Chasing 0.0 Redux/Thanksgiving

[DanceDiva26]

Chasing 0.00 Redux

Nooo...I'm not chasing 0.00...they're just happening! I realize that 0.00 is attainable, but not always very common....but I've had three 0.0 readings in the past 6 days! The other 3 were .10, .11, .30.

Is it possible, with the excellent help of this board, that I have managed to truly optimize my therapy that well? Is it just a happy coincidental fluke? Or, is my machine broken? <laughing>

I've been on CPAP for 2 years (Geee...has it been that long? I remember my first post here asking for help on how to challenge the Dr/DME to give me an APAP instead of the "brick").

Thanks to reading this board, I've tweaked every variable over time and documented waking impressions/which mask used, etc. info under Notes. Besides the daily AHI readings, Sleepyhead has been so helpful in tracking my overall progression and in documenting which changes worked, or didn't work.
For example: The Statistics page tells me that for the last 97 days, my cumulative?/average?/mean? AHI was .46.
For the 173 days prior to that, my AHI was .73. Waaay good enough for me, but experimenting to changing my EPR from 2 to 3, and switching back to my Swift FX mask brought that down even further! My tidal volume and leak rate also improved. I'll take it!!

I've also realized I'm lucky in that I must be very adaptable in mask fitting. I have 2 Dreamwears and can wear small/medium/medium wide (the latter only in my recliner, on my back, no moving onto my side, otherwise it leaks like a sieve!) I have 2 P10s and can wear Medium and Large. I can wear Medium and Large in my Swift FX. These are all original (2 years old) pillows/cushions because I can rotate amongst them.

Sleepyhead has been almost like a diary of sorts. When I see periods higher than "my" normal, I can correlate it to a stressful event. Last December/January was higher due to caring for my sick dog who I eventually had to say goodbye to in January. When I couldn't remember later exactly which days my husband was in the hospital, I checked Sleepyhead graphs and quickly found the 2 days of my non-compliance, since I had slept at the hospital with him. Emergency ambulance ride at 2:00 a.m....didn't realize "I" would stay overnight too...no CPAP for me!

There are still some days that I wake up feeling not-so-great (not always attributable to apnea)....but even if am less than optimal, I think..."Think how much worse I might be feeling if I hadn't used my CPAP!"...<laughing>

So in the spirit of this Thanksgiving week, I offer my thanks to this Board and the very caring and helpful people sharing their valuable knowledge and experience, to the creator of Sleepyhead, and to the inventor of APAP machines! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[Grace~~~]

Happy Thanksgiving Dance Diva ~~~

What great news! I've only had one "real" 8+ hours deep sleep 0.0 the others were for very short sleeps.

I haven't "tweaked" in a while and I hadn't thought of changing my EPR but I am also at 2. Maybe if I up the pressure a bit which I have been thinking about upping the EPR might make this change almost unnoticeable?

I'm below one for the year but only "just". However, I use the auto off /on and occasionally mess up my stats when I don't notice my mask isn't really "off". I swear it just starts back up breathing on it's own? But maybe I am too careless?

I do know my pressure line is not as smooth as I think it should be so that is why I am thinking of upping pressure a little.

Thanks again for the encouragement.
I too am grateful to the people who share here on CPAPTALK!

[Arlene1963]

Thanks for the upate, DanceDiva. It's great to read that things are going so well with your treatment.

I'm really interested that you find your tidal volume increased when you set your EPR to 3. I noticed exactly the same thing when I set my EPR to 3. I recall you mentioning in a thread a while back that you were concerned about low tidal volume. I feel better when my tidal volume is higher and I sleep for longer as well, so I continue to use EPR 3. It's definitely more than "just a comfort feature" for some of us.(Maybe small women? LOL)

Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving!

[Sheriff Buford]

I get a 0 about twice a month. It happens. Heck.... I currently have a cold and have been getting a 0 and I've been sleeping 10 -12 hours. I used to monitor sleepyhead as you do, but eventually only downloaded it every couple of months. For me, my goal is to feel as "good as it gets". By the way, I have found that when I get a zero AHI, I don't feel as well as I would otherwise.

Great to hear you are doing so well! That's why I stick around.

Sheriff

[Midwest_non_sleeper]

I've had ONE zero in the last 6 months. I hover between .4 and 2.0 usually, with most being just under 1 or just over 1. I'd like to get that down further, but can't seem to. Everything is optimized already.

Congrats on the multiple zeros, that's really nice. Now go get into the Fight Club thread so I can kick your butt.

[Grace~~~]

A second "vote" from Arlene1963 and I'm giving that EPR 3 a try tonight! I forgot to change it last night so thanks for the reminder!

Speaking of Arlene1963, you always have great avatars ... but this current one is VERY *Grace*! Thanks for bringing the "arte" with your posts. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who enjoys it.

...and mid-west nonsleeper? Well, YOUR MOMMA sooo ________ (to be continued in the fightthread )

[Arlene1963]

Thanks Grace! I collect vintage and antique jewelry, also belt buckles. Most of the avatars are from pieces in my collection. This avatar is a close up of a vintage enamel belt buckle I bought over the weekend. The colors are so vibrant, the vibe so happy, that I just had to use it for my new avatar (as the snow begins to fall here.)

As for EPR, some of us for whatever reason respond well to higher EPR, so give it a whirl.