Would like another set of eyes on my sleep study please

biggziff · Post by **biggziff** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:17 pm

I've posted relevent parts of my SS here:

http://www.av8r.org/albums/cpap/index.htm

My questions/observations are as follows:

My doc set me up at 11cm. After reviewing the data, it looks to my untrained eye that I actually did better at between 8-9cm. I was only at 11cm for 9 minutes out of the entire study and again...it looks like I was doing worse at that pressure than at some of the lower numbers. I called my doc and he was very nice going through the numbers with me and said that it would look that way if you looked at just the data, but that his experience tells him to use the higher pressure at least for now. I didn't get an APAP (yet) so unless I complain about not sleeping I'll have to wait 6 weeks for the first card read and followup with the doc.

Based on the data provided, what do some of you think about my using the higher pressure to start? Doesn't it seem like an APAP might be better applied if I'm interpreting this datat correctly?

My thoughts are that I don't want to use any more pressure than I need to. Based on what I've read here and other places, you want to use the minimum pressure that you can get away with.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Z

biggziff · Post by **biggziff** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:06 pm

Is this an issue? Perhaps this is considered taboo??

Anyone??

Bueller?

Grabraham · Post by **Grabraham** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:21 pm

Not to worry... the forum goes in cycles.. someone will give you their thoughts...

biggziff · Post by **biggziff** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:24 pm

Thanks!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:04 pm

Hi Bigziff,
I'm no sleep expert.
The more I look at you data the more I agree with you.
Did the doc explain what in his experience made him decide on 11?

O.

biggziff · Post by **biggziff** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:40 am

Not really. He just said that he felt I was best at 11cm. I didn't want to argue with him, but the bottomline is that I was only at 11cm for 9 minutes out of the whole sleep study!! I'm not sure where to go from here, but I plan to call the sleeplab and get their opinion.

Thanks

sleepy gal · Post by **sleepy gal** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:46 am

I'm certainly not an expert either, but I can see what you are looking at. But I also see that the RT recommended 11 as being optimal....perhaps there is something we are not aware of.

Maybe someone else will chime in.

And if you can, perhaps a call to the sleep lab just asking for information....not challenging them. Maybe they can explain the reasoning.

Good luck.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 9:39 am

You do seem to be evidencing REM rebound.

Shortly after 3am at 8cm of H2O you had a hypopnea and obstructive event that resulted in an arousal, disrupting your sleep architecture.

Despite that it does appear that you did best with pressures of 7 to 8. I'd sure like to understand why the tech recommended 11, as my read says you did significantly worse there.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 3:02 am

biggziff, you might want to post your same question and the url to your data, here:

ASAA "Sleep Studies" forum

If one of the regulars there (nicknamed "sleepydave") notices the post, he can give you a wealth of information about what could have been going on - in the study itself, in the RT's mind and in the doctor's. He's a certified RPSGT and RT who manages a sleep lab. He also seems to be willing to say when he thinks something looks "off."

My gut instinct guess is that the doctor didn't really look at your study. I think a lot of busy docs probably just glance at whatever pressure the sleep tech recommends and scribble a fast Rx for it. "Next...."

Perhaps I'm too cynical, but I think docs with a piled up stack of studies on their desk just shuffle through them as fast as they can... Bam, Bam, Bam... looking only for one simple number - the pressure number the sleep tech came up with, for whatever reason.

biggziff · Post by **biggziff** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:49 am

RG..thanks for the reply

That's kind of the feeling I got. When I asked him about it he really just said his experience tells him that the data isn't the only thing to consider. I can buy that, but when I spent less than 10 minutes at this pressure I can't see how it is statistically beneficial. The doc brought up the statistics issue which just confused me as the data, if applied in a statistical fashion, points elsewhere.

Thanks for the URL....I'm going to try that as well.

z

frostman · Post by **frostman** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:23 am

RG you are amazing, what is your profession?? What a neat site, sleepydave is great, hope he doesn't get exausted with all the questions???

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