Finally took the test...

[zrob]

Hi All!

So, I finally admitted to myself that I might have a problem and instead of just brushing it off, like I have for many years, I decided to get a sleep study done. I was pretty sure my results were going to be bad, but I wasn't expecting them to be this bad.

Per my doctor's report:
"His polysomnographic study was remarkable for very severe sleep-disordered breathing. The overall apnea-hypopnea index was 111.2 per hour. Prolonged oxygen desaturation was also noted. His accumulated time under 88% was 202.9 minutes."
"Obviously, he has very severe sleep-disordered breathing, possible obesity hypoventilation syndrome."
"He has agreed to go with auto BiPAP trial. I will also add 2 L supplemental oxygen to auto BiPAP to ensure his hypoxemia is resolved."

So, I have been prescribed bi-pap treatment along with 2L supplemental oxygen. I went out and purchased a oxygen concentrator this week, since I didn't want to "rent" one from the medical device company. The bi-pap they ordered for me is the ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto w/ HumidAir 37211.

Long story short, I have snored the majority of my life, but recently, the last couple months, have felt like I get zero sleep. I push through each day and find myself exhausted. Rinse and repeat. The whole pandemic thing hasn't helped either as I have packed on the pounds. I am at my heaviest I have ever been in my life. ​

I am very eager to start treatment, and would just like to know if there is hope for me. What can I expect? My AHI is so high it gives me anxiety just looking at it. Will it go down? As I continue to lose weight, I continue to hopefully see improvements as well.

[Pugsy]

Yes, there is most definitely hope.

Get this...you are going to want it and need it.

OSCAR https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph ... stallation
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph ... rpretation

[klm49]

Hi All!

So, I finally admitted to myself that I might have a problem and instead of just brushing it off, like I have for many years, I decided to get a sleep study done. I was pretty sure my results were going to be bad, but I wasn't expecting them to be this bad.

Per my doctor's report:
"His polysomnographic study was remarkable for very severe sleep-disordered breathing. The overall apnea-hypopnea index was 111.2 per hour. Prolonged oxygen desaturation was also noted. His accumulated time under 88% was 202.9 minutes."
"Obviously, he has very severe sleep-disordered breathing, possible obesity hypoventilation syndrome."
"He has agreed to go with auto BiPAP trial. I will also add 2 L supplemental oxygen to auto BiPAP to ensure his hypoxemia is resolved."

So, I have been prescribed bi-pap treatment along with 2L supplemental oxygen. I went out and purchased a oxygen concentrator this week, since I didn't want to "rent" one from the medical device company. The bi-pap they ordered for me is the ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto w/ HumidAir 37211.

Long story short, I have snored the majority of my life, but recently, the last couple months, have felt like I get zero sleep. I push through each day and find myself exhausted. Rinse and repeat. The whole pandemic thing hasn't helped either as I have packed on the pounds. I am at my heaviest I have ever been in my life. ​

I am very eager to start treatment, and would just like to know if there is hope for me. What can I expect? My AHI is so high it gives me anxiety just looking at it. Will it go down? As I continue to lose weight, I continue to hopefully see improvements as well.

Good going, you are headed in the right direction and are in the right place for help. Identical setup to mine.

[zonker]

I am very eager to start treatment, and would just like to know if there is hope for me. What can I expect? My AHI is so high it gives me anxiety just looking at it. Will it go down? As I continue to lose weight, I continue to hopefully see improvements as well.

yes. most definitely YES there is hope. you've come to the right place. pugsy has replied and she is one of the top people here on the forum.

i just wanted to expand on what she is saying with the links she provided. each of us is different in how we treat sleep apnea. while the overall process is the same, it's the differences that matter.

with the oscar software, we can get the details of what makes up YOUR apnea. once those details (or events) are known, the experts here can offer good sound advice as to what you'll need to do to optimize your therapy.

you can do this.

we can help.

good luck!

[zrob]

Thanks to all those who have replied. I downloaded the OSCAR software and will begin reading about it. I am hoping to get my device this week. They are mailing it directly to me and explained it will come pre-programed with what my physician ordered. They said that since there is a high demand they have to order and ship them directly to customers, so there is no sit-down with a person to explain how to use and not use the machine. With that said, I have zero experience with these devices and have looked at YouTube videos about them, but I was wondering if there any good step-by-step guides for beginners that I can read and get a feel for what I need to do the first night I start using the machine? Also, they said it will be coming with a nose mask, not sure which one, I assume a ResMed one. Also, if I am using a nose mask, does that mean I need to always sleep with my mouth shut to retain pressure? Because I bet I will open my mouth when I fall asleep.

