DISCUSSION ON HIGH VB% on Encore Analyzer

[MrSandman]

Starting new thread concerning myself or others who have a very high VB% as viewed on Encore Pro Analyzer which is a free program by a member here (James Skinner) that is used in conjunction with Respironics Encore Pro software. The original thread was getting difficult to follow Original thread is here - viewtopic/t36412/Variable-Breathing-alw ... erned.html

Thanks for the reply echo and -SWS. Well I have been smokeless free since last Wednesday so CONGRATS to us echo. I have never had trouble quitting echo. The issue is the starting again months later when the guys around me open a can of the mint skoal that I love so much.

I hate to bring this up so late but I want to set the record straight. Not sure if I brought this up or not earlier in this thread because I don't want to read it all.

Sorry -SWS for forgetting this - I remember before this last bout with the funny feelings in the chest and phlegm, I ate chips and salsa close to bed time and fell asleep on the sofa and woke up choking. I do take Nexium so it didn't burn or anything like it would in the past but it was stomach contents that I had choked on and inhaled. I forgot about it and didn't mention it to the Dr.. So maybe that is the reason for the feeling I am having bronchial spasms and the phlegm and the super high VB%. Maybe I am still "puking" acid in my sleep and don't know it. I figured the Nexium was taking care of this problem.

I wonder if the PSG will show if I am having reflux arousals? Is that possible?

So last night I had a little lower AHI and a VB% in the 70%+ range.

[echo]

Sorry -SWS for forgetting this - I remember before this last bout with the funny feelings in the chest and phlegm, I ate chips and salsa close to bed time and fell asleep on the sofa and woke up choking. I do take Nexium so it didn't burn or anything like it would in the past but it was stomach contents that I had choked on and inhaled.

That's exactly how I ended up with my aspiration pneumonia last week. I inhaled some water I was attempting to drink to quench my thirst, and nearly drowned on dry land. By the next afternoon I was having fevers, chills, excessive exhaustion, and green phlegm coming up. The doc listened to my lungs that evening (24 hours after aspiration of water) and diagnosed the pneumonia. Therefore it probably IS a good to get the doc to listen to your lungs when you go next time.

I wonder if the PSG will show if I am having reflux arousals? Is that possible?

If you find out the answer to this, I also want to know! My sleep doctor (pulmonologist) said that this is not possilbe - that GERD would NOT be a reason to have multiple arousals in my sleep (she said it might happen once or twice a night). The conventional wisdom on the forum suggests otherwise. I'm not sure they have the tools to detect GERD-related arousals during a PSG. I had some 'spontaneous' arousals during the PSG and the titration that could potentially be attributed to GERD. Also remember that conventional wisdom on the forum mentions "silent GERD" - you don't even realize you're getting it at night because you don't notice the typical symptoms, but it can still be happening. I'm not sure if an endoscopy is the definintive diagnosis for silent GERD?

Want to trade machines? My theory is that I get slightly higher flow limitations in response to [GERD? other lung problem? something else?] but my AHI remains the same. I can't track Variable Breathing with the P&B 420E but I am curious now what my VB might be

[-SWS]

Hello, Browser. I'm just placing a bookmark here for me. I want to come back to this thread and throw more ideas around about GERD. I think it's a big issue for many of us.

Had a slight fever yesterday that managed to reach 103 today. As the governor of California used to say: "I'll be back...".

I can't speak for SAG, but I think he tends to show up when a conversation clearly requires his unique skills as an R.R.T., R.P.S.G.T. etc. I don't recall him popping into a thread to divulge common sense advice like "Don't eat chips and salsa right before going to bed" or "Work a little harder on that sleep hygiene". There's plenty of common sense advice like that from us folks in the peanut gallery.

[StillAnotherGuest]

Had a slight fever yesterday that managed to reach 103 today.

Whoa, sorry to hear that , -SWS! Hopefully, just a short-term bug, and nothing serious. Still too early for "flu" (and what most people call "flu" is not "flu").

And actually, a little tired myself today. However, the SAG EDS is undoubtedly due to being up late watching the Big 12 Championship. Yikes, what a scoring machine!

And when you're a "lark" that wakes up at "astronomical dawn" regardless of bedtime, then I guess that gets a little into that "sleep hygiene" thing.

I can't speak for SAG, but I think he tends to show up when a conversation clearly requires his unique skills as an R.R.T., R.P.S.G.T. etc.

Also, getting a little tight on time, this will be the busiest Christmas Season ever! Got the visit from the Little One, the annual "Holiday Visit to Gotham", Christmas in a warmer clime (that brings mixed reviews. I really do like a "White Christmas", but the only way that's going to happen is if I bring 5 gallons of "Dutch Boy Ultra White Exterior Latex").

Meanwhile, work is busier than ever, about to incorporate some new and very exciting stuff! Wait'll you see this!! It'll knock your (argyle) socks off!!

