Norm for switching machines

Julie wrote:I hate to bring this up now in light of other recent stuff, but I'm beginning to wonder about the sincerity of this one as this is the second thread on the same subject being dealt with, and recent replies re the fact he likely does not have apnea at all have not been responded to appropriately... just keeps coming back wanting a different answer. I so hope I'm wrong!

Julie,

He could have UARs which could be an explanation for him feeling like he has a sleep breathing issue. And it isn't like many sleep docs are familiar with that.

Also, I thought home study tests were notorious for providing false negatives regarding sleep apnea. Of course, I could be wrong on all accounts but because of these two factors, I am willing to give the OP the benefit of the doubt.

49er

I also don't think he's pulling our leg or anything. He posted his sleep study and sleepyhead results, so we have pretty darn near proof on a lot of what he's saying. I can totally understand grasping at straws to feel better when you're miserable. I feel for the OP and hope he gets the answers he needs, soon.

Mayhaps and in lab study at a new facility?

Thatgirl wrote:I also don't think he's pulling our leg or anything. He posted his sleep study and sleepyhead results, so we have pretty darn near proof on a lot of what he's saying. I can totally understand grasping at straws to feel better when you're miserable. I feel for the OP and hope he gets the answers he needs, soon.

Mayhaps and in lab study at a new facility?

+1

I actually do think you're probably right, but it just seems odd that having been told he doesn't appear to have apnea, he's still fussing about an ASV of all things. Or maybe my frustration tolerance is just very low lately. Got a couple of PMs from someone early today who say they've been posting to the forum without replies, but their member pg does not reflect that... getting paranoid in my old age!

49er wrote:

jjsemperfi wrote:

palerider wrote:

jjsemperfi wrote: I personally think my AHI numbers are higher than advertised because 75% of my apnea occurs in a 2-3 hour period. Not all night. So if I sleep for 9 hours. That brings my total AHI down quite a bit. What do I know though. All I know is I sleep like crap and no one can tell me why.

your ahi is, by definition, an average of events over hours. everybody's AHI would be higher if they ONLY slept when they had events, if you look at enough charts, you'll see that MANY people's events come in clusters, but you count the total hours slept.

you may need to investigate other possible sources for your fatigue besides sleep apnea.

I'm all ears to other possibilities. Chances are I've ruled them out. I would just give anything to find out how I would feel with an AHI of less than 1. I grantee I would feel better. Because without a doubt in my mind, these NORMAL apnea events are fragmenting my sleep. Dropping my O2 sats, increasing my heart rate (first sleep study my heart rate got up to 121) and waking me the hell up.

You could also have UARS but it looks like your home sleep study didn't score RERAa which would be suggestive of the condition:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_air ... e_syndrome

Unfortunately, most insurance companies will not pay for a machine for someone who is diagnosed with UARS. So even if you think this is applicable and it may not be, if you want to experiment to see if a BiPap would help, you either have to find one to buy on Craig's list (Acceptable ones - http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph ... PAP.2FVPAP) or get your physician to write a prescription for one so you can buy it online.

Best of luck.

49er

Thanks, I did have RERa events two nights ago

Thatgirl wrote:You say your heart is fine, because you had an echocardiogram. But the only thing abnormal about your sleep steady is the irregular heart rate. Have you seen a cardiologist? Or had a halter monitor? You're experiencing confirmation bias right now- where you're so convinced it's something you are missing something else.

Been there done that. Done the halter monitor with negative results. Seen cardiologist, neurologist, ENT, gastrointerologist, ER docs, 4 primary care docs....

jjsemperfi wrote:Hi, is there any standard for time required for a machine to be deemed ineffective for a person? Does one have to use a CPAP for a month before you "fail" the CPAP therapy and move on to Bi or ASV...

If you are using it 7-8 hours every night and there is no improvement, you should be able to get the doc to approve a machine within 2 weeks, a month tops, especially since you are already at the maximum pressure setting and struggling. Not all xpap machines are given soley for sleep apnea. My bro has no sleep apnea at all - he has reduced lung function. Many people who have heart or lung issues don't actually have sleep apnea, but still benefit from xpap.

if you want an ASV .....:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/hab/5388986855.html

You have only used your machine for less than a week. You stated you've had trouble sleeping for 10 years in your other thread. I think you need to give this machine a chance. If you are awake frequently at night the reported centrals may not be real. Having a goal to eliminate them when you are not sleeping well is not realistic. Check your meds to see if any cause sleep problems. Many do.
ASV machines are complicated machines that can make sleep more difficult if you don't need them.

OkyDoky wrote:You have only used your machine for less than a week. You stated you've had trouble sleeping for 10 years in your other thread. I think you need to give this machine a chance. If you are awake frequently at night the reported centrals may not be real. Having a goal to eliminate them when you are not sleeping well is not realistic. Check your meds to see if any cause sleep problems. Many do.
ASV machines are complicated machines that can make sleep more difficult if you don't need them.

Not taking any medications. Nothing. No caffine, No alcohol, don't smoke, nothing.

http://imgur.com/a/wqQkF

So this was my sleep last night. You can see the times. First part of night was great. Then around 3 am it goes to shit. Fragmented sleep, little to no deep sleep. Just can't help but wonder if my NORMAL amounts of apnea are causing this. Interesting how my toss and turns are way down while on CPAP though. Usually my toss and turns are around 30-35 times per night.

Sleepyhead software :

https://sleep.tnet.com/main

follow link to software

grayghost4 wrote:Sleepyhead software :

https://sleep.tnet.com/main

follow link to software

Grayghost, he posted one in his other thread. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=110197&p=1054879#p1054879

palerider wrote:

jjsemperfi wrote:I'm all ears to other possibilities.

I'd suggest a second *medical* opinion, the nevada cpap mill isn't cutting it.

or, you could buy yourself an ASV, since you're determined to have apnea.

What he needs is a proper in lab sleep study. He had a home study which showed very little except a few CA's. He could have UARS . The cpap machine is reducing to night time bathroom trips so it is doing something for him.

My ENT scoped my nose and throat and found nothing unusual. Although I do breath easier and toss and turn less when I wear a nasal strip.

Let me ask another hypothetical question here. I do appreciate everyone taking the time to give me ideas and tell me where I am on the right track, and where I am wrong. Trust me, I don't want to have sleep apnea, it just fits really well when everything else has failed. Anyways.

So I am in the sub 5 AHI "Normal" category for sleep apnea. If I have an AHI of 3, would a machine do anything for me? Would it lower my score at all? If it works for people that have high AHI numbers, shouldn't it take my 3 and "easily" lower it even more? The higher the AHI the longer it would take for therapy to be effective right? And vise versa? That would make sense to me right? What doesn't make sense, is how a machine designed to lower obstructive sleep apnea would help to lower central sleep apnea. Regardless of the AHI, it wouldn't help right?

I agree with the people saying I should get another sleep study. I'm not sure why my doc ordered a CPAP study directly after an at home study. Even the sleep tech was confused by this.