Could you take a look?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
pbrankin
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2021 8:23 am

Could you take a look?

Post by pbrankin » Wed Dec 08, 2021 8:58 am

Hi Everyone,

Last night, after what appeared to be my first successful period of sleeping while on APAP, I suddenly awoke with that familiar "drowning" sensation, a racing heart and I threw off the mask in a hurry.

When I look at the data though, I can't see anything signifcant in the Flow Rate that would indicate anything unusual respiratory was happening.

I know I was dreaming and I know that it was a vivid emotionally upsetting dream.

I can see on the chart that 5 minutes or so earlier there is some irregular/periodic breathing with a 5 second apnea (I think...can you confirm?), and my understanding is that this is of no real significance....do you agree?

I'm at a loss to understand why I suddenly woke up gasping and with a racing heart rate.

Many thanks for your time and your expertise.

Paul
Screenshot 2021-12-08 at 14.52.07.png
Screenshot 2021-12-08 at 14.52.07.png (136.01 KiB) Viewed 1539 times

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LSAT
Posts: 13229
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:11 am
Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: Could you take a look?

Post by LSAT » Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:01 am

pbrankin wrote:
Wed Dec 08, 2021 8:58 am
Hi Everyone,

Last night, after what appeared to be my first successful period of sleeping while on APAP, I suddenly awoke with that familiar "drowning" sensation, a racing heart and I threw off the mask in a hurry.

When I look at the data though, I can't see anything signifcant in the Flow Rate that would indicate anything unusual respiratory was happening.

I know I was dreaming and I know that it was a vivid emotionally upsetting dream.

I can see on the chart that 5 minutes or so earlier there is some irregular/periodic breathing with a 5 second apnea (I think...can you confirm?), and my understanding is that this is of no real significance....do you agree?

I'm at a loss to understand why I suddenly woke up gasping and with a racing heart rate.

Many thanks for your time and your expertise.

Paul

Screenshot 2021-12-08 at 14.52.07.png
No such thing as a 5 second apnea. Must be 10 seconds or more.

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pbrankin
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2021 8:23 am

Re: Could you take a look?

Post by pbrankin » Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:05 am

Thanks for the correction!

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Miss Emerita
Posts: 3416
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2018 8:07 pm

Re: Could you take a look?

Post by Miss Emerita » Wed Dec 08, 2021 1:27 pm

Breathing during REM sleep can be irregular, and heavy breathing can be followed by shallower breathing or pauses. (The heavier breathing washes out just enough CO2 to blunt the "breath-now" signals.) I don't think the slightly periodic breathing, or the brief pause after exhalation, are anything to worry about at all.

I suspect that the experiences you had as you woke up were somehow in response to the intensity and unpleasantness of the dream. I certainly see nothing to suggest you were awakened by an obstructive event.
Oscar software is available at https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/

pbrankin
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2021 8:23 am

Re: Could you take a look?

Post by pbrankin » Wed Dec 08, 2021 3:04 pm

Many thanks for your opinion. I really appreciate it.