BP, as soneone who has a (mostly) dedicated video editting station (P4 hyperthreaded 3.0GHz with 1G 800FSB DDR ram, lots of big disks - SATA and EIDE, ATI 9600 Pro video) with something over 50 hours of video captured and awaiting editting, I can say that your math sure sounds right. I do my captures using DV format which is much bulkier than MPEG (1 or 2) but has the advantage of less artifacts (color halos or mosaicing for example) during the editting phase.
With modern hard drives it is quite easy to capture large amounts of video. Some of my captures are done on a P3-800 (old and slow) so CPU speed isn't even an issue!
Very sad and confused-need advice
Of course, I was a day late and a dollar short. I saw your morning-after post just after giving my 2-cents worth.Sleepless on LI wrote:I know this is a huge thread now, but I gave it a try last night and posted what happened. Scroll back a little to see. Thanks for your input, as always.
The CPAPer formerly known as WAFlowers
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Guest
Illinois RRT here,
Hi Lori! I'm glad to hear your first night sans CPAP went well for you. It is probably strange to go without after having it with you for so long!
I would definitely recommend having your oxygen checked overnight. I've said it before, but you should be able to have your doctor order one through a DME (or call a DME nearby that is reputable). This should be done free of charge. If the DME you go through wants to charge you, find another one. Your son could also hook you up with one that will record for a night. If you're still desaturating, but the event data is telling you that your events are minimal, you may be best treated with oxygen at night. I know it's a scary thing to think about, but it really is pretty simple. In my opinion, it would be easier to tolerate than CPAP (smaller nosepiece, no "fitting" of a mask, less drying out of your nose, less noise, less stuff to clean, etc.). It might give you just enough of a boost to keep those sats up at night. I see a lot of patients who benefit from that. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
Hi Lori! I'm glad to hear your first night sans CPAP went well for you. It is probably strange to go without after having it with you for so long!
I would definitely recommend having your oxygen checked overnight. I've said it before, but you should be able to have your doctor order one through a DME (or call a DME nearby that is reputable). This should be done free of charge. If the DME you go through wants to charge you, find another one. Your son could also hook you up with one that will record for a night. If you're still desaturating, but the event data is telling you that your events are minimal, you may be best treated with oxygen at night. I know it's a scary thing to think about, but it really is pretty simple. In my opinion, it would be easier to tolerate than CPAP (smaller nosepiece, no "fitting" of a mask, less drying out of your nose, less noise, less stuff to clean, etc.). It might give you just enough of a boost to keep those sats up at night. I see a lot of patients who benefit from that. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
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snoremonger
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:32 pm
- Location: Enid, Oklahoma
Lori,
I am happy for you!
Just curious, did the weight you lost in the last 5 months happen automatically or did you also change your diet/exercise. I know I have had some level of OSA for many years. I remember in high school (can't believe I can remember back that far! )having trouble staying awake through a movie and such and I was as skinny as a bean pole. Everyone used to tell me if I didn't eat more I was going to dry up and blow away.(wish I wouldn't have listened. lol)
Anyway, about 6 years ago I was 32 years young, 6 foot tall and 230 pounds. My wife and I went on the Atkins diet and I made it down to 200 lbs. I felt great! My snoring was a lot less and I had more energy. After reading and hearing of the cons of the low carb lifestyle I gradually drifted back and now I am at 230# again.
I was recently tritated at 10 and AHI of 91. I can only hope that cpap therapy will help me as it did you to lose some of the #'s. I know that if I could lose 30-40 # I would be a new man!
Thank you for you kind and caring support in the past few weeks!
I am happy for you!
Just curious, did the weight you lost in the last 5 months happen automatically or did you also change your diet/exercise. I know I have had some level of OSA for many years. I remember in high school (can't believe I can remember back that far! )having trouble staying awake through a movie and such and I was as skinny as a bean pole. Everyone used to tell me if I didn't eat more I was going to dry up and blow away.(wish I wouldn't have listened. lol)
Anyway, about 6 years ago I was 32 years young, 6 foot tall and 230 pounds. My wife and I went on the Atkins diet and I made it down to 200 lbs. I felt great! My snoring was a lot less and I had more energy. After reading and hearing of the cons of the low carb lifestyle I gradually drifted back and now I am at 230# again.
I was recently tritated at 10 and AHI of 91. I can only hope that cpap therapy will help me as it did you to lose some of the #'s. I know that if I could lose 30-40 # I would be a new man!
Thank you for you kind and caring support in the past few weeks!
_________________
| Mask | |
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I think my DME hosed me. Well of course he did!
Don
Don
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Sleepless on LI
- Posts: 3997
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 6:46 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
Christine,
Thanks for the professional input. I asked my son and the hopt. he works at doesn't have the type that I'm looking for. He was my first thought. But my doctor just faxed over the script to the DME for an overnight oximeter and I'm waiting to hear from them as to when I can pick it up.
