djam's therapy thread

[Pugsy]

The black dots represent pressure changes if I remember right. Might be one of the test pressure probes that the machine does on it own just because it wants to or it might have been a minor change for some other reason. I would need to compare those dots with the pressure graph but most likely test pressure probes.
Respironics does them on all the auto adjusting machines.
They sometimes scare people and think that the machine is responding to something but it's not.

Here's an example...the only real pressure increase was the one starting around 01:00..Looks like it probably started out as a routine test pressure probe and the machine sensed something it didn't like so it went upwards a bit.
Don't ask me why sometimes it does the test pressure probes and sometimes it doesn't..the best we can make of why is when you see the flat lines the machine may not want to rock the boat if the breathing is a bit irregular and the times you see the probes you are actually sleeping soundly. Makes no sense to me but that's seems to be what they do.
I don't have the flow rate graph on that report. The SD card might have been out of the machine (left in computer by mistake) and that's the one graph that the machine doesn't store in its internal memory.

[djams]

That's interesting. You know, the more I learn about machines other than my Airsense 10 Autoset, the happier I am with my machine. Haven't seen anything yet that made me think "sure wish I had one of those". Except the "for her" version of mine. Would like to try all that stuff out.

[palerider]

The black dots represent pressure changes if I remember right.

I'm pretty sure that the black dots are a pressure change, a small change is hard to see on the squished encore page...

[djams]

Back for the weekly report. Very good week, average AHI-wise=0.5, min 0, max 2.0, only 2 nights over 1.

Here's the thing though. I had back to back nights where circumstances extended bedtime a couple hours later, but wakeup is a fixed time. Then last night, I had the worst reflux attack since I don't remember when. I won't eat that again! Fragmented sleep early, finally had to get out of bed and sit upright for over an hour. I guess my point is that there's more to effective therapy than low numbers. Looks like for me one of those is 7 hours of sleep minimum(even if it's riddled with events), which I normally get.

No SH to post. I'm happy with everything this week. And given my numbers, I'm not going to make any changes either. I'm sleeping 2-3 hours into the night before my first event shows up. And it's clear to me that if I can stay on my side, I'll have AHI numbers < 1 with my present settings. I'm making real progress on that, i believe I went 5 nights this week almost exclusively side sleeping. Going to stick with current settings going forward.

Also going to stop updating this thread. I've made really good progress with the help I've gotten here. I understand my sleep and my therapy so much better. And I feel like I'm armed with the knowledge I need to take control of my therapy on my own. Once again - I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the help!

[Jas_williams]

Back for the weekly report. Very good week, average AHI-wise=0.5, min 0, max 2.0, only 2 nights over 1.


Also going to stop updating this thread. I've made really good progress with the help I've gotten here. I understand my sleep and my therapy so much better. And I feel like I'm armed with the knowledge I need to take control of my therapy on my own. Once again - I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the help!

If you feel like coming back here at some time in the future no issue and feel happy to post further updates or questions to this thread, Great that things are going better

[Pugsy]

Ahh...they grow up and move away so soon.

[djams]

[quote=Jas_williams post_id=1262542 time=1533494671 user_id=84543
If you feel like coming back here at some time in the future no issue and feel happy to post further updates or questions to this thread, Great that things are going better
[/quote]

Yes, it IS great! And if something should come up unexpectedly that I'm unsure of, this thread still makes sense.

[djams]

Ahh...they grow up and move away so soon.

Haha! Don'y worry mom, I'll stay in touch.

[djams]

Well, I said I was done here. But I feel like I need to post this "Tale of Two Nights". I mentioned above my bad GERD incident. Well, that came with AHI=0.49 and a crummy night of sleep. Was thinking about this incident over on drive home from work today. It's the first reflux occurrence since started and I believe that I inhaled some stomach acid. Had an extreme coughing/hacking fit. I was dragging all day yesterday.

Went to bed early last night. Fell asleep immediately (on my side). Woke up once, rolled onto to my other side and fell right back to sleep. AHI=0.61, so basically the same as night before. Pulled my SH data this morning, and that solid gold Session Times bar with "8h 6m" felt like a trophy to me. I feel great today.

The other thing that last night's SH data shows is the effectiveness of my present settings. Provided that I stay on my side. I meant to mention yesterday that in addition to using the buckwheat hull pillow, I've started placing a small couch pillow in between my knees. It's another comfort thing that I believe is helping me stay on my side. I read about this in a link here about the "Falcon position". Very effective for me.

[Pugsy]

See now why I harp on fragmented sleep so much???
Also why I harp on enough hours of sleep???

To even stand a chance of feeling the good numbers we need enough hours of sleep with minimal fragmentation.

