Resmed 10 and "Events Per Hour"

[Sluggish]

A few questions as a new user ...

(Resmed 10 Auto)
Sometimes my events per hour are actually higher than my original diagnosis and I question whether or not I am actually benefiting. Do any of you guys find yourself ignoring the 'sleep report' and just going by how you feel in the AM?? Are these events different than the ones before the machine? Can I be experiencing "Events Per Hour" without actually waking up because the machine is saving me now?

[chunkyfrog]

Your original diagnosis reflects UNTREATED apnea.
The AHI from your cpap should be much, much lower.
This shows it is working.
The better it works, the lower your number.

[Sluggish]

Your original diagnosis reflects UNTREATED apnea.
The AHI from your cpap should be much, much lower.
This shows it is working.
The better it works, the lower your number.

My understanding could be skewed..
BEFORE the machine I was under the impression that my airway (throat) was collapsing and not allowing air to pass which in turn wakes me up almost all the way (but not enough to remember the event in my case).
AFTER the machine I was under the impression that when my throat attempts to close, the machine blows it back open. So is this actually an "event" if the machine is supplying me air before I actually wake up? Or am I still waking up just the same as before? It's hard for me to know since I am not waking enough to remember any of the events.

[OkyDoky]

A few questions as a new user ...

(Resmed 10 Auto)
Sometimes my events per hour are actually higher than my original diagnosis and I question whether or not I am actually benefiting. Do any of you guys find yourself ignoring the 'sleep report' and just going by how you feel in the AM?? Are these events different than the ones before the machine? Can I be experiencing "Events Per Hour" without actually waking up because the machine is saving me now?

Sometimes when we first start treatment our brains take a while to get used to the new sensation and we can have what we call sleep/wake/junk, events when our brain is not quite asleep or awake. Since your brain is monitored these are not counted on sleep studies. Also, on sleep studies sometimes we don't have a normal night like we have at home and need a little adjustment in our pressure.
You can see your events and breathing through the night with a free software program to read your SD card. This link will help you learn how to download it. https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead
You can get the Clinical Manual for your machine that has more information than the user manual. Here is a link. https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf

[Mark55]

The 'goal' of CPAP/APAP is to maintain the airway in a non-collapsed state, not necessarily to 'blow it back open' upon collapse. That is more a secondary feature of APAP.

Sounds to me like your pressures are incorrect,.....probably too low. You need to DL the software mentioned, and start posting charts for the experts to look at. I am NOT one of them.

[Sluggish]

The 'goal' of CPAP/APAP is to maintain the airway in a non-collapsed state, not necessarily to 'blow it back open' upon collapse. That is more a secondary feature of APAP.

Sounds to me like your pressures are incorrect,.....probably too low. You need to DL the software mentioned, and start posting charts for the experts to look at. I am NOT one of them.

I have the software downloaded just haven’t got around to loading up my SD card yet. I wanted to get at least a full week with the same mask and settings etc. The prescribed pressure is 8 but I’m running 8.6

[palerider]

I wanted to get at least a full week with the same mask and settings etc. The prescribed pressure is 8 but I’m running 8.6

There's no reason to do that, other than delaying getting effective treatment.

As to your original question, a LOT of people are inadequately treated by their initial prescriptions, which is why this forum existed.

You're absolutely right, if your 'treated' AHI is worse than your untreated ahi, then the treatment is not working and needs to be fixed.

[Sluggish]

I wanted to get at least a full week with the same mask and settings etc. The prescribed pressure is 8 but I’m running 8.6

There's no reason to do that, other than delaying getting effective treatment.

As to your original question, a LOT of people are inadequately treated by their initial prescriptions, which is why this forum existed.

You're absolutely right, if your 'treated' AHI is worse than your untreated ahi, then the treatment is not working and needs to be fixed.

The pressure setting of "8" was prescribed by the folks at the place that did my overnight test (take home test, not in-lab).
My primary care Dr. admits to not knowing much about the machines or settings etc..
Currently nobody is monitoring my progress other than me.

The reason I upped the pressure a tad is because I would simulate the relaxed state of sleep and let my throat close and the machine was not keeping it open. To be honest, it still doesn't even at 8.6 and I'm afraid to go any higher so I'll probably just take it back down to 8 tonight.

Also, last night I turned off the ramp setting completely so I could detect for leaks while still awake and I was wondering if maybe this mornings high score was somehow from that??

[zonker]

A few questions as a new user ...

