Suffering -- what is my SH data NOT showing?

kaiasgram wrote:

DoriC wrote: What is HH ??? (I should probably know but I'm tired!).

Thanks Dori! I don't think I'd mess with my mask since I've finally just gotten a handle on leaks and the mask is as comfortable as any mask can be.

Sorry, HH=Humidifier

MaxDarkside wrote:

kaiasgram wrote:Not trying to be melodramatic here, but I am feeling very crappy and very frustrated.

Judging by your data, you have sleep apnea darn near perfectly treated. Your feeling crappy is probably not related to apnea. I see some appropriate sleep structure in there too. Good. I'd look elsewhere such as sleep hygiene (quality, sufficient deep, REM), medications, exercise, other maladies.

Working on all of the above Max, thanks. Normally we spend the night recovering and restoring from the day's activities. I have the opposite pattern now -- I spend the day gradually recovering from the stress of the night. Mornings are god awful, and most days I start doing a little better as the day goes on. I'm not napping at all in order to ensure I'm good and tired when I go to bed (and no problem, I am!). There is something going on during my sleep -- you're right it's apparently not apnea anymore, yet I feel the same as when it was. I will keep working on this and appreciate your help because I can't beat this thing alone. Mucho gracias!

The contec oximeters 50D+(plus) and above record. I don't know if the D+ and E have alarms, but the H & F and I assume the new "I" have adjustable alarms for both heartrate and O2.
I seldom use the alarm overnight unless I set it down to 85, because I don't want it waking be up when I move around.
This is the power out alarm I bought. http://www.acehardware.com/product/inde ... Id=3045268

The drop off of the red AHI graph in my avatar is where I turned off the EPR. It can make a difference.
I would just try that first.

I got a dollar that says you'll wind up doing better at cpap 7.0 with no epr.

Lizistired wrote:I got a dollar that says you'll wind up doing better at cpap 7.0 with no epr.

Wow, that red graph tells a story doesn't it. I'm following your reasoning about straight CPAP with no EPR -- it might be worth a dollar to take the chance and experiment ! Thank you again.

That was my original thought! Straight cpap, no epr! I was just waiting for someone else to come along and spell it out!

Did you have an oximeter during titration???

kaiasgram wrote:... I wake up feeling unrested and with a headache, usually overheated and feeling like my body has been working very hard all night. I no longer believe that this is all emotional resistance to CPAP.

... the diagnostic device I used the first time, the wrist-PAT 200 ...

Any possibility of PLMD? Google tells me the Watch-PAT200 doesn't detect it. My own sleep study found leg movements about 40 times an hour (but not associated with arousals), so I know it's possible to have leg movements without being aware of it.

Janknitz wrote:Did you have an oximeter during titration???

Yes -- During my titration week I had desats while on CPAP: First night I had a desat to 74%, for 41 seconds. Sixth night a desat to 88% for 15 seconds. I don't have the raw data and graphs to see what else was going on at those times. My AHI for that titration week was only .1 and of course I don't know if those desats correspond to apnea events.

yarrow wrote: Any possibility of PLMD? Google tells me the Watch-PAT200 doesn't detect it. My own sleep study found leg movements about 40 times an hour (but not associated with arousals), so I know it's possible to have leg movements without being aware of it.

Hi Yarrow -- If the Watch-PAT 200 doesn't detect PLMD, then I have not been tested for it. I feel like I'm pretty still most of the night but as you pointed out a person can be unaware of it. If you or anyone is interested in how this device works (probably should be a separate thread), this is an info sheet on the Watch Pat 200. PAT stands for peripheral arterial tone. I am not sure what actigraphy measures, but I would have guessed it measures body movement -- but your Google search said no, so I don't know what the heck it's doing! I'm really hoping my sleep doc will grant my request to use the Watch PAT again now that my apnea is being successfully treated, to see if sleep issues still emerge. Apparently the device does identify RERA's and sleep stages, and that could be very informative for me.

A lot of dentists employ this device -- dentists are apparently often the first line of detection of evidence of sleep apnea. I see a lot of info about Watch PAT on dentist websites.

Maybe a member near you that has a oximeter, who only uses it on and off would loan it to you ... Mine should be arriving in the mail TODAY!

I'd be willing to let you borrow it for a night or two ... If you live in Tucson or East of there ...

A lot of my desats have no connection to apneas so it's a good thing to keep an eye on. I am eager to hear how straight CPAP with out EPR does for you. Hope things improve for you soon!!

Suz

While things might not line up on your charts, I can't see how you can say your desats have no relation to apnea... doesn't make much sense to me... to what do you attribute them?

Tinker.

In particular, I'd try various combinations of raising minimum pressure and reducing or limiting EPR.

archangle wrote:Tinker.

In particular, I'd try various combinations of raising minimum pressure and reducing or limiting EPR.

I would only try one thing at a time.