Data, at last!

2flamingos wrote: Any one ever realize that pap results are probably one of the few in the medical fied that you hope to be flat line?

Grats again BB!

ROTFL!!

Adding my congrats, too. So far, so good, BB!!

Babette wrote:GOOD JOB!!!!

Me, I don't worry about the snores. My leaks are consistently in line, my AHI is consistently below 2, and I have no idea how to control snores anyway.

LOL,
B.

Thanks, Babs, and good point. I've stabilized my hose hanger and will see what tomorrow's report brings. Could be I'll also need to fashion a hose cover, since the hose is still able to bang against the headboard in its current hanger configuration. If need be, I'll whip out the sewing machine tomorrow and see what I can come up with. But bottom line is I'm not worried about the VS, even if it's high; as long as the important numbers are good, I'm good.

twokatmew wrote:Congrats, BB!

I broke down and ordered the software and card reader before Resmed prevents me from getting it at all. But ... may I ask what VS and flow limitation are? I've been looking at my numbers on the machine's LCD, but today I didn't think to check till after noon.... I'm looking forward to being able to see real data too.

Good goin', twokat! You're way ahead of the game, from my perspective. (And I see Jerry answered your questions already. Gotta love this place!)

Pugsy wrote:I have noticed that the nights I have fewer awakenings, I feel better, even if only 6 - 7 hours of sleep if I am comparing them to 8 hours of "sleep" but frequent awakenings and lots of tossing and turning. Last night I had the grandson kicking me all night, tossed and turned, dogs barking, almost 9 hours on the machine and despite the kick butt AHI but I have felt better other mornings. Very subtle differences in how the "better" is. As long as it is "better" than PC (Pre-Cpap), I am fine with it.

Makes perfect sense to me. And I have to say that I feel a whole lot better than I ever did pre-CPAP, even on those nights when my AHI is still way too high (like the few last week that were still in the teens). Any therapy is better than no therapy, even though we all want it to be as effective as possible.

sagesteve wrote:Way to go Bleep!! Looks really good. If you improve on it...that much better ( pretty much zeroed out!!)

Thanks, Steve. Wouldn't that be something? I'm very happy with last night's numbers and am crossing my fingers that I can look forward to more of the same. I still have that nagging CompSAS issue in the back of my brain, but I'm going to hope for the best where that's concerned.

2flamingos wrote:A flat leak line! You BleepingB----!

That literally made me laugh out loud!

2flamingos wrote:Any one ever realize that pap results are probably one of the few in the medical fied that you hope to be flat line?

Another knee-slapper! Yer on a roll today, 2!

rested gal wrote:Adding my congrats, too. So far, so good, BB!!

Thanks, Laura. For the first time since I started this CPAP journey, I'm really happy today!

BleepingBeauty wrote:For the first time since I started this CPAP journey, I'm really happy today!

That says it all!

Congratulations on that nice, low AHI. And congratulations on being able to "see" that nice, low AHI!

-SWS wrote:

BleepingBeauty wrote:For the first time since I started this CPAP journey, I'm really happy today!

That says it all!

Congratulations on that nice, low AHI. And congratulations on being able to "see" that nice, low AHI!

Thanks! I haven't yawned even once today! Woot!

BleepingBeauty wrote:

-SWS wrote:

BleepingBeauty wrote:For the first time since I started this CPAP journey, I'm really happy today!

That says it all!

Congratulations on that nice, low AHI. And congratulations on being able to "see" that nice, low AHI!

Thanks! I haven't yawned even once today! Woot!

Serious? When was the last time that happened?

Woot, indeed!

-SWS wrote:

BleepingBeauty wrote:I haven't yawned even once today! Woot!

Serious? When was the last time that happened?

Totally serious, yes. I'd have to say the last time I felt this awake was after my first titration in November of 2007. I can only attribute how good I feel today to the extended length of time I slept and the low numbers I enjoyed.

An interesting observation from last night: I was so excited to see my data this morning, it took me longer than usual to fall asleep. Like a kid waiting for Christmas morning to come.

I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight.

Hmm. For the last 12 nights, my AHI has been under 5, with half of those nights under 2. Last night, whammy! An AHI of 24 (AI of 22.1, HI of 1.9). The other numbers (leak, FL, VS) are consistent, so I have no idea what happened. I don't feel nearly as alert today, but I don't feel terrible, either.

Could be the evil CompSAS rearing its ugly head... If anyone has ideas, please post them. (I'm off to the big city today to swelter in the 109-degree temps, so I'll check in later. In the meantime, hope everyone's enjoying their Sunday.)

BleepingBeauty wrote:Hmm. For the last 12 nights, my AHI has been under 5, with half of those nights under 2. Last night, whammy! An AHI of 24 (AI of 22.1, HI of 1.9). The other numbers (leak, FL, VS) are consistent, so I have no idea what happened. I don't feel nearly as alert today, but I don't feel terrible, either.

Could be the evil CompSAS rearing its ugly head... If anyone has ideas, please post them. (I'm off to the big city today to swelter in the 109-degree temps, so I'll check in later. In the meantime, hope everyone's enjoying their Sunday.)

