Suffering part 2: Lowered the EPR

I have no way to prove or disprove this but when I see those jagged disturbances in my flow line, I have just assumed it was from turning over or moving the dog.

Suz

Here's a picture of various problems with flow, including limitations: http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/conte ... .large.jpg

Hypothetically, a RERA would look like a period of flow limitation followed by sudden regulation of flow (when the arousal happens). I think that's how respironics machines calculate it.

Your flow is pretty weird to be sure, and in some instances do appear to look like flow limitations, but its hard to determine without seeing what normal flow look like in sleepyhead.

Diablode wrote:Here's a picture of various problems with flow, including limitations: http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/conte ... .large.jpg

Hypothetically, a RERA would look like a period of flow limitation followed by sudden regulation of flow (when the arousal happens). I think that's how respironics machines calculate it.

Your flow is pretty weird to be sure, and in some instances do appear to look like flow limitations, but its hard to determine without seeing what normal flow look like in sleepyhead.

This gives me an idea -- someone a short while ago started a poll asking what people's pressures are set at. But what I think would be really cool and educational would be if people posted screenshots of what their "normal" flow lines look like. Periods of time when there are no events, no signficant leaks or flow limitations, etc. Newbies often spend a lot of time trying to study and interpret their graphs, and a "reference manual" so to speak could be useful. Everyone will have different-looking "normal" waveforms of course, depending on individual differences and the machine they're on and the software they use, and this would give people an idea of the variety of normal waveforms. From there it might be easier to discern changes and abnormalities in one's respirations. Just an idea...

That, my dear, is a fantastic idea!

Suz

Suzjohnson wrote:That, my dear, is a fantastic idea!

Suz

Should we post it as a new thread?

I think that would be good! It would be so great to have something to compare with. What a boon for all of us still stunned to silence when those strange looking waves come up on the computer screen.

Suz

You also have to consisder sleep stages in flow appearance. I tend to leak more in REM.
In the image Diablode posted (thanks for posting), I can see that my sewing machine pattern should be when I'm exhaling through my mouth.
You are right, it would be a good reference, but don't get obsessed with getting a perfect flow pattern. I would rather have some leaks, than no REM.

Kaiasgram, I think you should get an oximeter.
If you are seeing flattening of your flow line, you could be having desats without scoring apneas,
It a cheap tool to identify a problem or put your mind at ease.

Lizistired wrote:You also have to consisder sleep stages in flow appearance. I tend to leak more in REM.
In the image Diablode posted (thanks for posting), I can see that my sewing machine pattern should be when I'm exhaling through my mouth.
You are right, it would be a good reference, but don't get obsessed with getting a perfect flow pattern. I would rather have some leaks, than no REM.

Hi Liz -- I was thinking the opposite of looking for the "perfect" flow line, instead I thought it would be interesting to see how many variations of "normal" there can be, so that people (especially newbies like me) don't go thinking there is a perfect waveform. If a lot of people submitted screeshots, we'd start to see flow lines in different stages of sleep, though few of us have the tools to definitively identify which stage of sleep. But in a way that's ok too, because we'd be able to see the full spectrum of normal flow lines in various stages of sleep. Just an idea, I posted it in a new thread and we'll see if anyone is interested.

Lizistired wrote:Kaiasgram, I think you should get an oximeter.
If you are seeing flattening of your flow line, you could be having desats without scoring apneas,
It a cheap tool to identify a problem or put your mind at ease.

It's in the works, thanks Liz!