Sleep Lab Results: AHI 53.5

[Rabid1]

Got my results yesterday, and the tech said I had severe apnea. My AHI was 53.5, and my average time not breathing was 30 seconds per event.

Should I be pressuring the center to hurry the process of getting titrated, and getting on a CPAP?

Rick

[Sleepy-eyes]

I'm neither an expert on this subject nor a doctor.................but if it were up to me, I would be hounding them to get you a prescription for your machine.

[offlineon]

Should I be pressuring the center to hurry the process of getting titrated, and getting on a CPAP?

Should you be worried? No. Should you hound them? Sure. The sooner you get xpap, the sooner you will benefit from the treatment. FYI there are some who have more than double your AHI. Your task now is to read and ask questions, so you are in a position to help make sure you get the best machine and accessories.

Good luck!

[blarg]

Yeah, I'd be hounding them, but make sure you're hounding them for a comfortable machine too. (Preferrably an APAP so that you can experiment and also receive more comfortable therapy while you adjust.)

[Rabid1]

Should I be pressuring the center to hurry the process of getting titrated, and getting on a CPAP?

FYI there are some who have more than double your AHI.

I guess what concerns me the most is my average time not breathing (30 sec). If someone had over double my AHI, and averaged 30 sec they wouldn't breathe at all.

[blarg]

Yup. It'd look about like this:

Video Here

Note the stomach area as he tries to breathe.

[Rabid1]

Yup. It'd look about like this:

Video Here

Note the stomach area as he tries to breathe.

Whoa!!! That's BRUTAL! My wife says my stomach does the same thing.

[rested gal]

Yeah, I'd be hounding them, but make sure you're hounding them for a comfortable machine too. (Preferrably an APAP so that you can experiment and also receive more comfortable therapy while you adjust.)

I agree with blarg. I think that's what offlineon was saying, too. Hound them, but don't get in such a rush that you accept "whatever" machine the DME wants to give you. Because most of the time the machine the DME wants you to have will turn out to be a basic machine that may not have features you'll be interested in using later.

That doesn't mean you can't receive effective treatment from "whatever" the DME gives you. The simplest straight cpap can do the job for most people. But it might not give you the full data you'd want to see (if you're interested in monitoring your own treatment via software) or even be as comfortable to use as some brands/models.

Have a very good idea in your mind about what specific machine you want to use. Hard to know that at this stage, I know. Dig into this message board for ideas. And dig into Mile High Sleeper's blog for a lot of info in general. Don't let the DME dictate what you can or can't have...unless you want the machine they present to you. And don't rush yourself until you have a specific machine in mind.

http://www.smart-sleep-apnea.blogspot.com
Mile High Sleeper's great information resource for cpap users.

[Snoredog]

Seems like after they tell you how bad it really is you get super tired all of a sudden and wonder how you made it one more day.

But the statistics say that the avg. person goes 7yrs with the disorder before ever getting diagnosed.

Most of the delays are insurance pre-approving everthing.

[Rabid1]

Yeah, I'd be hounding them, but make sure you're hounding them for a comfortable machine too. (Preferrably an APAP so that you can experiment and also receive more comfortable therapy while you adjust.)

I agree with blarg. I think that's what offlineon was saying, too. Hound them, but don't get in such a rush that you accept "whatever" machine the DME wants to give you. Because most of the time the machine the DME wants you to have will turn out to be a basic machine that may not have features you'll be interested in using later.

That doesn't mean you can't receive effective treatment from "whatever" the DME gives you. The simplest straight cpap can do the job for most people. But it might not give you the full data you'd want to see (if you're interested in monitoring your own treatment via software) or even be as comfortable to use as some brands/models.

Have a very good idea in your mind about what specific machine you want to use. Hard to know that at this stage, I know. Dig into this message board for ideas. And dig into Mile High Sleeper's blog for a lot of info in general. Don't let the DME dictate what you can or can't have...unless you want the machine they present to you. And don't rush yourself until you have a specific machine in mind.

http://www.smart-sleep-apnea.blogspot.com
Mile High Sleeper's great information resource for cpap users.

Thanks to your sage advice I'm going to start with the Respironics REMstar Auto with C-Flex. I've already ordered the card reader you suggested from the Asian site.

[Rabid1]

Seems like after they tell you how bad it really is you get super tired all of a sudden and wonder how you made it one more day.

I'm using that new info to justify everything I do wrong!!!

Rick

[JohnD]

As a fellow Oregoninan, welcome to the forum!

I would def hound them, and do it asap!!! All the advice your are getting here is correct. I have an auto with Cflex and it's fantastic. Getting the card reader and software is so very important. I have basically, a sleep study every night! As a result of the data, and my ability to adjust the min/max on my auto cpap, my AHI's are in the 0.5 to 2.0 range!

You should feel a lot better with cpap therapy. Good luck!

[offlineon]

I guess what concerns me the most is my average time not breathing (30 sec). If someone had over double my AHI, and averaged 30 sec they wouldn't breathe at all.

That was me.. and I've met people who were far worse. There is no need to be anxious with those results. You need pap, not intubation. Being concerned about your results is not a bad thing as it will help you stick with the therapy.