20 second OSA?? That can't be good???

TheBigTenor · Post by **TheBigTenor** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 10:33 am

My typical AHI every night is between .05 and 1.3 and I have some good and bad nights still. I'm usually awoken once a night about 3 times a week 2 hours after I fall asleep. I don't' know if it's sleep anxiety or PND or what? It does NOT happen every night. I'm not gasping for air but I literally feel like I've been holding my breath.(duh)

So I might get up and sit in the living room for a short spell. Anyway, last night my AHI was 1.1 and I checked OSCAR and I see 2 (OA) events not too far apart. Right about the time I woke up, but I did fall back to sleep shortly thereafter. What I was shocked to see was the length of OA. I'm usually 10 seconds maybe 12 on an OA, but last night I had one that looks to me to be over 20 seconds???

Does that literally mean for 20 seconds I got ZERO oxygen?

I bought a brand new finger oxygen meter and after I woke up I placed it on my finger and it read 93%. It was maybe 1 minute after awakening.

Am I reading my Flow Rate correctly?

thanks

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 11:28 am

20 seconds is not unusually high...I would worry if I got a 60 second. An event will not even record until it's over 10 seconds.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 11:42 am

TheBigTenor wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 15, 2020 10:33 am
Anyway, last night my AHI was 1.1 and I checked OSCAR and I see 2 (OA) events not too far apart. I'm usually 10 seconds maybe 12 on an OA, but last night I had one that looks to me to be over 20 seconds???

That's nothing. You are getting excellent CPAP treatment.

While awake, try holding your breath for 22 seconds - no damage done.

SleepyPaolo · Post by **SleepyPaolo** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 10:09 pm

When you get more than 70s then let us know. I often get multiple at 40sec plus per night when using an optimised CPAP.

TheBigTenor · Post by **TheBigTenor** » Mon Feb 17, 2020 1:14 am

Well it's 2am and I'm up. I went 2 nights without an arousal that didn't wake me up. I usually sleep on my right side. Well tonight I was on my back and I was awoken with an arousal. My heart was beating fast. By fast I mean 90bpm+. I noticed right away while trying to keep my upper palate closed and breathing in air into my mouth that the pressure was high. I use nasal pillows.

So I know pressure is increased while I sleep. However could my pressure be too high that it doesn't allow for a breath on occassions even it's at a higher pressure??

I guess I could go back and look at all the times I woke (and stopped my machine) and see where the pressure was at that time?

I understand pressure increases as its needed. However I'm a very shallow breather and I'm curious if I simply need to tweak my settings a little more to get the best treatment?

I'm a mild case where I'm borderline on needing cpap according to my doctor. However he thought I should use it because my arousals at times would really bother my sleep quality.

Jas_williams · Post by **Jas_williams** » Mon Feb 17, 2020 1:57 am

Post a graph otherwise we are guessing and include all the information on the left hand side, I went back up this thread and there is nothing to tell me your machine settings or anything else.

To be fair your posts sound more like stress/anxiety/panic attack rather than a sleep apnoea problem

TheBigTenor · Post by **TheBigTenor** » Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:02 am

I tried to grab a couple screen shots from just before the incident.

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:46 am

My advice? Put on your mask every night and get a good nights sleep. Don't look at your data for a week. You are doing great ....quit worrying.

TheBigTenor · Post by **TheBigTenor** » Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:47 am

Thanks. I was wondering if I was being my own worst enemy and over-analyzing things? Perhaps the stress of my job has crept into my subconscious sleep pattern? I have some anxiety over my new position at work. I do have a past history (Pre-CPAP) of waking up with my heart racing and panicking for nights on end after OSA events. But then again I've gone weeks without any issues.

I really don't like the feeling of waking up after not breathing for 20 seconds though...it's a bit unsettling.

Miss Emerita · Post by **Miss Emerita** » Mon Feb 17, 2020 11:47 am

As others have said, 20 seconds is truly nothing to worry about. I can easily see, though, that waking up with a rapid heartbeat is unsettling.

You mention the stress of a new job. Is this change in your life leading you to adhere to the "sleep hygiene" guidelines less consistently? Just as a reminder:

• Keep a consistent sleep schedule. Get up at the same time every day, even on weekends or during vacations.
• Set a bedtime that is early enough for you to get at least 7 hours of sleep.
• Don’t go to bed unless you are sleepy.
• If you don’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed.
• Establish a relaxing bedtime routine.
• Use your bed only for sleep and sex.
• Make your bedroom quiet and relaxing. Keep the room at a comfortable, cool temperature.
• Limit exposure to bright light in the evenings.
• Turn off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Don’t eat a large meal before bedtime. If you are hungry at night, eat a light, healthy snack.
• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet.
• Avoid consuming caffeine in the late afternoon or evening.
• Avoid consuming alcohol before bedtime.
• Reduce your fluid intake before bedtime.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Mon Feb 17, 2020 2:56 pm

Also, turn off the calendar.

20 second OSA?? That can't be good???

20 second OSA?? That can't be good???

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