AHI and Leaks

Recoil wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 18, 2024 8:59 am

Pugsy - How would I try and determine the cause of the apnea at 12:42am and the apneas between 1:16am - 1:18am? I am still trying to learn how to interpret the charts. https://sleephq.com/public/64f714ce-7b5 ... 053c0d1d47

You have to learn to evaluate the breathing just prior to the apnea flag.

If there is evidence of arousal or awake breathing just prior to the flagged event then the event is most likely a post arousal event and not a real asleep event.

Your 3 CA/centrals flagged at 1:17 are arousal related. You weren't sound asleep.
The 12:43 flagged event....it's iffy. Maybe a transitional apnea or something. I don't know about this one.

As for the cause of the arousal????? We have nothing really to help us figure it out unless we maybe see a big leak that we might blame.
Spontaneous arousals....means no known cause. Even in a sleep lab setting they are called spontaneous when there it no obvious reason for the arousal. Even in a sleep lab you can't always tell what causes something.

Thank you!

Pugsy - I'm still learning how to read these charts. A couple of questions regarding last night's results. https://sleephq.com/public/59221569-ef4 ... 8007f144b6

The events at 1:16 AM, 2:28 AM, 3:32 AM, 5:33 AM - Did I sleep through these events or were they arousal based?
Were the events at 3:06 AM and 3:36 AM arousal based?

Why would the event at 4:30:30 AM not flagged?

In your opinion were the leaks I did experience mouth or mask leaks? I tried looking for flat lines at the expiatory portion but can't really tell.

Recoil wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 26, 2024 10:31 am

Why would the event at 4:30:30 AM not flagged?

Because it didn't last at least 10 seconds. All apnea events require a duration of at least 10 seconds to earn a flag.
If it only lasted 9 seconds.....no flag.

Recoil wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 26, 2024 10:31 am

The events at 1:16 AM, 2:28 AM, 3:32 AM, 5:33 AM - Did I sleep through these events or were they arousal based?

All those events reflect obvious arousal breathing prior to the flag. Some of that prior breathing was rather prolonged but some reflect a very brief arousal. Regardless all those events flagged are post arousal.
I have no idea if you slept through those events or not. You weren't sound asleep is all I can say. You are the one to know if you remember being awake or not and remember....we don't always remember an arousal especially if it is very brief.

Recoil wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 26, 2024 10:31 am

In your opinion were the leaks I did experience mouth or mask leaks?

I have no idea and no way to know. Heck, that leak could have been simply a little mask movement as well.
There is no way to know the cause of the leak just by looking at the leak graph.
Mouth leaks or mask movement leaks show up as a leak....my best guess in your situation is that those leaks very well could be mask movement....but it's a guess.

To be certain with the mouth vs mask movement identification someone needs to make absolutely sure that there is zero chance of mouth leaking and that involves taping the mouth and making darn sure the tape never comes loose.
Then if you know with 100% certainty the mouth wasn't leaking then that leaves mask movement as the only answer.

Thank you!

Quick question, I noticed in last night's data that every minute or so (see time period between 12:20 - 1:00am) that I have high spikes of breathing, then it goes normal, then there is a high spike. What causes this? Also, should I not be that concerned with my leak spikes. I'm using just a chin strap now because I am tired of taping my mouth. I feel like I'm sleeping fine and would like to think that these leaks are of no consequence and can just be ignored but I am still learning https://sleephq.com/public/73c09fbb-db7 ... 7926f1f5e9

You only had one leak that went into large leak territory and it was very brief.
The other leaks are much less and no where near large leak territory and also very brief.
If those leaks didn't wake you up then I would say just ignore them.
Perfect 0.0 leak graphs are very few and far between. I can count on one hand the times I have had one of those and I have been on cpap for over 15 years.

Recoil wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 04, 2024 3:16 pm

I noticed in last night's data that every minute or so (see time period between 12:20 - 1:00am) that I have high spikes of breathing, then it goes normal, then there is a high spike. What causes this?

It's just a deeper breath....gulp of air. As to why? Dunno, and no way to really tell why except maybe a period of not being quite sound asleep. If you are asleep you don't/won't take a big gulp of air.