Are these RERAs a problem?

Hi All,

I've posted at various points over the last few years, still trying to solve my non-restorative sleep/crappy days. As I implement various non-CPAP things like med changes and sleep hygiene, I have some days that are less bad than others (but still not anywhere near where I once was). For the last few months, I have had fewer OAs and CAs, but now get these clusters of RERAs in the first half of the night - so...1) is this something to be concerned about, and 2) if so, what can be done about them?



Thanks,
Chris

Not much you can do about them...they correlate with some rather significant flow limitations and the pressure being maxed out at 20 cm.

If you ever decide to get another machine you might look at the bilevel model because the pressure can go to 25 on the bilevels.

The timing of the first really ugly cluster could point to REM stage sleep but it might be related to being on your back or a little of both.
Look at your Flow limitation graph and see the denser higher clusters of FLs going on at about the same time as the RERAs. Points to the pressure not being quite optimal but in your case it can't go higher and it probably wants to.

Hi, what are the chances you sleep in such a way that your head falls forward a lot - blocking your airway? If it's possible, would you be willing to try a soft cervical collar that would keep your head up and your airway more open? A fair number of people here use them, so it might be an idea to think about. If your airway's almost completely blocked, even at your high pressures, it might explain the Rera's as well - your body's trying to access more air/02.

Thanks to both of you.

Insurance is a problem with the Bi-Level - titrations never seem to show the need for pressures above 17-ish - so docs won't prescribe the Bi-Level, even if I complain about comfort. But when I use lower pressures, my numbers are worse - and I feel about the same. I'm assuming the high pressure isn't causing the problem, as the pressure increase looks to be a reaction to the flow limitation - i.e., the pressure isn't causing the flow limit - although I think I've heard that theory before.

I guess I'll search the cervical collar threads for brand recommendations.

change doctors, the titration manual says to move to bpap at 15, I can't see a cpap working for you. Though with an AHI under 5 at a lower pressure, it still may be a hard sell.
https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents ... de_glo_eng.

cby1 wrote:I guess I'll search the cervical collar threads for brand recommendations.

I use the DMI Universal Firm Foam Cervical Collar, 4" wide. It works great for me. With the collar, my pressure runs 4 or 5 cm lower. I have worn one every night for over five years. My AHI averages under 1.0. Last night it was 0.5 for a solid 7 hours of sleep.

Good luck.

https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=d ... r&cat_id=0

I would like to get SH to display RDI - I have checked it in the preferences, but it doesn't display in the Detailed Graphs, Overview, or Statistics:



Any idea why that would be so? Thanks.

Chris, I was hoping someone would come along and answer this because I don't know exactly what is included in the Sleepyhead computation and I would like to know. This will bump your question up to the top for a while and maybe someone will fill us in. I think it may depend on the machine.

In any event, to get RDI to display, go to Preferences/CPAP and on the right hand side under "General CPAP and Related Settings" change the "Preferred major event index" to RDI.