[chunkyfrog]

" I bet I will open my mouth when I fall asleep."

I did, but it stopped once I was getting enough air through my nose with the cpap.

[zrob]

" I bet I will open my mouth when I fall asleep."

I did, but it stopped once I was getting enough air through my nose with the cpap.

Fingers crossed.

[Miss Emerita]

It's great that you finally took the test and are about to start PAP treatment with O2 supplementation. When the machine arrives, try setting it up outside your bedroom and using it during the day or evening while you watch TV or read. This will help you get used to it faster. And google for videos on mask fitting for your particular brand of mask. They can be helpful. I hope your first night sleeping with it will be smooth and easy, but don't panic if it isn't. We will help you troubleshoot if need be.

It's also great you have Oscar at the ready. After your first night, please post a chart so we can take a look.

Do you breathe through your nose during the day? If you do, the chances are good you'll manage at night too. You may need some extras to make it work for you, so let us know how that goes so we can offer suggestions.

[Pugsy]

Go here and request a copy of the clinical/provider manual
https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual

It has more information in it than the user manual you will likely get.
You request it via email attachment and instructions are about 2/3 down the page.

[Okie bipap]

When I picked up my machine, I had a short meeting with a respiratory therapist who tried a couple of different masks on me to see which one I preferred, then showed me how to hook up everything, fill the water reservoir, and how to start and stop the machine. I could have gotten all of that from the user's manual. If your machine does not come with an SD card, you will need to purchase one. They are readily available at Walmart, Office Depot, Best Buy, and many other places. Once you get your machine, come back for any questions you may have. Also, once you start asking for help, keep your questions all in one thread. It will make it easier for the people here to help you if they do not have to try to read three or four threads to keep up on your journey.

[zrob]

Go here and request a copy of the clinical/provider manual
https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual

It has more information in it than the user manual you will likely get.
You request it via email attachment and instructions are about 2/3 down the page.

Done!

[zrob]

Do you breathe through your nose during the day? If you do, the chances are good you'll manage at night too. You may need some extras to make it work for you, so let us know how that goes so we can offer suggestions.

I do. For about 10 years of my life, I'm 38 now, I had a deviated septum, which I got fixed via septoplasty back in 2012. Every since then, I put mouth breathing behind me. I always blamed the deviated septum for my snoring, but even with that fixed alas I still have a problem, obviously.

Are there others here that have such high AHI? I feel like I got diagnosed with knocking on deaths door apnea because it's so high (111)

Does that mean I wake up multiple times every minute? Albeit, I am not really awake.

[JLROhio]

If your machine does not come with an SD card, you will need to purchase one. They are readily available at Walmart, Office Depot, Best Buy, and many other places.

I am curious as to if there will be an SD card. I contacted ResMed a few weeks back to ask them this directly and they indicated that they have not provided SD cards in machines for the past couple of years. They also recommended any SD card over 2Gb would work. Since this is a Bi-Pap machine, I'm wondering if it just might contain an SD card.

Also, I'm curious if anyone has been prescribed the Oximetry Module to go with their CPAP equipment. Since the OP needs supplemental oxygen, one would think that someone (doctor) would want to also measure the oxygen levels while they are asleep, along with the other CPAP data...

[babydinosnoreless]

Do you breathe through your nose during the day? If you do, the chances are good you'll manage at night too. You may need some extras to make it work for you, so let us know how that goes so we can offer suggestions.

Are there others here that have such high AHI? I feel like I got diagnosed with knocking on deaths door apnea because it's so high (111)

Yes. I had a higher AHI. With my Bi-level its now averages less than 1

[loggerhead12]

Are there others here that have such high AHI? I feel like I got diagnosed with knocking on deaths door apnea because it's so high (111)

Does that mean I wake up multiple times every minute? Albeit, I am not really awake.

Yep, I'm right there with you. You're waking up almost twice a minute.

Good news - the most severe apnea sufferers adapt to the treatment more quickly and get the most benefit from it. You can look forward to sleeping restfully 10-14 hours a night for a couple of months while you body catches up.