back?

[CorgiWalker]

I have no idea. I go to sleep on my side and wake on my side. I try not to sleep on my back. Only once in a blue moon do I wake on my back, and that is usually because it hurts.

[Miss Emerita]

Pugsy asks about back-sleeping because you have pronounced clustering of obstructive events. Other culprits can include tucking your chin down toward your chest and REM sleep.

The timing doesn’t look quite right for REM. I suggest you try wearing a soft cervical collar at night, adjusted so that it will keep your chin from tucking down. If that works, great; if it doesn’t, we can contributors think about what’s going on with those clusters.

Is that something you feel you could try?

[CorgiWalker]

I will dig out my soft collar and try it. I just might be tucking. I also wondered about my AFIB. But, I can see with the collar.

[Pugsy]

Any special reason for limiting max to 15?

There are times when you obviously need more pressure but the machine can't go there.

Usual culprits
Supine sleeping
REM stage sleep
sometimes airway position alteration by tucking the chin.

I don't think it is REM....no one gets the amount of REM someone would need to explain away the Aug 27 night.

Quit worrying about variable/PB breathing and worry about the OA clusters/hyponea clusters.

[CorgiWalker]

Solution Found: (I think.)
Ya’ll did it! I ordered a vest that doesn’t let you sleep on your back. It arrived 5 days ago. I have used it for 4 nights. My average of 7.2 for 30 days with clusters of events through the night is now 2.0 for 4 nights with a high of 2.3, a low of 1.7, and no clusters. Apparently, I was turning on my back without realizing it. This has got to be better for my AFIB. I thank you whole heartedly! (Yes, pun intended.)
Dreamstation 1, Airtouch F20

[Miss Emerita]

Oh, hey, congratulations on the great experimental problem-solving!