Bizarre AI / AHI graph

[sparkinson]

I've got the graph of my night with an AI of 41.6. The Bizarre thing (to me at least) is that ALL of them occurred within a two hour period shortly after I fell asleep, with none after that. Its not like I was awake the rest of the night either- the only time I remember waking up was to change the mask from large to medium pillows at 4am because it was leaking.

Here is the entire evenings graph
http://homepage.mac.com/sjparkinson/.Pu ... luster.png

Here is a close up of the crazy two hours
http://homepage.mac.com/sjparkinson/.Pu ... r_Zoom.png

The leak rate went up as the Apneas stopped- wonder if I rolled or something, but it still doesn't explain why there were no more all night.

Does respiration or anything give any hints as to when you are actually asleep?

Last night the doctor upped my pressure from 14/8 to 15/9, and I had a much lower AI spread fairly evenly through the night- I had almost 10.5 hours on the machine, and slept all night apart from one brief awakening where I checked the AI and then fell straight back to sleep.

http://homepage.mac.com/sjparkinson/.Pu ... _night.png

Simon

[StillAnotherGuest]

Post the "AHI" Graph from Thursday night like in the Friday example.

What does the software calculate the AI/AHI to be for Thursday?

SAG

[sparkinson]

Here is Thursday with the AHI graph visible

http://homepage.mac.com/sjparkinson/.Pu ... th_AHI.png

The software agrees with the machine for AHI rate.



Thanks for taking a look at these.

Simon

[sparkinson]

I don't think I completely trust the software and its reporting of Events.

My wife woke me up at 9:30 am today, but the data only goes to 7:30 (the time isn't two hours out, as I went to bed at 10:30 ish as the data says), plus it seems unlikely that events would just stop around 3:20 am completely.

http://homepage.mac.com/sjparkinson/.Pu ... ut_Off.png

Simon

[StillAnotherGuest]

For the Thursday AHI, what is the Hours of Usage?

[sparkinson]

It was 8:18 for Thursday night.

[StillAnotherGuest]

Whoa, that is whacked. So there's 300 events that aren't graphed (going with the AHI and usage are correct route).

In ResScan, when you "mouse over" a data line, the data value is noted. Are there events in the Events line or a numerical value in the AHI line when you mouse over those "blank" areas of the graph?

[sparkinson]

No, but it is running on a Mac via virtualisation- I'll get the software running on an old Dell tonight and see how today's data looks on that.

[Snoredog]

You did fine until you feel asleep

Think I'd start over by putting EPAP down to about 5 cm and IPAP at 7 cm and move them both up together until AHI stabilizes or gets near normal, can't be any worse than what you have now.

What other settings do you have in use?

[-SWS]

The Bizarre thing (to me at least) is that ALL of them occurred within a two hour period shortly after I fell asleep, with none after that.

Screwy data graphing acknowledged. I didn't catch your other posts, so I apologize if my question covers old territory. Is that correlation one of time (the two hour period) or might that correlation be one of sleep position? If the correlation is one of time is there any chance of a confluence of these two exacerbating factors: a) poor esophageal closure, coupled with b) food and/or beverage consumed close to bed time (close to that two hour period)?




Newcomers may not be aware that StillAnotherGuest manages a sleep lab... He's a very good poster to keenly focus on IMO.

[sparkinson]

About a year ago, before I was diagnosed with SA, my Rheumatologist told me I was an "interesting case." He then went on to explain that you really don't want to be an interesting case, as that just means nobody knows what's up with you My SA is already starting to feel like that to me, and it feels like I am going to have an "interesting" time getting this all taken care of at the sleep clinic, good as they are. (I never did have any rheumatoid problems, he was just one in a very very long line of specialist to poke and prod me before passing me along to the next one).


So, I get the exact same results on a Dell XP machine, which means its likely to be the VPAP machine not writing out all data, the software not reading / interpreting it, or the card not able to hold that many AIs . I am going for the software or the card, like someone only giving it 8 bits to reference the apneas with or something.

Snoredog, I can't really modify my settings as they have me hooked up to the ResTrax device, which beams my results to them nightly so they can check to see if I am being a good boy. I think pressure is one of the things they could tell I have tinkered with. Its in S- Mode (BiPAP), with 15/8 now. I have tinkered with the comfort settings, like rise time and Ti max as I found it too low at 2 seconds and it would often go into exhale mode whilst I was still breathing, but there doesn't seem that much else to set. Tonight I am going to change the Trigger to "Very Low" (thanks Slinky for the info), as I have often felt like the machine resists the start of my breathing just enough that it can stop me getting the in breath going.

SWS, I don't think its related to position- I am trying to sleep on my side a lot more, and my wife hasn't noticed either. It isn't food or drink either- I generally go to bed about 3 hours after having anything to eat or drink.

And StillAnotherGuest asked about any other meds in another thread- the only other thing I am taking is 150mg of Levothyroxine for a twice nuked with Radioactive Iodine thyroid.

It feels like I am going to end up on an Adapt SV in the coming weeks and months.

Thanks for the thoughts and input.

[StillAnotherGuest]

Ask Slinky if you can export the Thursday file to her so she can look at it on her software. There are about 110 events noted on your graph, but there should be (AHI 53.1)(8.3 hours) = 440.

If she can't read it either, tell your Sleep Lab about the discrepancy and ask them to fix it.

What time of day are you taking the Levothyroxine?

SAG

[sparkinson]

I take the Levothyroxine as soon as get up- usually around 7 am.

I'll see if I can figure out how to export the data and talk to Slinky,

Thanks,

Simon

[-SWS]

It feels like I am going to end up on an Adapt SV in the coming weeks and months.

A trial with Resmed's VPAP Adapt SV or Respironics' BiPAP AutoSV just might be the way to go. Good luck!

[Julie]

Is it possible that when you fell asleep you were in a particular position that allowed some giant leaks, but after a couple of hours turned over and had the mask incidentally 'right' itself to where it should have been?