Accuracy of Encore versus Sleep Study

[lemon]

Yeah. Sorry if I wasn't clear. My comparisons are all to cpap sleep studies (titration studies) done at Stanford.

There is a lot of great advice in this thread, which I greatly appreciate. I think my next step is to see my doc yet again and take it from there. Perhaps I'll have to shell out for another cpap study.

Giving it some thought today, I recall (dont have my studies here at work) that my average hypopnea duration was a little over 10 seconds. Maybe Stanford sleep lab is counting hypopneas that last less than 10 seconds if they lead to an arrousal, and Encore software doesn't. This might explain the difference. And explain how I feel. The result might be that I won't know with Encore when things are working as they should, until I get an in-lab cpap study. I'll discuss it all with the doctors.

It seems like the way the machine records events may work well for most people, and perhaps I'm just an unlucky one. Things would be much easier for me if I could debug things with Encore pro. At least I do have the sleep labs as an option though, so things are not totally helpless. We are so lucky to be at an age when we have so many options (and helpful people) at our disposal.

[NightHawkeye]

Perhaps I'll have to shell out for another cpap study.

Giving it some thought today, I recall (dont have my studies here at work) that my average hypopnea duration was a little over 10 seconds.

Those are extremely short hypopneas, Lemon. My oximeter software doesn't even register a desaturation lasting less than 10 seconds. Like you've already concluded, the hypopneas measured by the sleep lab might not be significant since they were so short.

An easy way to find out if the hypopneas are significant, and much cheaper than having another sleep study done, would be to simply ask your doc to write you a prescription for an oximeter to use at home for a few nights. Folks here have indicated that many DME's will loan out an oximeter for free for a few nights with a prescription. An oximeter would probably provide you with valuable information to move forward. It would certainly be a lot better than mere guessing and speculation which is all you're working with now.

Regards,
Bill