New PSG - Question - Update post psg

I have a PSG or split study tonight and they tell me to bring in my machine and masks and I am wondering why? In the past when I didn't bring my own stuff I usually walk out with a new mask or two and chin strap which is kinda nice. I am just curious why they want me to bring all of my stuff,I don't want to.

Also they sent me a questionnaire and a Epworth questionnaire and if I fill them out based on being under treatment it will not look like I have much of a problem but if I fill them out based on no treatment it will look horrid. How should I do it?

Thanks,
Mike

Browser, I suspect it makes excellent sense for you to bring your machine and mask in, if they are trying to analyze might what be going wrong (or right) with your current treatment.

Also, I am guessing the Epworth measurement is to assess where you are in relation to your current treatment that is up for review. But I'd be sure to tell them exactly which of those two treatment scenarios you had in mind when you filled out the questionnaire.

Browser, I have nothing to contribute to your question (sorry).
Just wanted to say how much I like your new avatar.

Marsha

-SWS wrote:Browser, I suspect it makes excellent sense for you to bring your machine and mask in, if they are trying to analyze might what be going wrong (or right) with your current treatment.

Also, I am guessing the Epworth measurement is to assess where you are in relation to your current treatment that is up for review. But I'd be sure to tell them exactly which of those two treatment scenarios you had in mind when you filled out the questionnaire.

Hi SWS, I drew a line on several pages of the questionnaire and at the top I wrote with current cpap and without cpap. I also wrote approx. a full page explaining what I have been doing as far as trying different pressures and the results and my concern over erratic breathing and aerophagia and the fact I have tried every pressure range you can try. I am just sure they will read it and think I am nuts or something but we shall see.

I will pack up the machine and masks, 5 more hours till the study.

Songbird wrote:Browser, I have nothing to contribute to your question (sorry).
Just wanted to say how much I like your new avatar.

Marsha

Thanks Marsha - I love those grey cats with the very dense hair! I want one! Alas, I am allergic and so is atleast one of my kids.

Mike

Browser, if you ever run across one and it has a sweet personality too, let me know and I'll pay to have it shipped to me!!!

It was a somewhat disappointing PSG. I was looking forward to it and when I got there I talked to the RPSGT for a while. He told me the Dr. doesn't like APAPs and would probably tell me to set mine to a fixed pressure. He also told me that they don't switch you to Bipap until you go over 20 or if you have centrals? or other special conditions. I talked to two of the RPSGT's and neither seemed very UP on all the issues unlike SAG. They were surprised I checked my own data and wondered why and how I found out about it.

All they did to my machine was check the hours so I should have just left it home. I used my own Swift LT and the PAPCAP2. The tip of my nose is so sore from the Swift LT and has little blisters or zits but I really like the Swift LT. It is so quiet and easy to get a seal.

So this morning a different RPSGT unhooked me and said I did real good. I know when I woke up I had a nasal pillow leak so I was surprised they hadn't come in to fix it. She said my final pressure was 15 and Cflex of 3. I feel tired right now and my chest feels congested. I told her I have a AHI of 6 or more at home at 15 and she said it could be reading other things besides apneas. She said they noticed when I change positions it takes me a while to settle down and I have a lot of centrals but they have a special name for these types of central and I didn't hear her. I think she said they aren't real centrals. They are centrals that only happen when you change positions. She said when I moved I would have more leaks from my lips and have these centrals until I settled which took longer than usual but once I settled all was fine. So she said my machine may be counting these centrals as apneas and inflating the AHI.

I will have to wait until 1-2-09 to see the Dr. but I am feeling this may have been a waste of money...

What does it take to find a cutting edge lab or Dr. that keeps up with this stuff and isn't close minded?

Forget the subject of VB or erratic breathing because I tried to bring it up and they acted like I was nutty...

Browser wrote: ... What does it take to find a cutting edge lab or Dr. that keeps up with this stuff and isn't close minded? ...

Answer: a freaking miracle!!!!

For grey cat lovers:

Browser wrote: . . . told me that they don't switch you to Bipap until you go over 20 or if you have centrals? or other special conditions. . . . I had a nasal pillow leak so I was surprised they hadn't come in to fix it. . . . special name for these types of central . . . She said when I moved I would have more leaks from my lips and have these centrals until I settled which took longer . . .

I don't really know what I'm talking about, but I'll respond to some of what you mention until someone who knows better does.

My understanding of present standard protocol is that they can try bilevel at anything over 15 cm. And although techs may not care much about leaks until it messes with their data, lip leaks are a big deal and have to be solved. Hope you are doing that. (In my opinion, that alone could explain VB numbers.) Sure the tech didn't just say "mixed apnea," an apnea that starts out one kind and ends up another? If your sleep is particularly restless, with a lot of tossing and turning, and you hold your breath each time you move, I bet that can mess with the numbers on a lot of stuff.

Thank you so much, Browser.

jnk wrote:

Browser wrote: . . . told me that they don't switch you to Bipap until you go over 20 or if you have centrals? or other special conditions. . . . I had a nasal pillow leak so I was surprised they hadn't come in to fix it. . . . special name for these types of central . . . She said when I moved I would have more leaks from my lips and have these centrals until I settled which took longer . . .

I don't really know what I'm talking about, but I'll respond to some of what you mention until someone who knows better does.

My understanding of present standard protocol is that they can try bilevel at anything over 15 cm. And although techs may not care much about leaks until it messes with their data, lip leaks are a big deal and have to be solved. Hope you are doing that. (In my opinion, that alone could explain VB numbers.) Sure the tech didn't just say "mixed apnea," an apnea that starts out one kind and ends up another? If your sleep is particularly restless, with a lot of tossing and turning, and you hold your breath each time you move, I bet that can mess with the numbers on a lot of stuff.

Hi - they called it "something" central that occurs when you change positions. I was kinda surprised they weren't more concerned with leaking but she said people often leak if they move positions. She said as I have said on here that the machine will compensate for most leaks and that this is one of the reason the Dr. doesn't like APAPs because leaks mess with them. She told me to tighten up my chin strap. I will be curious to see the entire report.

I also thought the current protocol was 15 and over. I find it hard to believe that 15 worked in the study when it hasn't worked at home. I will try it at home tonight with the Cflex of 3 like they had it. They had a tank type white machine and it sure sounded better than my M-series and I liked the humidification better. They said they didn't try bipap. I did wake up with a stomach full of air.

I forgot to mention a couple of interesting questions on the questionnaire were:

How many servings of tuna or (forgot - some other tuna type meat) do you eat in a month?

Do you take Omega 3 fish oil or flax seed oil and how much?

Songbird wrote:Browser, I have nothing to contribute to your question (sorry).
Just wanted to say how much I like your new avatar.

Marsha

Yeah Marsha,

I was admiring that animated icon muchly - even tempted to purloin it

DSM

(but didn't )

Hello - Here is what I got last night with the swift lt at 15 and Cflex = 3, so I do not see how I could have had a good night at the hospital except that I only slept a few hours there... I know I was leaking at the hospital worse than I did here. My throat is a little raw this morning. I don't think the Swift Lt is going to be the mask for me although I really like it. I do not feel the "pressure" like I do with a nasal mask instead I just feel air rushing through my nose and down my throat. Maybe that air is all that is needed though. Not sure.

VB% was 50%: