Is my flow rate waveform normal?

[ProfBrianObvilion]

Trying to "troubleshoot" poor quality sleep I've been having the past few months. My AHI is pretty low, averaging around 1 or so everynight. Thinking I might be suffering from "microarousals" from disturbed breathing.

My oximeter tells me I average around .5 desaturations per hour and about 4 pulse change events per hour.

At any rate, one thing that always catches my eye is the waveform on my flow rate. Alot of these I see are pretty nice "sine wave-ish" patterns. It's seems like with mine, there's a pause during the inspiration cycle.

I see this waveform quite consistently over many nights... so it may just be normal.

ti-min=1
ti-max=2.5
cycle=medium
trigger=high

[Miss Emerita]

Do you mean the pause at or around the zero line? That's normal; we tend to pause a little between breaths.

I'm also seeing the little oscillations that indicate a cardioballistic effect. Your heartbeat telegraphs itself to your airway just enough to register. The CB effect is generally most noticeable during the pause between breaths. Absolutely nothing to worry about. (I have it myself.)

[ProfBrianObvilion]

Yes, the pause at zero... at the end of inspiration, I exhale... then trigger a inhale...and pause during that (so it would seem).

Interesting on the cardioballistic effect, never heard of it.

Thanks for the response, I'll keep looking elsewhere to try and figure this out.

[palerider]

Yes, the pause at zero... at the end of inspiration, I exhale... then trigger a inhale...and pause during that (so it would seem).

Interesting on the cardioballistic effect, never heard of it.

Thanks for the response, I'll keep looking elsewhere to try and figure this out.

You have classic sleep breathing in the picture you posted.

everything above the red line is inhalation, everything below the line is exhalation, so you inhale, exhale, pause, inhale, exhale, pause.

if you paused after inhaling, the flow would return back to the red zero line before the exhale.

[chunkyfrog]

Interesting sidebar:
I found that while awake, a pause between breaths can trigger a hiccup.
I have gotten rid of hiccups by breathing continuously,--with no pauses.
Apparently pausing is related to muscle spasms of the diaphragm.
This breathing technique also helps me with relaxation.

[Rubicon]

I found that while awake, a pause between breaths can trigger a hiccup.

With me I find that almost inevitably I get hiccups when eating peanut butter.

[chunkyfrog]

I found that while awake, a pause between breaths can trigger a hiccup.

With me I find that almost inevitably I get hiccups when eating peanut butter.

Almond butter is nicer--but cashew butter is delicious!
If they made pecan butter, I would rub it all over the bullfrog--then (deleted).

[Rubicon]

If they made pecan butter, I would rub it all over the bullfrog--then (deleted).

ARRRGGGHHH!!! I NEED TO TEAR MY EYES OUT!!!

[chunkyfrog]

A blind guy, driving a Jeep--just what we need!

[ChicagoGranny]

With me I find that almost inevitably I get hiccups when eating peanut butter.

What do your waveforms look like? Don't you get PB all over the mask??

[Rubicon]

What do your waveforms look like?

[ChicagoGranny]

The common Beach Break

[palerider]

Interesting sidebar:
I found that while awake, a pause between breaths can trigger a hiccup.
I have gotten rid of hiccups by breathing continuously,--with no pauses.
Apparently pausing is related to muscle spasms of the diaphragm.
This breathing technique also helps me with relaxation.

My go-to method for getting rid of hiccups is to hyperventilate for a bit, then take as deep a breath as I can, and hold it as long as possible, the very very slowly let it out and start breathing again... *usually* works.

[chunkyfrog]

It sounds similar, but could be more effective--relaxing the diaphragm to halt spasms.