Advanced research (warning long post)

[pabneypaol]

Hello everyone,
I have been lurking for some time now, just trying to get my head around all the info. I have just received my PSG report and currently waiting for my Titration sleep study in about 2 weeks, so I will know more then, but I am in the habit of researching as much as possible. The more I know the better.

So here is a snapshot of my PSG:

General Info: Age: 43 Sex:M Height: 72" Weight: 255

Sleep Summary: recorded time: 448.9 Min sleep time: 431.5Min sleep efficiency: 98.4 Min

Sleep Stage Analysis: 1.6% awake 2.5% Stage 1 76.6% Stage 2 0% Stage 3 0% Stage 4 20.9% Rem

EKG: Heart rate 96 awake 72 during REM 76 During non rem

Respiratory Data: 649 Respiratory events with 598 apneas and 51 hypopneas giving AHI of 90.2
429 apneas were obstructive, 1 was central and 168 were mixed.
119 events during REM and 530 during non rem. Many events lasted more than 30 seconds
Oxygen desturation index of 81.7 per hour was noted with the lowest saturation of <60%.

Now I am new at this but from my research this would be considered a severe case, so any info is helpful. Specific questions follow, but any comments on the above info is greatly appreciated.

Questions:
What does a desaturation index of 81.7 per hour mean?

I seem to skip stage 3 and 4 of sleep, does this get corrected with CPAP?

I am just starting to look at equipment so any thoughts on what to get?

Do to a problem with insurance, I will be funding my equipment, are any of the used equipment stores on the web reliable?

I have a full beard and mustache, and am a long time mouth breather, any mask suggestions?


I am sure that I have bored most of you long enough, so I will go now. I am sure that there will be many more questions in the future. Looking forward to the groups comments.

pabneypaol

[Goofproof]

Our host, https://www.cpap.com/, Good people to deal with, all you need is a script for machine, orders over $100 shipped free. Be sure to get a machine that collects full data, so you can help yourself with treatment.

I started with a ComfortFull Mask, I'd considered losing the beard, face hair doesn't make us who we are, mask sealing is hard at best, and it's all about us keeping the pressure inside our airway.

Welcome to the group, lots of info around here, and most people want to help.

What does a desaturation index of 81.7 per hour mean? It means you stop breathing 92 is considered normal. It a measure of O2 in the blood.

As XPAP helps you stay asleep, stage 3 & 4 will get longer, they are the times when repair takes place, and dreaming. When your body is shut down for repair.

New equiptment is best, but if money is tight we do what we must. With new you bypass some future problems that could effect treatment, such as know if the equiptment is working right.

When you get it fill in your profile of the equiptment you use and how you use it, iot helps others help you. (In Text Form) not Icon...

The equiptment I list works fine, but I use a nasal mask, you would need a FF mask. Jim

[sleepydoll]

Questions:
What does a desaturation index of 81.7 per hour mean?

Your red blood cells must carry sufficient oxygen through your arteries to all of your internal organs to keep you alive. Normally, when red blood cells pass through the lungs, 95%-100% of them are loaded, or "saturated," with oxygen to carry. If you have a medical condition, fewer of your red blood cells may be carrying their usual load of oxygen, and your oxygen saturation might be lower than 95%. You are at 81.7% !
An SaO2 (arterial oxygen saturation) value below 90% is termed hypoxemia. which is an abnormally low oxygen availability to the body or an individual tissue or organ.
Severe hypoxemia can be life-threatening. When tissues receive too little oxygen, hypoxia (low tissue oxygenation) may result, causing tissue damage and even cell death.
For you to be adequately oxygenated, three conditions must be met: Blood oxygen levels must be sufficient, oxygen must be delivered efficiently to tissues, and cells must be able to extract and use the oxygen to meet metabolic needs.
Your sleep apnea definitely impairs your ability to get air (and therefore oxygen) to your lungs and body.

Hope this clarifies your question!

[ozij]

Questions:
What does a desaturation index of 81.7 per hour mean?

If you were in the hospital, for any reason, and you had that destauration, they'd be giving you supplemental oxygen. It means your breathing interruptions are depriving your body (brain and all other part) of a signficant amount of the oxygen it needs. It means that the way you're sleeping now is very bad for your health - both on a nightly basis, and in the long range.
Proper cpap therapy will probably take care of that.

I seem to skip stage 3 and 4 of sleep, does this get corrected with CPAP?

Yes.

I am just starting to look at equipment so any thoughts on what to get?

Yes and no. Aim for a machine that will let you track your breathing data (compliance tracking is not enough). However, you can't tell ahead of time which kind of breathing support technology you may need - there are at least 4 kinds:

• A fixed pressure machine
  An automatic = i.e. self adjusting machine
  A bi-level machine
  An adaptive servo ventilation machine.

I'd aim for a self-adjusting (aka APAP) - it can be used as a fixed pressure machine should you discover fixed pressure is better for you.

I have a full beard and mustache, and am a long time mouth breather, any mask suggestions?

Some people stop mouth breathing when their obstruction are controled. Other do not. They will find that out in the titration study.


Welcome to the forum, and good luck!
O.[/list]

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Titration, CPAP, APAP, Bi-Level Machine