(Resmed 10 Auto)
Sometimes my events per hour are actually higher than my original diagnosis and I question whether or not I am actually benefiting. Do any of you guys find yourself ignoring the 'sleep report' and just going by how you feel in the AM?? Are these events different than the ones before the machine? Can I be experiencing "Events Per Hour" without actually waking up because the machine is saving me now?

hi, sluggish. as i said in your other post, please take the time to fill out your equipment in the control panel so that it shows up under each post you make, as it does in mine.

until you can get some sleepyhead charts posted, the experts here can't offer you much besides guesses. each of us is different and thus, each of us needs different advice.

good luck!

[palerider]

The pressure setting of "8" was prescribed by the folks at the place that did my overnight test (take home test, not in-lab).
My primary care Dr. admits to not knowing much about the machines or settings etc..
Currently nobody is monitoring my progress other than me.

The reason I upped the pressure a tad is because I would simulate the relaxed state of sleep and let my throat close and the machine was not keeping it open. To be honest, it still doesn't even at 8.6 and I'm afraid to go any higher so I'll probably just take it back down to 8 tonight.

Also, last night I turned off the ramp setting completely so I could detect for leaks while still awake and I was wondering if maybe this mornings high score was somehow from that??

I'd set it to auto mode with 9 min and 20 max, and the post the data tomorrow.

that 8 is nothing but a complete (stupid) guess.

Ramp would have nothing to do with it.

[Sluggish]

I'd set it to auto mode with 9 min and 20 max, and the post the data tomorrow.

that 8 is nothing but a complete (stupid) guess.

Ramp would have nothing to do with it.

So even if they recommended constant air at 8 you would go with auto and 9-20? I can try that I suppose.

Regarding the auto ramp on/off, I was just wondering if the machine registers events during the ramp. I would think it wouldn’t considering it knows I’m still awake.

[Okie bipap]

The machine does not know if you are awake or asleep. It only looks at your breathing patterns.

[Julie]

Sluggish it struck me that you said the machine wasn't keeping your airway open... but it seems you're judging that while awake and I wonder if you're thinking you can tell when it closes, consciously. I wonder if you're not mistaking your esophagus/throat closing e.g. when you swallow (or don't swallow) and thinking it's your airway... whether in fact there is even a possible anxiety factor there because you normally would not be aware of your airway (vs throat) closing at all, awake or not. There is a syndrome called globus hystericus (don't be put off by that plse) where people become conscious of what they believe is a lump in their throat when in fact it's a 'nervous' reaction (physical) to anxiety.

[palerider]

So even if they recommended constant air at 8 you would go with auto and 9-20? I can try that I suppose.

Regarding the auto ramp on/off, I was just wondering if the machine registers events during the ramp. I would think it wouldn’t considering it knows I’m still awake.

You said:

Sometimes my events per hour are actually higher than my original diagnosis and I question whether or not I am actually benefiting.

and

The pressure setting of "8" was prescribed by the folks at the place that did my overnight test (take home test, not in-lab).

Without an in-lab titration session, any pressure prescription is *purely a guess*.

My primary care Dr. admits to not knowing much about the machines or settings etc..

Your doctor *guessed wrong*, and didn't even follow standard protocol when giving a patient a machine without a titration... the standard is to give then a machine programmed in auto mode, so it can, with checking of the data, zero in on the appropriate settings for that person, at home, in their native environment. This process ends up giving a better result in the end.

It's your choice, but if it were me, I'd set it the way I suggested, and then post a screenshot of the data tomorrow, following the instructions in my sig below.

[Sluggish]

Sluggish it struck me that you said the machine wasn't keeping your airway open... but it seems you're judging that while awake and I wonder if you're thinking you can tell when it closes, consciously. I wonder if you're not mistaking your esophagus/throat closing e.g. when you swallow (or don't swallow) and thinking it's your airway... whether in fact there is even a possible anxiety factor there because you normally would not be aware of your airway (vs throat) closing at all, awake or not. There is a syndrome called globus hystericus (don't be put off by that plse) where people become conscious of what they believe is a lump in their throat when in fact it's a 'nervous' reaction (physical) to anxiety.

Beats me. It feels like my airway is closing as soon as I relax all the way. It feels like I am constantly having to keep my throat/trachea/esophagus/whatever open by muscle involvement or something. On occasion, when I am awake and talking with someone mid sentence and when I inhale my throat will close for a second and make a slight suction/closing sound. Most people don't notice it but my friends will call me out and make fun of it etc...