KC's sleep study and therapy

Hello everyone!

My very first post. I've been reading this forum for a couple of weeks and I'm very thankful for the amount of info I can find here.

My story: F, 53, with severe hot flushes and insomnia for the last 6 months. Thanks, menopause! My endocrinologist prescribed me HRT and suggested a sleep study to check for apnea. Done it with a SleepDoc Porti 7 at home, but it was a terrible night, I only slept for two hours. That is why I am not sure if the tool registered sleep apnea or ... ? Anyway, the recommendation was for an auto CPAP 4-12 cmH2O. Haven't bought it yet, I'm still reading and studying about all this new stuff for me.

I'm kindly asking anyone who can understand a sleep study to take a look at the attached files and comment/explain the data.

Thank you very much!

Welcome to the forum.

Go here and read RobySue's blog which does a really good job explaining what you see on your sleep study report.
http://adventures-in-hosehead-land.blog ... -test.html

Then come back with specific questions if something needs clarification.

It might have been a short night with just a couple of hours or so for the home study device but you firmly met criteria for OSA during that short period of time. False positives are rare when the AHI is in the teens from a home study.

Thanks for your reply. Will study the explanations from the link provided and come back if needed.

My biggest concerns so far: (in bold letters are quotes from the link provided)

1. Is the AHI value of 21.1 from my sleep report real?

The total sleep time is usually abbreviated as TST on the sleep study report

I can't find TST anywhere in my report. I only have TIB (Time in Bed) = Evaluation time = 8:00:00
But I'm trying to calculate it based on:

Apneas only "count" in diagnosing sleep disordered breathing (SDB) if they occur when you are asleep
AHI = (total number of apneas and hypopneas)/(TST in hours)

My study: AHI = 21.1 = (84+63)/TST => TST = 6.97

That means that I slept for almost 7 hours. Not true! In fact I only slept for about 2 hours, so is my real AHI
(84+63)/2 = 73.5 ???

OR: the sleep screening device did not correctly recognize when I was asleep. In this case I have no idea what my real AHI is.

2. Are the values for Evaluation Pulseoxymetric something to be worried about?

Lowest Desaturation [%] 67
Min. Saturation [%] 55
Max. Pulse 222


Anyhow, I've scheduled a meeting with a technician to rent an APAP. I think he will propose an auto DreamStation. Is a month enough to test/adjust it to my needs?

Thanks for any feedback.

KC1965 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 19, 2019 12:43 pm

My biggest concerns so far: (in bold letters are quotes from the link provided)

1. Is the AHI value of 21.1 from my sleep report real?

The total sleep time is usually abbreviated as TST on the sleep study report

I can't find TST anywhere in my report. I only have TIB (Time in Bed) = Evaluation time = 8:00:00
But I'm trying to calculate it based on:

Apneas only "count" in diagnosing sleep disordered breathing (SDB) if they occur when you are asleep
AHI = (total number of apneas and hypopneas)/(TST in hours)

My study: AHI = 21.1 = (84+63)/TST => TST = 6.97

That means that I slept for almost 7 hours. Not true! In fact I only slept for about 2 hours, so is my real AHI
(84+63)/2 = 73.5 ???

OR: the sleep screening device did not correctly recognize when I was asleep. In this case I have no idea what my real AHI is.

2. Are the values for Evaluation Pulseoxymetric something to be worried about?

Lowest Desaturation [%] 67
Min. Saturation [%] 55
Max. Pulse 222


Anyhow, I've scheduled a meeting with a technician to rent an APAP. I think he will propose an auto DreamStation. Is a month enough to test/adjust it to my needs?

Thanks for any feedback.

1) does it really matter what the AHI is? it's bad, and you need a cpap.
2) yes 67 is *really* bad, that may coincide with the longest recorded apnea of over 1 and a half minutes.

I'd suggest you get a Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset For Her instead. It'll give you much better results, and a month should be enough time, with guidance from here.

Thanks for the replies.

I've already started to study SleepyHead Beginner's Guide and watch YouTube videos but I will definitely post here my results and ask for help.

I think the local sales representative does not have ResMed products, at least not on their website. Will look for one that has the APAP AirSense 10 AutoSet for HER.

As for the AHI real value, I thought it is important for the initial setting of the APAP. Will I start with the prescribed 4-12 cmH2O or... ?

Severity of AHI doesn't dictate pressure needs.
I know people with AHI of 12 and they need 18 cm pressure...and I know people with AHI of 90 and they need only 6 cm pressure.

KC1965 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 19, 2019 3:15 pm

Thanks for the replies.

I've already started to study SleepyHead Beginner's Guide and watch YouTube videos but I will definitely post here my results and ask for help.

I think the local sales representative does not have ResMed products, at least not on their website. Will look for one that has the APAP AirSense 10 AutoSet for HER.

As for the AHI real value, I thought it is important for the initial setting of the APAP. Will I start with the prescribed 4-12 cmH2O or... ?

No, your untreated AHI means absolutely nothing at all

There are some people with REALLY high AHIs (like over 100 events per hour) that only need a little pressure to prevent them, and some people that have low untreated AHIs that need a lot of pressure.

Your AHI is a measure of the *frequency* that you have apneas, but it gives no indication about how hard they are to prevent.

Think of your throat like a garden hose, and apnea like someone stepping on it. It might be a full grown adult that just walks over it now and then (low AHI), which would take a lot more pressure to prevent, or it could be a little kid jumping up and down on it, (high AHI) but wouldn't take as much pressure to keep the kid from blocking it off.

I'd start off with 6-20, because 4 is too low for most people to feel comfortable with, then post your data here (see my sig for instructions on how to do that) and make adjustments.

Here's why the autoset is better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzCCgNLya_g

OK, I understand now that the pressure is not determined by the AHI number.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 19, 2019 4:28 pm

Here's why the autoset is better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzCCgNLya_g

Interesting video. My question is: what happens the next night? Does the S9 Autoset "remember" de 9.5 pressure value that was used to eliminate apneas? And does it start from 9.5 the next night?

KC1965 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 1:43 am

OK, I understand now that the pressure is not determined by the AHI number.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 19, 2019 4:28 pm

Here's why the autoset is better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzCCgNLya_g

Interesting video. My question is: what happens the next night? Does the S9 Autoset "remember" de 9.5 pressure value that was used to eliminate apneas? And does it start from 9.5 the next night?

No, that has to be adjusted manually, it takes a little time to get it set up to where it works well for you, then you only need to spot check it now and then.

What mask to start with? I do not snore and do not mouth breath. Nasal mask or pillow mask? Which model?

I cannot try the mask, I have to buy it directly.

We can't really tell you what mask you will like the best or do the best with because we might not have the same wants and needs as you do.

But I would suggest starting with the mask that has the smallest footprint on your face that looks interesting to you.

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks

Take a stroll through the various masks in the nasal and pillow category and see what looks interesting to you and read the reviews.

For a nasal pillow mask...I suggest looking at
ResMed AirFit P10
ResMed Swift FX
F & P Brevida
Respironics DreamWear gel pillows

For a nasal cushion type of mask look at
DreamWear under the nose cushion (a plus with this one is you can use the gel pillows with the frame and headgear so actually 2 masks in one.
ResMed Swift FX Nano
ResMed N30i

come back here with specific questions if you have any about one of the masks.

Where are you located? No insurance to pay for masks? Is money tight?

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 8:11 am

Where are you located? No insurance to pay for masks? Is money tight?

Romania. No distributor in my city, but close enough.
No insurance pay for the mask or CPAP.
Not much of a problem with the money.

The more I study about this thing, the more questions I have. Is the humidifier needed/helpful?