Sleepyhead info to take to new doc

[marnne108]

Finally, I have an appointment this week with a new sleep doctor that friends and family use and like. My first sleep doctor was useless. I just downloaded my info to Sleepyhead for the first time from my DreamStation...wow! I will figure out how to post the screenshots soon. In the meantime, which reports and how many of the 5 months that I have should I print out and take to new doc? I want to take enough to show him what is going on but not so much that he falls asleep himself. My main complaints are that, I am having 02 desaturations (from recording oximetry), more hypopneas and centrals than obstructive apneas and don't feel well rested even though I always sleep with the CPAP on and am able to get @ least 8 hours of sleep per night. Any help would appreciated.

[Wulfman...]

Finally, I have an appointment this week with a new sleep doctor that friends and family use and like. My first sleep doctor was useless. I just downloaded my info to Sleepyhead for the first time from my DreamStation...wow! I will figure out how to post the screenshots soon. In the meantime, which reports and how many of the 5 months that I have should I print out and take to new doc? I want to take enough to show him what is going on but not so much that he falls asleep himself. My main complaints are that, I am having 02 desaturations (from recording oximetry), more hypopneas and centrals than obstructive apneas and don't feel well rested even though I always sleep with the CPAP on and am able to get @ least 8 hours of sleep per night. Any help would appreciated.

Might be a good idea if you'd add your machine settings to your profile. There could be some clues there......like if you're using a wide pressure range or too high of a humidity setting and anything else that you can think of.


Den

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[SewTired]

I brought the overall stats page and 5 example pages (5 nights in a row) plus one that was a weird night.

[lilly747]

Here is some information that might help get you organized:

The most important things to include in the screenshot are:
The left sidebar with all the summary data. Turn off the pie chart so that the statistical data, the leak rate, and the pressure can be seen. Minimize the calendar as well.
The event table at the top if the graphs.
The flow rate graph
The pressure graph when you use Auto
The leak graph

Here is a link that will show you how to do this:

https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead/shorganize

[yaconsult]

Unfortunately, few doctors are interested in the details of our therapy the way that we are. They are used to just seeing the big picture - hours of use and average AHI over time. On newer machines they have access to this data remotely if they want it.

Maybe you will be lucky and your doctor will be one of the unusual few, but don't be too shocked if he shows little interest in the detailed data. This is why you need to take charge of your own therapy and use all the information available to you.

[marnne108]

Thanks for the advice. I will upload my Sleepyhead info as soon as I can. It looks a little complicated but the instructions are very good. I think 5 nights of information should be enough for the doctor especially the overall stats pages. Den, I think you are right that my pressure range is too wide. My 1st sleep doctor basically had the DME throw the machine @ me with a prescription for 5 - 20 which I have slowly been raising. My appointment with him was <5 minutes and he looked at his watch 2 times during it! I know that the new doctor takes at least 20 minutes with each patient. Perhaps he might be one of the good ones...

[ChicagoGranny]

I know that the new doctor takes at least 20 minutes with each patient. Perhaps he might be one of the good ones...

You will find most of the seasoned members don't depend on a doctor to manage their therapy and machine settings. If a doctor does spend 20 minutes with you, how often will that be? Every three months? Six months? Once per year?

On the other hand, you can spend 20 minutes a day looking at your Sleepyhead details until you get your machine settings and mask usage optimized. Once your settings are optimized, you may only need to glance at your machine display each morning to see if your AHI and mask leak are still acceptable. It's just not possible for a doctor to give this kind of attention. You also have the help of forum members who are up on the learning curve.

[KayakKid]

I am also going to a Sleep Doctor tomorrow for the 1st time after almost 4 months on therapy. Does anyone know how to get the CPAP Statistics Report to print on the whole page? Every time I go to print it, it shows everything but very small in the upper left hand corner of the page.

[AnnaS]

I agree with many of the comments on this string. I have had the machine for a year and already fired one doctor and his practice. The second I can barely tolerate. It takes weeks to get an appointment and not much insight once I am there. The nurse practitioner seems to at least have a bit more to add.

Insurance requires us to have a doctor's prescription to get new equipment so its best to have one but I have learned more in the 3 days I have been on this fourm than I have with an entire year of visiting doctors!

Good luck with your visit. But do keep coming here to get more hands on help from the experienced and also the newbies.

Thanks
AnnaS