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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on February 22, 2011 at 5:17pm

I just had another thought about this.  Can a low Tidal Volume look like a hypopnea or apnea, my average VT is 220- 420?  It used to be higher, but I am on some heavy meds (trying to cut down) for severe back and leg pain.

Thanks,

Mary Z.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on February 23, 2011 at 1:39pm

I called and discussed this with my RT and the tech at the sleep center.  I'm going to send in my data card in two weeks to the sleep center and see what they say.

Mary Z.

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Permalink Reply by Chris H on February 23, 2011 at 3:57pm

Hi Mary, It would make me wonder how these two machines aquire their data are they same company similar models? It would make sence that numbers should be close but to be that far appart ?? What do Rock or any of our resident pro's have to say? Calling all pro's Whats up with this?

Good Sleep,Chris

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on February 23, 2011 at 4:28pm

LOL! Chris, you've got  me!  Rock has weighed in and continues to help me with the problem.  I'm going to mail my data card to the sleep doc in two weeks and see what they have to say.  Basically, since I feel ok I may just be too hung up on the numbers.  The tech at the docs office this morning was puzzled enough she asked me for a download in two weeks.  She and my RT say vt should have nothing to do with it (the high ahi and ai).  It all boils down to the fact that I want to wake up and see that ahi under five and never feel like I need a nap and I might be one of those folks who only achieves those numbers in the lab.  As to the nap- I read that if you feel like you need a short nap before three in the afternoon take one, just don't let it interfere with your getting to sleep at night.

Thanks, CHis.

Mary Z.

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on February 23, 2011 at 10:45pm

WOW! That is crazy Mary. Is it posssible that your machine isn't working properly? Im am not just talking about the pressure. Maybe the algorithm is sick. Maybe it got the Bill Gates Flue. I hear it's common in algorithms;)

 

Were there any changes in your numbers this week?

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on February 24, 2011 at 11:17am

No, Rock, no significant changes.  I'm sending in my data card to the doc in two weeks to see if they recommend any changes.  It's just weird.  In the meantime I'm trying to cut down my night time pain medicine- though it didn't affect the sleep study.  Both of my S8s consistently showed this kind of data.  I'm about to just forget the numbers and go with how I feel.  I was feeling so desperate I was looking for one of those herbal rememdies we have seen advertised.  Found one with a coupon, but the next morning (luckily) the coupon had disappeared from my mailbox.  There are prescription meds for respiratory stimulants if I needed them under a doctors care.  I'm still faithful to my machine after three years in spite of lousy numbers, but with much improvement in daytime alertness so I'm going to call it a sucess and quit chasing the rainbow.

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on February 25, 2011 at 2:54am

"A home machine will count central apneas and hypopneas that a sleep study may ignore when they don't impact sleep."

 

Walk away Rock, walk away. :) Love ya jnk

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on February 25, 2011 at 7:08am

Sorry jnk I thought the smiley would have been enough. It was a poke at you as we have debated this so many times before. Not using Mary's situation as a platform to continue that debate was me showing my respect for what you do. I do not put the same importance on the data that you do.  However your post and insight into using this information has brought my ability to find trends for troubleshooting sleep to a new level.

I am not in that dark place that I was in a few months back jnk. I will not walk out on you I promise. Maybe a break here and there though.
j n k said:

My point is that that fact is what makes the sleep-study data so much more valuable than home-machine data for diagnostic and machine-choice purposes. That's what makes what the sleep techs do so valuable--sleep studies are meant to focus on how sleep is impacted beyond what a home machine can tell us. So my point is respect for what you do, Rock. Sleep techs find out things that home machines can't find out. And one example of that is how a sleep study will ignore the natural sleep-stage-transition centrals that a home machine is too dumb to ignore.

 

Home-machine data are still valuable. Just not as valuable as sleep-study data. 

 

So if you walk away from my statement, I hope you do it with pride in what you do, not because you've given up on me, Rock. :-)

Rock Hinkle said:

"A home machine will count central apneas and hypopneas that a sleep study may ignore when they don't impact sleep."

 

Walk away Rock, walk away. :) Love ya jnk

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on February 25, 2011 at 9:14am

O2 Sat was 95-97% throughout.  I had eight arousals for unknown reasons (no RLM, RERAs or such) each hour. I do have chronic pain issues.

j n k said:

A home machine will count central apneas and hypopneas that a sleep study may ignore when they don't impact sleep.

 

Home machines only measure how your breathe. Sleep studies measure how your breathing affects your sleep. Those are two very different things.

 

How was your O2 saturation during the study, Mary?

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Permalink Reply by Chris H on February 25, 2011 at 4:12pm

If Nitric oxide is produced in the nasal cavity and your stuffy or mouth breathing your not getting the benifit of it (relaxing breathing deeper and less tensing....less pain ....Right? ) So is their a nitric oxide aplicator system for cpap? I dont mean laughing gas or nitrus you put in cars to go fast. Wouldnt be helpful to many of us?  Just thinking.........Good Sleep, Chris

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