Homemade Sleep Lab questions

I have mild apnea, and have been losing weight to get back to the level where I didn't snore. So I have an interest in tracking scientifically my symptoms. I own a data collecting CPAP and the software Encore Pro, as well as a recording pulse oximeter. I don't really have access to a sleep study, nor would a single night point reading really convince me anyway.

My idea for researching is this:

Baseline:

1. No cpap, pulse oximeter only. Track desats.

What level of O2 should I consider a desaturation event, and for how long? My oximeter has a preset threshold of 88%.

2. Use my cpap set very low, like 4cm, just to record apneas and hypopneas, etc. Does this make sense as a baseline?

3. Baseline recordings with mouthpiece (jaw advancement device)


I could also use the oximeter with the cpap set at low pressure to double check the clinical significance of the any events.

With the cpap set to 9cm or so, my AHI's are pretty low, around 1.5 to 2.9. Never perfect, but I tend to toss, and probably mouth breath occasionally.

Final question: As I lose weight, below what AHI at minimal pressure would it make sense to perhaps stop using CPAP? <5 AHI?

Any ideas, or comments would be greatly appreciated!

I don't know that I'd be able to breath at 4. I don't use ramp because it takes to long to kick in.

I go at the problem in a different way......I do whatever is necessary to keep my O2 levels at 93% or above.....all night....every night.

You have the tools necessary to see what's going on......so, continue to tweak and tune your equipment so that you get 93% or above.

You're fighting "suffocation".....that means "not enough O2". Do what's needed to defeat "suffocation".

Gerald

Remmie,

I think you are off to a good start with the ideas you list.

IMO, it is too early to cross this bridge:

Final question: As I lose weight, below what AHI at minimal pressure would it make sense to perhaps stop using CPAP? <5 AHI?

There will be plenty of time to consider that later as the results of weight loss and monitoring start coming in.

BTW, with diet and exercise, I have lowered my BMI from 25 to 21. I feel great about doing this. My tummy (or lack of) looks great in the mirror. My physical capacity and endurance have increased. My fasting BG has dropped 30 points from prediabetic to normal.

But, not to discourage you, there is no improvement in sleep apnea and no reduction of optimal CPAP therapy.

Go do it!

I think an autopap would be better, to record what pressure it adjusts to.

After I got fed up with telling doctors I was tired all the time and getting nowhere I rented a video camera in 92 and recorded myself sleeping. At 100 AHI supine it wasn't hard to identify that I had OSA. I gave the tape to my doctor and finally got things moving. I would still recommend video recording, but you will have to have a low light source like a night lite, and you should have a microphone near your head.

My pressure requirement has a definite correlation to my weight. at 300 lbs I require 8 and at 340 I require 15. But it may not be a straight line and there is no guarantee that dropping to 240 would eliminate my OSA. Still hope to find out though.