Stats, Bathroom (or dog) breaks, and CPAP

I'm assuming that on those occasions when I need to get out of bed to visit the bathroom or walk the dog, my CPAP records that I have a big leak (and no, not that a bathroom leak!).

Does it make more sense to turn off the CPAP during these breaks or keep it running, with huge spikes in the data, which may effect AHI, etc.?

CocoPazzo wrote:Does it make more sense to turn off the CPAP during these breaks or keep it running, with huge spikes in the data, which may effect AHI, etc.?

I turn my machine off when I visit the bathroom. The Encore software does a nice job of recognizing a "night" and will put the two sessions together in its statistics. To me, that looks much better than having some weird Large Leaks for 5 minutes (which is what I did on my first night with the Auto-CPAP machine).

Are you being monitored by insurance?
Do you need the ramp to get back to sleep?
Will the hose stretch to the throne?
I have always shut mine off; at first, I kept the mask on, disconnecting the hose.
Later I shut it off, removing the mask. . .
I don't have to pee in the middle of the night any more.
The dog doesn't either.

I'd just turn it off and back on when you get back.

I have the autostart/autostop turned on in my S9 Autoset, so as soon as I take the mask off it stops after 5-10 seconds anyway. Then I put it back on when I get back to bed, take a few deep breaths, and it wakes right back up.

I don't use ramp. I turn mine off if I have to get out of bed...which is VERY rare. The dog sleeps all night too...as to the ferrets and the kids. LOL

I have always turned my machine off if I have to remove the mask.

chunkyfrog wrote: The dog doesn't either.

LOL! That made my day CPAP even cured the dog! Seriously, I have only been on CPAP for 2 weeks and I am still getting up every 2 hours to use the darn bathroom. When does it get better? And how does APNEA/CPAP have anything to do with needing the bathroom every 2 hours? I have noticed its a pretty big problem on this forum, and many people claim that to be one of the first things cured with CPAP. I'm just hoping and waiting for that day.

Java,

From what I read, the kidney produces less urine when we sleep soundly and more when we get awakened from sleep apnea. It's a vicious cycle cuz more urine production makes us wake more....

In my own case, for years I needed to get up between 4-6 times a night. Since successful sleep apnea treatment, I'm sleeping soundly and get up only 1 to 2 times a night. Last night I slept 9 hours and got up only once after 7 hours of sleep. This change is fantastic. This is another reason why my sleep isn't fragmented anymore. (Mainly due to stopping the sleep apneas) I have centrals and use an ASV machine.


More info on the subject:

http://www.ehow.com/about_5070081_causes-nocturia.html

"Most people can sleep sleep for 6 to 8 hours through the night without having to pass urine. However, this is not the case for those suffering from nocturia. Nocturia is a condition in which people are repeatedly awakened during the night because of the need to urinate. As such nocturia often causes sleep deprivation, especially in older adults. There are several causes of nocturia."

Java wrote:, I have only been on CPAP for 2 weeks and I am still getting up every 2 hours to use the darn bathroom. When does it get better?

If the sleep apnea is the only cause of the nocturia then it should improve with effective therapy.
Of course there are other causes for nocturia besides the sleep apnea events and the stress hormone that puts the kidneys into over drive. If there is another physical reason for the nocturia the machine can't fix anything but sleep apnea part of things.

When I first started therapy my pressure wasn't optimal and my AHI was 8 to 10 and I still had the nocturia symptoms.
It wasn't until I got my AHI down around 4 or less that the nocturia went away.

What machine are you using? Does it have full efficacy data so you can evaluate the effectiveness of your therapy with software?

Before I was diagnosed I too was one of those people that had to get up at least 4 or 5 times a night. Then I was diagnosed with OSA and Centrals and after about a month on therapy I reduced the number of times by half. Then it slowly reduced to not having to get up at all. That was 4 years ago, now for some strange reason I am back to having to get up every hour to hour and a half to go. My doc is having me retitrated because for some reason (all of my symptoms) he feels my pressures have changed drastically and I'm back to the exact way I was before BiPap. For some of us its a good thing going because it tells us theres something not right. Hopefully in a month or so you'll be sleeping like a baby and you wont need us.

Ps getting my BiPap didnt help my dog, she wont leave it on while she sleeps

Pugsy wrote:
What machine are you using? Does it have full efficacy data so you can evaluate the effectiveness of your therapy with software?

Pugsy, I don't have my permanent machine yet. I am using a very old REMstar pro m while I wait for my health insurance and DME to get my machine to me. During my 4 day titration I used a System One RemStar Auto with A-Flex (550P) with SleepyHead software and my 4 day average AHI was 2.31. I had 24 AHI when I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago.

As for my kidneys, my doctor ran all the tests and said they are functioning fine except my kidneys are spilling a lot of protein into my urine. The doctor says that is because they are overworking. I also had an ultrasound and CTscan and the kidneys look normal.

Yeah, for the last 2-3 years before treatment I was having to get up pretty much every hour starting in the early morning hours and onward. 3-5 times each night. Plus it was leaving me dehydrated all the time and I was having to use eyedrops on a regular basis in order to keep my vision clear. Prostate normal, blood panels normal. I was feeling dehydrated all day even though I drink 2-3 tall glasses of water per day and only drink 2 cups of coffee during the day.

After a few weeks of xPAP where my nightly AHI went below 5, I'm now only getting up maybe once in the middle of the night. My eyes are no longer as dried out and crusty.

I have Stage-3 CKD, and before CPAP have been getting up during the night to go to the bathroom at least 3 times for about 45 years. Within the first couple of weeks of CPAP was only gettin up once, now I sleep right through and rarely have to "go" right on waking as in the past.

Cheers,
xena

Java wrote: Pugsy, I don't have my permanent machine yet. I am using a very old REMstar pro m while I wait for my health insurance and DME to get my machine to me. During my 4 day titration I used a System One RemStar Auto with A-Flex (550P) with SleepyHead software and my 4 day average AHI was 2.31. I had 24 AHI when I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago.

Gottcha....I will probably forget and ask you again next week...so forgive me if I do.
You can get AHI off the M Series Pro but it is just a 7 and 30 day average. Did you know that? It is available on the LCD screen.
Might need to be turned on in the clinical setup area so that you can see it on the screen. It is in the box on the lower left of the LCD screen. If you can't see it and want to see it let me know and I will get you a link for the clinical manual that tells you how to get to the clinical setup area to turn on the viewing of the AHI on the machine screen.
There also software available but you need a special card reader and no sense in buying it for short term use.

Pugsy wrote: Did you know that? It is available on the LCD screen.
Might need to be turned on in the clinical setup area so that you can see it on the screen. It is in the box on the lower left of the LCD screen. If you can't see it and want to see it let me know and I will get you a link for the clinical manual that tells you how to get to the clinical setup area to turn on the viewing of the AHI on the machine screen.
There also software available but you need a special card reader and no sense in buying it for short term use.

I have tried to obtain data off the old REMstar and I guess I am not accessing the right menu. I don't know how, so it would be great if you could send me the link for the clinical manual. I would love to see my AHI. Thanks so much!