Rem in the sleep lab

The good times in the sleeplab are when your patient is in REM, no mask leaks and hasn't moved since falling asleep.

My patient arrived tonight with an RDI of 91, fitted him with an Ultra Mirage Large nasal mask and taught him to keep the mouth closed and tongue pushed forward and up. Keeping the tongue forward and up will help you train yourself to breathe with the nose and keep the mouth closed.

This guy is gonna feel good come morning and hopefully will join the ranks of compliant users.

As a sleep tech we like the REM sleep but really love the delta or stages 3 and 4 for our patients. Then they awaken in the morning and give a good stretch, something that has been missing for awhile.

Apnea takes your breathe away---CPAP gives it back!

BOB

Bob,

RTs like you are godsends! You know, the tongue position is a funny thing. I naturally keep my tongue in that position, and it never occurred to me that not everybody does until reading several posts here.

I hope your patient leaps out of bed and gives you a great big hug.. or handshake, whichever you'd prefer