Apnea Clusters

[Paul22]

Enclosed (I hope) is what happened last night. Such a cluster happens once evry three to seven nights. When no apnea clusters occur, most of the time the AI is in the range of 0.5 to 4.0. What to do? Local MDs and RTs have been of no help.

Set up: VPAP S, Bi-Level 13.6/10.6, TI max 2.0 sec
Nasal Aire II, mouth taped
Sleep on side
SpO2 readings usually run between 93% and 97%.

I am semi-isolated from knowledge centers here is SE NM--but Lubbock, Odessa ,and Midland Texas are within driving range.

What finally motivated me to post this was the fact that my feet, for the frst time in many months, were slightly swollen this morning. Related to the apnea clusters? I don't know. I certainly don't know enough to determine if these clusters are obstructive, central, or? I will not raise the pressures without more knowledge.

Any advice, any help in understanding, and possibly preventing, these apnea clusters woujld be greally appreciated

Paul22

[SleepyT]

I had a series of clusters there for a while...and was advised by the great people here on the forum to bump my pressure up a little. It worked...I wouldn't bump it too much...just a half point or so until it seems to correct the clusters.

[Velbor]

Nasty looking graph.

Don't know what led you to mouth taping, but my recommendation would be to stop, and see if that makes any difference. You might well experience higher leak, but the goal is reduction of apneas, not simply having a nice leak line. Alternatively, you might try a full-face mask.

I have experienced slimilar clusters (though nothing ever a bad as what you've just posted), which improved dramatically when I stopped mouth-taping.

Good luck.

[track]

My clusters occurred when I rolled on my back. Try staying off your back and see if that helps. I wear a gizmo every night that makes it impossible for me to get on my back and the clusters have disappeared. Get a full face mask too.

[rise&shiner]

Wouldn't this also be a time to call a doctor and show the cluster graph? Being a newbie and if I saw this on my graph it would scare me. But then again users on this forum probably are more knoweldgeable as to what to do or what causes these clusters than doctors do.

I hope that you will keep this thread going for a couple of days to update us on what you have tried and what works and what didn't. Most importantly take good care of yourself.

[mars]

Hi Paul22

All the above suggestions seem pretty good to me.

At my sleep study I told them I did not sleep on my back. They told me (afterwards) that during the night I did.

Can you post your oximeter readings for a night of these heavy clusters, and have you found anything significant, or different, about these nights.

Perhaps wearing the oximeter with the alarm set would give you more information. If the alarm went off, and you woke up and found yourself on your back, or whatever, it might be problem solved.

Keep posting, lets sort this out.

cheers

Mars