May The Peace of Christmas Be With You All.

SAG

[echo]

Sorry to hear about your fever -SWS. Hope you feel better soon. I'm also looking forward to a continued GERD discussion. It sounds like Browser and I have very similar issues, and it will be interesting to see what solutions we can find. (Not to mention all the other folks around here who have great AHI but still complain of being tired).

SAG - I spent last year in a warm climate for christmas. I was a 'mixed blessing' at best. Weather was warm but not overly warm, and the sun still set at 7pm, making it seem like a strange version of summer. I also got sick with the flu, took antibiotics, and then got a sun-rash due to the antibiotics. So whatever you end up doing, don't get sick and enjoy the warmth. (p.s. looking forward to more Big Secrets ).

[OutaSync]

SAG,

Can't wait to hear about your new stuff. Can you give us a clue?

Bev

[StillAnotherGuest]

Can you give us a clue?

It isn't a treatment intervention (machine, mode, or algorithm).

SAG

[GumbyCT]

Can you give us a clue?

It isn't a treatment intervention (machine, mode, or algorithm).

SAG

Can Gumby buy a vowel??

[StillAnotherGuest]

Can Gumby buy a vowel??

You're getting warmer!

SAG

[-SWS]

Can Gumby buy a vowel??

You're getting warmer!

SAG

Does it perform diagnostic measurements of a physiologic phenomena... with that phenomena's acronym having the vowel "A" in the very middle?

[echo]

Whatever it is, it's

Smaller than a breadbox, larger than a pin.

Can I buy 1 more vowel for me & u?

[StillAnotherGuest]

Jury is still out on SAG

I thought SAG was playing the role of "Lennie Briscoe" in this virtual diorama.

Whatever it is, it's

Smaller than a breadbox, larger than a pin.

Can I buy 1 more vowel for me & u?

Not till you get me my new Diffusion.

Does it perform diagnostic measurements of a physiologic phenomena... with that phenomena's acronym having the vowel "A" in the very middle?

Wouldn't that be "of a physiologic phenomenon", or "of physiologic phenomena"(plural usage)?

At any rate, it could be that.

Course, in order to avoid being OT, it could also be this:

Who's Fit?

And yet, the former could be just as accurate in helping to explain (the original) phenomenon.

Gonna be a great "Hot Stove Session" this winter!

Meanwhile, we're off!! You guys talk amongst yourselves, I'll keep my LT on the lookout for unsecured wireless(es).

Which is probably about 25% of the people.

SAG

[-SWS]

Course, in order to avoid being OT, it could also be this:

Who's Fit?

And yet, the former could be just as accurate in helping to explain (the original) phenomenon.

Gonna be a great "Hot Stove Session" this winter!

It's already a great one. This sounds like a potentially major SDB diagnostic breakthrough:

The changes in the transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension (TcCO2) were defined for different breathing patterns. During prolonged spiking episodes the TcCO2 increased significantly and differed statistically from the TcCO2 changes of normal breathing and periodic breathing patterns (episodes of apnea and hypopnea). The rise in TcCO2 during prolonged spiking episodes might suggest that prolonged spiking is representing another type of breathing disturbance during sleep differing from periodic breathing patterns.

[MrSandman]

Jury is still out on SAG

I thought SAG was playing the role of "Lennie Briscoe" in this virtual diorama.

Whatever it is, it's

Smaller than a breadbox, larger than a pin.

Can I buy 1 more vowel for me & u?

Not till you get me my new Diffusion.

Does it perform diagnostic measurements of a physiologic phenomena... with that phenomena's acronym having the vowel "A" in the very middle?

Wouldn't that be "of a physiologic phenomenon", or "of physiologic phenomena"(plural usage)?

At any rate, it could be that.

Course, in order to avoid being OT, it could also be this:

Who's Fit?

And yet, the former could be just as accurate in helping to explain (the original) phenomenon.

Gonna be a great "Hot Stove Session" this winter!

Meanwhile, we're off!! You guys talk amongst yourselves, I'll keep my LT on the lookout for unsecured wireless(es).

Which is probably about 25% of the people.

SAG

SAG - I hate to be a jerk or anything but if you aren't going to contribute anything useful to this thread,why don't you start your own thread and you can carry on all you wish in it.



Thank You,
Mike

[rested gal]

SAG - I hate to be a jerk or anything but if you aren't going to contribute anything useful to this thread,why don't you start your own thread and you can carry on all you wish in it.



Thank You,
Mike

Well, I think SAG contributes "usefully" to any thread -- humor is good medicine. And this was certainly interesting and "useful" imho:
Who's Fit? -- which, if clicked in SAG's post, goes to:
http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0967-3334/28/10/003

Mike (and echo), congrats on being tobacco-free!