Learning ASV

Rubicon wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 1:56 am

WalMart oximeters aren't accurate.

That's why I bought three from different vendors: Emay, Circul and Wellu O2Ring to compare and average. And barring motion and calibration errors, measurements from all three align.

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:32 am

The question remains: why do I still feel tired in the morning?

There is a very long list of culprits for causing fatigue and sleep disordered breathing (of which sleep apnea is just one potential cause) is but one item on that very long list.

Google "causes of fatigue" and start reading.

Have a chat with your doctor about your fatigue....it wouldn't be impossible for your fatigue to be caused by something unrelated to sleep apnea or the airway.

Rubicon wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 2:01 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 9:29 pm

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 2:16 pm

Autosense,

AutoSET

AirSet?

AirSense 10 Autoset.

Rubicon wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 3:09 am

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Tue May 30, 2023 7:04 pm

what should I do to make the ASV work?

That's definitely the insightful and informative input I was looking for, thank you! It comes rich from someone whose very first post on a CPAP forum was "Have you tried throwing the CPAP out the window and seeing how that works?" and who recently enlightened the masses with gems like "ASV is a big lie" and (my favorite) "Waxing and waning is usually the result of too much (or not enough) something or other." Such thoughtful and precise scientific advice will never penetrate my thick skull so do me a favor Rubicon, don't bother replying to my posts, OK? I'll never be able to comprehend your deep wisdom anyway.

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:52 am

...so do me a favor Rubicon, don't bother replying to my posts, OK?

Good thing there was the "At least one new post has been added" flag. Otherwise I would have added this massive explanation.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:39 am

Have a chat with your doctor about your fatigue....it wouldn't be impossible for your fatigue to be caused by something unrelated to sleep apnea or the airway.

Thanks Pugsy, I'm well aware that apnea may not be the only cause.
And I did talk to my doctor more than once, even before I got my AirSense 10 Autoset 8 yeras ago. And now, again. My PCP didn't send me to the sleep doc, and he in turn, to the sleep lab, and then prescribe an ASV machine right off the bat, insurance wouldn't let that happen.

I've left no stone unturned.

I read 5 books on sleep
The Sleep workbook
The book of sleep
Sleep
The 4-week insomnia workbook
Sleep smarter

and implemented every recommendation.
In bed by 10pm? - Check.
Snake plant in the bedroom? - Check
Essential oil diffuser with lavender oil in it? - Check
Blue light filter with night shift on all my screens? - check.
No screen past 10pm? - check.
Reduce coffee? - I don't drink coffee or any energy drink, even Coke, past 11am
Reduce alcohol? - not a drop in years.
Reduce weight? I'm 205lbs. Not ideal, but not morbidly obese either.
Excercise? - yes, at least 3 times a week
Reduce light? check. I installed light-proof curtains. When I close them, I could process film in my bedroom, if film was still around
White noise? check. Sound of rain all night long
Cooling? Yes, tried Chilli Dock Pro - great product, just didn't make any difference to me.
Pillows? I have every pillow on the market - several MyPillows, purple pillow, cervical pillows, ortho pillows, incline pillows - I can open a f-ing pillow museum!
Mattresses - went through several, added and removed layers of latex and super-organic super-natural wool pads, $150 bed sheets, etc.
Meditations - yes, I have subscriptions to Breethe and Headspace and mediate daily.
I use Melatonin VERY occasionally, and don't use other medications.
Herbal supplements - passion fruit, tart cherry.
What else is there in the Body of Sleep Knowledge that I missed?

Nothing works.

This ASV device is my last line, and in the first several nights it did provide the relief, but then the positive effect waned. And this is why I'm here, wondering why.
What else can I do to get a good restful sleep? I'd really, really appreciate some good advice.
The last thing I need is some smartass troll posting a clever meme picture.

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:52 am

It comes rich from someone whose very first post on a CPAP forum was "Have you tried throwing the CPAP out the window and seeing how that works?"

Y'know I've thought about that thread a couple times, whenever we discussed PP. There's some real bizarre stuff going on there that includes inspiratory as well as expiratory disruption. IMO one would certainly consider palatal something or other but turns out the OP did end up seeing an ENT guy, so would assume (HAHAHAHA) that if there was interfering structure the guy would have said something.

At some point we have to face the fact that some people simply cannot "do" cpap.
Or won't.

Rubicon wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 2:01 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 9:29 pm

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 2:16 pm

Autosense,

AutoSET

AirSet?

You're a lot of help

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:32 am

It doesn't matter if it flags them or not. What matters is the ASV eliminated those pauses in the breathing waveform that were definitely present with AirSence 10 Autoset and are definitely absent with AutoCurve ASV. Except during ramps, when ASV function isn't active, which further proves the point that ASV is effective at eliminating the breathing pauses, whether they're CA, OA, or anything in between. The question remains: why do I still feel tired in the morning?

Probably because what you said at the first of this matters doesn't really matter as much as you think. Even the magic machine can't fix crap sleep, just the crap breathing part of it.

Also, AIRcurve.

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:52 am

Rubicon wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 3:09 am

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Tue May 30, 2023 7:04 pm

what should I do to make the ASV work?

That's definitely the insightful and informative input I was looking for, thank you! It comes rich from someone whose very first post on a CPAP forum was "Have you tried throwing the CPAP out the window and seeing how that works?"

That's not even remotely close to his first post on the forum, you're off by *years*.

palerider wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:27 pm

Rubicon wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 2:01 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 9:29 pm

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 2:16 pm

Autosense,

AutoSET

AirSet?

You're a lot of help

No kidding!

This fuss about terminology is necessary because of the (intentional?) similarity
between the names of good equipment vs crappy equipment.
The dealers and insurance companies like to keep us in the dark, so they can take advantage of us.
Our only defence is self advocacy and education.
Close enough is not a "thing." In fact it is usually a lie.

Hey everyone,
I'd appreciate some pointers on the strange breathing waveform I had last night
Today I woke up extra tired and cranky and with some heavy sensation in the lungs.
Upon closer analysis of my last night's SleepHQ, I noticed that there were several periods during the night when my breathing waveform was radically different from the normal sinewave. What is this phenomenon? Is it apnea? Hypopnea? Is this dangerous? What's going on these pictures?
Thanks in advance!

(this is autoASV, min EPAP 4, max EPAP 6, min PS 3, max PS 10)

palerider wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:27 pm

Rubicon wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 07, 2023 2:01 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 9:29 pm

Hrapovick wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 2:16 pm

Autosense,

AutoSET

AirSet?

You're a lot of help

Hey, "Help" is my middle name!