BB, your inherently "episodic" CompSAS will probably entail occasional flareups. Last night sure seems to have been one of your CompSAS "episodes" or "flareups".

I would suggest that you start thinking in terms of trying to explore whether there are exacerbating "triggers" that may account for your occasional CompSAS episodes. APAP modality will likely yield more CompSAS episodes for you than CPAP modality. However, APAP modality is only one potentially exacerbating CompSAS factor that you can easily avoid. There may be yet other discernible CompSAS "triggers".

If it were me, I'd probably scrutinize the following, hoping to discover and avoid additional exacerbating factors or "triggers" that might be unique toward my own CompSAS "episodes": 1) prior-night sleep debt/deprivation, 2) heightened psychological stress, 3) late-evening beverages or eating, 4) alcoholic consumption and/or out-of-the-ordinary pharmaceutical remedies, 5) prolonged sleep position changes that deviate from usual sleep position (eg. prolonged side sleeping or "opposite side" sleeping), 6) increased sedentary periods (potentially lacking diurnal autonomic patterning typical of mild-to-moderate exercise), 7) ALL known VCD triggers (including post-nasal drainage that may induce neurologically defensive airway closures and/or chaotic autonomic "episodes" typical of CompSAS), 8.) acid reflux or "silent" acid reflux flareups (also potentially inducing neurologically defensive airway closures and/or perhaps chaotic "episodes" of autonomic dyscontrol), 9) increased physical pain, 10) unique changes in diet or nutrient patterns.

In summary, I would suggest trying to flush out possible CompSAS "trigger" patterns. Then try to avoid those same discernible patterns toward managing an inherently episodic CompSAS condition. I'm not a health care professional in any way. So please take all that with a grain of salt---that grain perhaps best applied with all the other grains on the rim of a curvaceously tall margarita glass.

-SWS wrote: BB, your inherently "episodic" CompSAS will probably entail occasional flareups. Last night sure seems to have been one of your CompSAS "episodes" or "flareups".

I would suggest that you start thinking in terms of trying to explore whether there are exacerbating "triggers" that may account for your occasional CompSAS episodes. APAP modality will likely yield more CompSAS episodes for you than CPAP modality. However, APAP modality is only one potentially exacerbating CompSAS factor that you can easily avoid. There may be yet other discernible CompSAS "triggers".

That makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, I can't really pinpoint anything that was out of the ordinary for me yesterday which might account for this deviation from what I've been experiencing for the past 12 nights.

If it were me, I'd probably scrutinize the following, hoping to discover and avoid additional exacerbating factors or "triggers" that might be unique toward my own CompSAS "episodes": 1) prior-night sleep debt/deprivation, 2) heightened psychological stress, 3) late-evening beverages or eating, 4) alcoholic consumption and/or out-of-the-ordinary pharmaceutical remedies, 5) prolonged sleep position changes that deviate from usual sleep position (eg. prolonged side sleeping or "opposite side" sleeping), 6) increased sedentary periods (potentially lacking diurnal autonomic patterning typical of mild-to-moderate exercise), 7) ALL known VCD triggers (including post-nasal drainage that may induce neurologically defensive airway closures and/or chaotic autonomic "episodes" typical of CompSAS), 8.) acid reflux or "silent" acid reflux flareups (also potentially inducing neurologically defensive airway closures and/or perhaps chaotic "episodes" of autonomic dyscontrol), 9) increased physical pain, 10) unique changes in diet or nutrient patterns.

The only thing I'm aware of that might be a factor in that list is No. 5, but I have no way of telling what position I'm sleeping in at any given time. I always start off on my left side and always wake up on my back, and last night followed that same pattern. I felt better when I woke up (and when I posted this morning) than I do now. The trip to the city felt like I was on auto-pilot, and all I can think about now is the desire to take a nap. Of course, I can't take a nap because I'm still in the city, but I sure could use one today.

In summary, I would suggest trying to flush out possible CompSAS "trigger" patterns. Then try to avoid those same discernible patterns toward managing an inherently episodic CompSAS condition.

Easy enough, if I could just figure out what seems to be the trigger(s). But since none of my usual patterns was any different, I don't know what else to look for.

I'm not a health care professional in any way. So please take all that with a grain of salt---that grain perhaps best applied with all the other grains on the rim of a curvaceously tall margarita glass.

I actually acquired a very beautiful margarita glass the other day; the stem is green and looks like a cactus, and the glass, itself, is generously-sized and will accommodate any delicious beverage. Maybe I should try it out sooner rather than later. Got a nice bottle of Te-kill-ya waiting patiently to be used and abused...

The bright spot in this might be the added boost to my appeal to the doctor for a more appropriate machine (like the Sandman Auto) to deal with the CompSAS. I'm seeing her this week.

As always, thanks, -SWS.

BleepingBeauty wrote:The bright spot in this might be the added boost to my appeal to the doctor for a more appropriate machine (like the Sandman Auto) to deal with the CompSAS. I'm seeing her this week.

Well, one episode in twelve nights is not shabby, considering how terrible your CompSAS was before partial adaptation to machine pressure.