You are the second one to mention oxygen instead of cpap. I wonder why they didn't go that route in the first place. I only had a 4 hypop index and 0 apnea index, but the REM desat took me down to 84 for 48 mins. If only I knew to ask way back then...so I look forward to seeing if my body still goes into desats in REM sleep. Should be interesting. At least that will give me an answer whether it is safe to go off the machine. A 4 or less AHI is still normal, from what I've heard, so it's not the AHI that's keeping or putting me on therapy. And especially since the 4 cm. results were between 1.3-1.9 all nights except for two, which were still under the normal range.
Linda,
I have to say, everyone thinks this is fun, or wonderful, but right now it's just stressful. I, on one hand, want to stop the therapy but, on the other hand, am afraid to. I am also, on one hand, looking forward to seeing the results on the oximeter but, on the other hand, am afraid to see them in case it's still where it was five months ago, and there is a strong possibility that they are.
I do not want to belittle what anyone who has said they'd like to trade places is saying because if the shoe were on the other foot, I would probably feel the same way. But this is not all that it seems on the surface. There can be a lot of disappointment and a lot of apprehension tied to it, too. I do sound like a mess, don't I? I think as soon as I have the answer, one way or another, I will calm down. In the meanwhile...
I don't mean to come across ungrateful, though, because I'm really not. Thanks for your good wishes. I really do appreciate them.
Thanks for the professional input. I asked my son and the hopt. he works at doesn't have the type that I'm looking for. He was my first thought. But my doctor just faxed over the script to the DME for an overnight oximeter and I'm waiting to hear from them as to when I can pick it up.
You are the second one to mention oxygen instead of cpap. I wonder why they didn't go that route in the first place. I only had a 4 hypop index and 0 apnea index, but the REM desat took me down to 84 for 48 mins. If only I knew to ask way back then...so I look forward to seeing if my body still goes into desats in REM sleep. Should be interesting. At least that will give me an answer whether it is safe to go off the machine. A 4 or less AHI is still normal, from what I've heard, so it's not the AHI that's keeping or putting me on therapy. And especially since the 4 cm. results were between 1.3-1.9 all nights except for two, which were still under the normal range.
Linda,
I have to say, everyone thinks this is fun, or wonderful, but right now it's just stressful. I, on one hand, want to stop the therapy but, on the other hand, am afraid to. I am also, on one hand, looking forward to seeing the results on the oximeter but, on the other hand, am afraid to see them in case it's still where it was five months ago, and there is a strong possibility that they are.
I do not want to belittle what anyone who has said they'd like to trade places is saying because if the shoe were on the other foot, I would probably feel the same way. But this is not all that it seems on the surface. There can be a lot of disappointment and a lot of apprehension tied to it, too. I do sound like a mess, don't I? I think as soon as I have the answer, one way or another, I will calm down. In the meanwhile...
I don't mean to come across ungrateful, though, because I'm really not. Thanks for your good wishes. I really do appreciate them.
L o R i
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Sleepless on LI
- Posts: 3997
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 6:46 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
Snoremonger,
I was always a bean pole myself. As a matter of fact, I joined a gym back in 12th grade to build up my body. And when I got married 25 years ago, I weighed approximately 110 lbs. and I'm just under 5'6".
I had to work at losing the weight after getting on the therapy. I changed EVERYTHING. I started watching what I ate, no more fried or fatty foods, no fast foods, no red meats (occasionally), lots of fruits, vegies, grilled chicken, fish, and drank tons and tons of water, something I never did my whole life. I started supplementing healthy meals with things like raw broccoli and snacks that were healthy to keep the metabolism burning all day. Had two servings a day of dairy, usually yogurt, to help with weight loss. I also incorporated exercise on a recumbent bike three times a week for 45 mins. Since, I have started walking about 2 1/2 miles in conjunction since I find it a lot more fun than riding a bike in my house. But with the cold weather coming, I guess it will be back to the bike.
So, yes, it was a major change of lifestyle. I realized, once I got my energy back, that getting older is not going to be a positive influence on my health and unless I became pro-active in that regard, it was going to be a downhill ride health-wise from now on. So I got off my butt, but only because I now had the energy to do it, and took charge of what had to be changed and did it. I still have some weight to lose, but I'm much better off right now than I was in the beginning of the therapy.
Thank YOU for being so caring. No need ever to thank me. I am only paying back the debt I owe for all the help this place and its members have given me. I don't know if I could ever consider that paid in full.
I was always a bean pole myself. As a matter of fact, I joined a gym back in 12th grade to build up my body. And when I got married 25 years ago, I weighed approximately 110 lbs. and I'm just under 5'6".
I had to work at losing the weight after getting on the therapy. I changed EVERYTHING. I started watching what I ate, no more fried or fatty foods, no fast foods, no red meats (occasionally), lots of fruits, vegies, grilled chicken, fish, and drank tons and tons of water, something I never did my whole life. I started supplementing healthy meals with things like raw broccoli and snacks that were healthy to keep the metabolism burning all day. Had two servings a day of dairy, usually yogurt, to help with weight loss. I also incorporated exercise on a recumbent bike three times a week for 45 mins. Since, I have started walking about 2 1/2 miles in conjunction since I find it a lot more fun than riding a bike in my house. But with the cold weather coming, I guess it will be back to the bike.
So, yes, it was a major change of lifestyle. I realized, once I got my energy back, that getting older is not going to be a positive influence on my health and unless I became pro-active in that regard, it was going to be a downhill ride health-wise from now on. So I got off my butt, but only because I now had the energy to do it, and took charge of what had to be changed and did it. I still have some weight to lose, but I'm much better off right now than I was in the beginning of the therapy.
Thank YOU for being so caring. No need ever to thank me. I am only paying back the debt I owe for all the help this place and its members have given me. I don't know if I could ever consider that paid in full.
L o R i
Lori,Sleepless on LI wrote:Linda,
I have to say, everyone thinks this is fun, or wonderful, but right now it's just stressful. I, on one hand, want to stop the therapy but, on the other hand, am afraid to. I am also, on one hand, looking forward to seeing the results on the oximeter but, on the other hand, am afraid to see them in case it's still where it was five months ago, and there is a strong possibility that they are.
I do not want to belittle what anyone who has said they'd like to trade places is saying because if the shoe were on the other foot, I would probably feel the same way. But this is not all that it seems on the surface. There can be a lot of disappointment and a lot of apprehension tied to it, too. I do sound like a mess, don't I? I think as soon as I have the answer, one way or another, I will calm down. In the meanwhile...
I don't mean to come across ungrateful, though, because I'm really not. Thanks for your good wishes. I really do appreciate them.
I know you are having a hard time with this...and I can understand your frustration....it will be good to have this oximeter test done so you will know one way or another...I'm really hoping you can stop treatment but will feel your disappointment if you can't...but at least you will know. Did they say when you will have this test done? I had that test done a couple of times....it's the main reason I started cpap. Hang in there Lori....
*** Linda ***
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Sleepless on LI
- Posts: 3997
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 6:46 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
Linda,
My doctor's office just called me telling me they had trouble faxing it over to the DME. I gave them the number again and they just were able to do it. Now I have to wait and hear from the DME to go in and pick it up. Only problem is, they are 30 mins. from my house, and that's not fun. But as soon as they have it ready, I'm going.
I asked if they could overnight or send it to the house and they gave me some excuse that a therapist has to set it up. I guess that's an excuse to charge the insurance company? Christine said they shouldn't charge, but I'm sure my insurance company will get a bill. They never do anything for free. Is it just one of those finger thingies they put on you with a box that records what goes on and then you bring it back and they hook it up to some software, similar to our CPAP type of tracking software? I never had this done where I was aware of that it was being done. I'm sure they did it in my studies, but who knew???
My doctor's office just called me telling me they had trouble faxing it over to the DME. I gave them the number again and they just were able to do it. Now I have to wait and hear from the DME to go in and pick it up. Only problem is, they are 30 mins. from my house, and that's not fun. But as soon as they have it ready, I'm going.
I asked if they could overnight or send it to the house and they gave me some excuse that a therapist has to set it up. I guess that's an excuse to charge the insurance company? Christine said they shouldn't charge, but I'm sure my insurance company will get a bill. They never do anything for free. Is it just one of those finger thingies they put on you with a box that records what goes on and then you bring it back and they hook it up to some software, similar to our CPAP type of tracking software? I never had this done where I was aware of that it was being done. I'm sure they did it in my studies, but who knew???
L o R i
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Wulfman-
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Sleepless on LI
- Posts: 3997
- Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 6:46 pm
- Location: Long Island, New York
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Guest
I understand how the whole decision-making process can be so emotional. You probably felt that CPAP saved your very life at one point, and now it is scary to think about letting that lifeline go. I know I am in the early stages of the CPAP therapy myself, but it has been so significant in helping me get my life back I couldn't even begin to contemplate doing without it.
I think it would be o.k. to experiment with going without CPAP, but I might suggest you plan a time when your can simplify your life and reduce your responsibilities, when you don't have to drive a lot and can handle a bit of fatigue. Maybe a few days at a time (such as a long weekend) rather than a whole month would be a more gradual approach. It might even be a good experiment to try one night on/one night off for a few days just to see if there is any difference in how you feel on the contrasting days.
Another possible route might be to experiment with something less intrusive like a mouthpiece, an anti-snore pillow or some snore strips. That might help you differentiate between your snoring issues and the apnea issues.
So long as there is no danger to your health you might as well experiment. You will at least gather some more experience to help you make a decision one way or another.
I would be interested in hearing how things go for you.
~ OTB
I think it would be o.k. to experiment with going without CPAP, but I might suggest you plan a time when your can simplify your life and reduce your responsibilities, when you don't have to drive a lot and can handle a bit of fatigue. Maybe a few days at a time (such as a long weekend) rather than a whole month would be a more gradual approach. It might even be a good experiment to try one night on/one night off for a few days just to see if there is any difference in how you feel on the contrasting days.
Another possible route might be to experiment with something less intrusive like a mouthpiece, an anti-snore pillow or some snore strips. That might help you differentiate between your snoring issues and the apnea issues.
So long as there is no danger to your health you might as well experiment. You will at least gather some more experience to help you make a decision one way or another.
I would be interested in hearing how things go for you.
~ OTB
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Oh 2 breathe
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:04 pm
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario