my ASV data - any ideas/suggestions?

[agentandya]

Hi gang - frequent reader, infrequent poster here. I was wondering if anyone would like to offer their 2 cents on my data - yes, i know we're not professionals but i'd like to get some user opinions and i'm really sick of my neurolgist's office PA who is just happy my AHI is under 5 (yes, i am too, but i still feel rather crappy). anyways, lets see if i can get these images up:






i'm 34, diagnosed with complex apnea last summer with AHI of 33. CPAP got that down to around 12 - all centrals/hypops, ASV (started in Jan, finally) has gotten that down to around 1 - but those pesky hypopneas and and PB are bugging me. Perhaps i'm a little too focused on the charts. The corresponding peaks in tidal volume with dips in patient triggered breath has me wondering - "what does it mean?"

my max IPAP used to be 25 but that was giving my crazy aerophagia and waking me and my girlfriend up all night. toot toot. the 15 has been much better.

oh - and another thing to totally throw a wrench in your analysis - i have a Bicuspid Aortic Valve with a dilated aortic root at 4.3 cm ('normal' is around 3.5, surgery suggested at 5.5). Heart doc calls my condition a 'minor problem at worst' at this point, with possible valve replacement due in my 50s, or whenever necessary. ugh. mix in some acid reflux (i sleep on a wedge) and possible aspiration if you like as well.

any thoughts? opinions? thanks - this place is a wealth of info and support.

Andy

[DLB]

The corresponding peaks in tidal volume with dips in patient triggered breath has me wondering - "what does it mean?"

my max IPAP used to be 25 but that was giving my crazy aerophagia and waking me and my girlfriend up all night. toot toot. the 15 has been much better.

oh - and another thing to totally throw a wrench in your analysis - i have a Bicuspid Aortic Valve with a dilated aortic root at 4.3 cm ('normal' is around 3.5, surgery suggested at 5.5). Heart doc calls my condition a 'minor problem at worst' at this point, with possible valve replacement due in my 50s, or whenever necessary. ugh. mix in some acid reflux (i sleep on a wedge) and possible aspiration if you like as well.

any thoughts? opinions? thanks - this place is a wealth of info and support.

Andy

Congratulations on your therapy progress!

When my breath rate goes down and my tidal volume goes up, it is when I am awake. I see the data gap in the morning, looks like you turned the machine on and off for a short period and this is one of the three times when your breath rate is down and your tidal volume is up. My machine often flags PB, CA, OA, H, and FL when I'm awake incorrectly. Sometimes, I keep a spreadsheet and rescore my night by ignoring events while I'm awake. This helps me better dial in my settings.

Sorry to hear about your heart condition, hopefully with better PAP therapy, it will put less pressure on your heart and you can avoid surgery.

Good Luck,
DLB

[JohnBFisher]

AHI of 2.0 and PB of only 3% and Patient Triggered Breathing at almost 95% .. Well, the numbers are great.

But more importantly, how do you feel? Do you feel as if you can do some exercise (even mild)? If so, go ahead and get the exercise. That will help improve how you feel more than anything. For example, I just got a dog to be certain that I walked more than I would otherwise. And I feel much better.

As I note, the numbers look good. If you feel better, take advantage of that and do a little more work (around the house, or simply walking). That will help.

Hope you continue to do well. Best wishes!

[agentandya]

Thanks - yes, i know i could use a little more exercise - even thought about getting a dog as well, but dont know if my 3 cats would appreciate it.

I know the numbers are relatively great, and i definitely feel better than i used to, but feel like i'm not quite 100% - i may be over thinking it and should probably get outside more.

Also, something i omitted from my original post is that my PA suggested that the dips in patient triggered breaths and corresponding spikes in tidal volume could be Cheyne-Stokes Respiration, which - having a heart defect - totally freaked me out. It seems like this past year my heart doc and my sleep doc have been pointing the finger at each other when i have questions, but i trust my heart doc a lot more.

[JohnBFisher]

It might be due to heart issues. But with Periodic Breathing being in the 3% range it's not a big concern. Some mild exercise will make all the difference in the world.

Enjoy!