Sleep Test Results - Looking for validation

[niek125]

Hi y'all,

Three months ago I've been diagnosed with Hypopnea (moderate to severe) in the Bumungrad Hospital in Thailand. I'm from the Netherlands, but I'm mostly based in Asia, traveling around Asia. I got a CPAP machine and mask and I've felt way better since. However, traveling with a CPAP is inconvenient and with my nomadic lifestyle it starts to become a real deal breaker.

I'm a 33-old male, drank too much and had a BMI of 28. Heavy dust allergy which causes a lot of respiratory issues as well. I quit drinking now and already lowered by BMI to 26.

There are a few reasons for me to believe maybe CPAP therapy is not the only route to go and lifestyle changes or a MSA bracelet could be sufficient.

* Only hypopneas
* If you exclude the RERA, mild instead of severe
* Very much position dependent

If I manage to control my dust allergy, BMI and my sleep position,

Am I in denial?

Any advice is much appreciated.

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum.

Are you just in denial and trying to find a good excuse to not use the cpap machine?
Yep...big time denial.

Don't kid yourself thinking that the events are "only hyponeas" and they don't hurt so much...did you know that the only difference between OA and hyponea is the amount of flow reduction in percentage.

OA criteria....at least 80% up to 100% air flow reduction due to tissue blockage that lasts at least 10 seconds.
hyponea criteria.... 40/50 % (depends on lab) up to 79% flow reduction due to blockage that lasts at least 10 seconds.
You think that maybe a 70% reduction in air flow that lasts 10 seconds is really that benign just because it didn't hit 80%?

The RERA count...that's arousals from breathing disturbances that didn't quite make the hyponea criteria. There is a reason they are counted....they are important to sleep quality....very important.
How about I come over to your house and sit by your bed and poke you with a stick and cause you to wake up 20 times a hour all night long for the RERAs and another 18 times for the hyponeas each hour?
So that I poke you with a stick for 38 times an hour all night long...that's a little over once every 2 minutes....how much sleep are you going to get? How much in the needed sleep stages? How are you going to expect to feel during the day?

Yes...you could maybe reduce some of it if you could stay on your side but even on your side there wasn't a tiny number of RERAs per hour and staying totally on one's side is easier said than done anyway. Even on your side the RERA index/average per hour was significant.

My advice...make peace with the slight inconvenience of traveling with cpap...consider it just something you can't live with out....because you need it.
Don't assume that BMI is the main culprit either....there's a lot of skinny ass people with OSA. If you get down to a skinny weight (and keep it off) have another sleep test to see if the OSA went away or not before you do anything about ditching the machine.

[realshelby]

Pugsy's reply was pretty blunt and direct.

Probably severe maybe. But I will take what she says over about any Doctor or specialist when it comes to just what you are asking about in your post.

I just bought a travel machine and equipment for it. I will have a report on how it works and what is good and bad with it after I get back from a trip in just over two weeks.

From what I have seen it will work. I will also need some compromise and maybe some things changed.

But I don't doubt I need to make it work.

[jnk...]

I got a CPAP machine and mask and I've felt way better since.

You yourself have said it.

traveling with a CPAP is inconvenient

But wouldn't it be even more inconvenient to feel again the way you did before?

it starts to become a real deal breaker.

Having an accident from being sleepy could break much more than a deal.

Am I in denial?

You might like to be, but the honesty and insight in your post proves that you aren't fully able to kid yourself on this one. But you knew that.

[Stom]

Part of the answer is simple. If you think loosing weight cured your sleep apnea, get re-tested. Loosing weight can reduce apneas, especially if you loose it around the neck area. However, sleep apnea can be related to other anatomical features not related to weight. So loosing weight is no guarantee that you'll reduce apneas at all, let alone eliminate them.

In the mean time, if you have a data capable CPAP machine, you can follow the forum stickies on how to download the free, open-source sleepy head software, import your CPAP data and post your charts to the forum. Data from an autoCPAP can show you how how much it is working to keep you breathing consistently, and thus showing you that you are getting benefit from the machine.

[ChicagoGranny]

MSA bracelet could be sufficient

WT??

Multiple System Atrophy? https://www.facebook.com/Miracles.for.M ... 418101443/

[niek125]

Thanks for all the answers! Im Dutch and I love blunt honest, so thanks for that too.

I decorated the CPAP with a pretty sticker.

Guess it will be around for a while.

It's great to have a support group of people that understand what you are going through and can help you interpret your results.

I will post an update with my Sleepyhead data later.

I'm a sucker for data so I've been importing the data consistently.

[niek125]

Can I get a round of applause for my 100% compliance and yes - I like to sleep a bit longer than I should

Im using a Wisp Nasal Mask and some mouth tape which works surprisingly good. I tried the chin strap before but hated it.

I have to say, other than carrying the thing around, I have to consider myself lucky for sleeping so good with the machine......

I went from shock to denial to depression to grief to anger and maybe acceptance is lurking around the corner...

[ChicagoGranny]

Can I get a round of applause for my 100% compliance

[esel]

I think I ad like pugsy to come over and poke me... you are gonna be busy.

Sorry for the view it is not as nice as in Thailand, here we have only lakes and mountains.

BTW my wife is from Thailand and she cooks very well.

[palerider]

Can I get a round of applause for my 100% compliance and yes - I like to sleep a bit longer than I should

Im using a Wisp Nasal Mask and some mouth tape which works surprisingly good. I tried the chin strap before but hated it.

I have to say, other than carrying the thing around, I have to consider myself lucky for sleeping so good with the machine......

I went from shock to denial to depression to grief to anger and maybe acceptance is lurking around the corner...

Your ahi isn't very good... post some charts as shown here:
viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html

[zonker]

Your ahi isn't very good... post some charts as show here:
viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html

heh. just noticed your new sig.

[jnk...]

It's good that palerider now finally admits to being an MD. Confession is good for the soul.

Just kidding. He is doing no such thing.

But people can easily misread the intent of sigs.

[palerider]

It's good that palerider now finally admits to being an MD. Confession is good for the soul.

Just kidding. He is doing no such thing.

But people can easily misread the intent of sigs.

All I'm admitting to is offering the *bedside manner* of the fictional MD, House.

But, in deference to the easily mislead, I've modified it, so people can better know what to expect.

[jnk...]

It's good that palerider now finally admits to being an MD. Confession is good for the soul.

Just kidding. He is doing no such thing.

But people can easily misread the intent of sigs.

All I'm admitting to is offering the *bedside manner* of the fictional MD, House.

But, in deference to the easily mislead, I've modified it, so people can better know what to expect.

Brilliant solution, that!