I still suspect CPAP may end up being your very best modality. Toward better coping with episodic CompSAS flareups... should they prove overly frequent: I'd probably either stick with CPAP modality (incorporating Respironics VB tracking & experimentation) or experimentally go straight to a Respironics BiPAP autoSV trial (compatible with your card reader and Encore software).

I'd experimentally run the BiPAP autoSV with EPAP = min_IPAP = my_very_best_CPAP_pressure (that's CPAP + SV modality). Then I'd set max_IPAP at 8 cm above that CPAP value. And I'd initially set backup rate to auto. If that seemed to either rush my breathing or induce machine-anxiety or even dysregulation, then I'd tentatively and experimentally run the machine in spontaneous mode (no backup rate) or perhaps set the back-up rate way back at only 5 BPM (these were Bev's best results to address occasional long apneas that spontaneous mode could not). Then when CompSAS episodes occur, you'd hope that SV modality will usurp ordinary CPAP modality to normalize central control, per machine design.

BleepingBeauty wrote: I actually acquired a very beautiful margarita glass the other day; the stem is green and looks like a cactus, and the glass, itself, is generously-sized and will accommodate any delicious beverage. Maybe I should try it out sooner rather than later. Got a nice bottle of Te-kill-ya waiting patiently to be used and abused...

That's cool!

We just got one of these automatic frozen margarita machines: Been playing with it all weekend! Ready for the long, hot summer...

-SWS wrote:...We just got one of these automatic frozen margarita machines: Been playing with it all weekend! Ready for the long, hot summer...

Now that's an xPAP machine I could tolerate!

Congratulations B.B.
Good stats I am green with envy - cause I don't have the faintest idea of what mine are . . .I am flying blind 'til I get the results of my sleep study July 9th . . The F&P has no recording possibilities. I plan to get a ResMed
if that is what my study indicates. Then I hope I can get the software.

You have worked so hard . . . to finally get where you want to be. Way to go

Jan

-SWS wrote: I still suspect CPAP may end up being your very best modality. Toward better coping with episodic CompSAS flareups... should they prove overly frequent: I'd probably either stick with CPAP modality (incorporating Respironics VB tracking & experimentation) or experimentally go straight to a Respironics BiPAP autoSV trial (compatible with your card reader and Encore software).

Well, I can't argue with that reasoning, since I've been doing well with straight CPAP at 12 cm so far. Maybe I just have to give it more time and see what, if any, patterns emerge with these flare-ups of high AHI numbers. I suppose if it only happened about twice a month, that wouldn't be so bad. Still, it really sucks to be feeling today like I'm back where I started. I don't want to feel like this anymore.

I'd experimentally run the BiPAP autoSV with EPAP = min_IPAP = my_very_best_CPAP_pressure (that's CPAP + SV modality). Then I'd set max_IPAP at 8 cm above that CPAP value. And I'd initially set backup rate to auto. If that seemed to either rush my breathing or induce machine-anxiety or even dysregulation, then I'd tentatively and experimentally run the machine in spontaneous mode (no backup rate) or perhaps set the back-up rate way back at only 5 BPM (these were Bev's best results to address occasional long apneas that spontaneous mode could not). Then when CompSAS episodes occur, you'd hope that SV modality will usurp ordinary CPAP modality to normalize central control, per machine design.

I sure can't afford to purchase a BiPAP AutoSV. That's the "big boy" with a cost of over $5K. I don't think my doctor is going to advocate for anything more sophisticated, machine-wise, than what I already have. But I'm hoping she'll be amenable to me monitoring things for the next few months and, if a pattern DOES emerge that indicates that my CompSAS is not being treated effectively, perhaps she'll make the case for me to get an ASV machine. It'll be interesting to see where she stands when I meet with her this week.

We just got one of these automatic frozen margarita machines: Been playing with it all weekend! Ready for the long, hot summer...

I want one!

BleepingBeauty wrote: I sure can't afford to purchase a BiPAP AutoSV. That's the "big boy" with a cost of over $5K.

Don't you just wish that deal came around a second time and you had a script in hand:
http://www.cpapauction.com/auction-list ... to-sv.html

BleepingBeauty wrote:I want one!

Now THAT makes a lot more sense than that literary Kindle machine nonsense. Here you are:
http://desc.shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=f ... t=0&_rdc=1

SaltLakeJan wrote:Congratulations B.B.
Good stats

Thanks, Jan. Yeah, the stats have been good for 12 days; not so good last night.

I am green with envy - cause I don't have the faintest idea of what mine are . . .I am flying blind 'til I get the results of my sleep study July 9th . . The F&P has no recording possibilities. I plan to get a ResMed if that is what my study indicates. Then I hope I can get the software.

Well, I can certainly relate to that, after 19 months of being in the dark about my therapy. As most folks here say, it's more important to feel good than to see good numbers. Now that I have data, I can see why I feel how I feel.

When you plan to buy your machine, check the Bundles on cpap.com. You can get the machine, the humidifier, and the software/reader in a bundled package that saves you money over purchasing them separately. Or check the auction site for some good deals, if you're not skittish about the bidding process.

Keep us posted after you get your sleep study results. I'm sending good wishes your way. We all deserve to have effective therapy.