I wish I could practice what I preach though but I sometimes God just doesn't let us. I know what I need but I don't always get it due to circumstances beyond my control but I always try to work on it. Last night I didn't even quite make it to 5 hours...no wonder my butt is dragging today but my AHI was 1.68 and those were all SWJ because leaks (2 segments of large leak and I remember them) woke me up and the events were flagged when I was awake.
It was the back pain that finally forced me to get up sooner than I wanted. Simply hurting too much to go back to sleep.
All this week...my average sleep time has been less than 6 hours and fragmented highly secondary to pain. Simply not enough hours for me and not to mention the fragmented sleep. Double whammy.
But I am working on trying to reduce the pain to more manageable levels...went to the doctor and scheduled a second SI joint injection to go along with the one I had 3 weeks ago. They do help.

[zonker]

Ahh...they grow up and move away so soon.

"sunrise, sunset....quickly go the years."

djam! seriously, you should be the poster boy for this forum.

now that you're getting such good sleep, you know that means you have to help out with the "newbies" to the forum, right?

[djams]

See now why I harp on fragmented sleep so much???
Also why I harp on enough hours of sleep???

To even stand a chance of feeling the good numbers we need enough hours of sleep with minimal fragmentation.

Yes. Yes. And I agree. I've always felt this way too. Long before I started therapy, I set a 9pm bedtime for myself, with a 5am wake time. The goal obviously was 7+ hours of sleep. Mainly what gets in the way of this goal these days is early wakeups, before the alarm goes off. Wide awake and ready to go. I see you consistently asking people what's causing fragmented sleep, and helping them figure out how to deal with it. That's awesome, it really is important.

I wish I could practice what I preach though but I sometimes God just doesn't let us. I know what I need but I don't always get it due to circumstances beyond my control but I always try to work on it. Last night I didn't even quite make it to 5 hours...no wonder my butt is dragging today but my AHI was 1.68 and those were all SWJ because leaks (2 segments of large leak and I remember them) woke me up and the events were flagged when I was awake.
It was the back pain that finally forced me to get up sooner than I wanted. Simply hurting too much to go back to sleep.
All this week...my average sleep time has been less than 6 hours and fragmented highly secondary to pain. Simply not enough hours for me and not to mention the fragmented sleep. Double whammy.
But I am working on trying to reduce the pain to more manageable levels...went to the doctor and scheduled a second SI joint injection to go along with the one I had 3 weeks ago. They do help.

I'm really sorry you've got these issues to deal with. As you say, it's out of your hands. Fingers crossed that the 2nd round of injections help you get some relief.

[djams]

djam! seriously, you should be the poster boy for this forum.

Me and many others I'm sure! You can tell I got some quality advice/mentoring/teaching in this thread. All I did was listen and learn.

now that you're getting such good sleep, you know that means you have to help out with the "newbies" to the forum, right?

I'm struggling with this. I want to help, but know that I don't have the knowledge necessary in most cases and have no business giving advice. It's tough to figure out how to make a meaningful contribution. This is serious stuff, and I want to be cautious. Couldn't begin to tell you what my aborted post count is. A lot. Posts where I've started in and realized that I was: a) over my head, and/or b) just parroting what the knowledgeable folks told me. I don't want to come across like a know-it-all when I'm clearly not. Very easy to lose credibility. So... the struggle continues.

[zonker]

djam! seriously, you should be the poster boy for this forum.

Me and many others I'm sure! You can tell I got some quality advice/mentoring/teaching in this thread. All I did was listen and learn.

now that you're getting such good sleep, you know that means you have to help out with the "newbies" to the forum, right?

I'm struggling with this. I want to help, but know that I don't have the knowledge necessary in most cases and have no business giving advice. It's tough to figure out how to make a meaningful contribution. This is serious stuff, and I want to be cautious. Couldn't begin to tell you what my aborted post count is. A lot. Posts where I've started in and realized that I was: a) over my head, and/or b) just parroting what the knowledgeable folks told me. I don't want to come across like a know-it-all when I'm clearly not. Very easy to lose credibility. So... the struggle continues.

oh, i feel ya, bro. i've been here for three years. as a newbie, of course, i knew nothing. but it was always in the back of my mind that i'd give back. i had in mind that i'd someday understand all the technical gobbledygook that gets posted here. alas, that day never came. and likely never will.

but when pugsy took her annual vacation this year, i noticed that some of the new users' first post weren't being answered. so i took it upon myself to just welcome them. and offer some small crumbs of advice.

i try to remember what it was like when i first got here. i try to reassure people that they CAN do this. and i realized in it all that i DID know some stuff.

i'll never be the equal of lsat, chicago granny, pugsy or palerider. but i can at least chime in with the nickle and dime stuff.

you can do that too, once you feel you're ready!

[palerider]

I'm struggling with this. I want to help, but know that I don't have the knowledge necessary in most cases and have no business giving advice.

That, right there, puts you head and shoulders above people that have no friggin clue as to the limitations of their knowledge and understanding. They read something, misunderstand it, and then think they're the expert on the subject.

I don't want to come across like a know-it-all when I'm clearly not. Very easy to lose credibility. So... the struggle continues.

You sound wise.