AFIB and iWatch

@4aces4me I had my follow up appt and results from the in-person sleep study. The AHI of the "sketchy" Dr. Roy now defunct operation summer of 2022 was 19. In-person October of 2025 it was 9. Before my follow-up appointment I just knew a CPAP was in my future and dreaded the thought. Well it seem not quite yet. For the in-person sleep study, they had me do 1/2 the night with my oral appliance device, Somnomed Advance Elite and 1/2 the night with a CPAP with pressure setting increasing thru that 1/2 of the night. Seems I actually did better with the OAD vs the CPAP. Color me surprised. With the OAD it was actually 7. THEN fast forward to the follow up appt with the sleep doctor @ HH and it seems the dentist who supplied the OAD back in maybe Fall of 2023 didn't advance the lower piece and it was set to zero. I mistakenly thought I was doing pretty well with the initial setting so never adjusted it, my bad, as your jaw does take a bit of re-setting first thing in the morning after removing and I didn't want to do "too much". I did take it with me, so new doctor had me place it and attempt to make 'snore sound' which I easily did. Then he advanced it to 2 mm and try again, I still could but not quite as much. So he advanced it a little bit more and this time I could NOT make a 'snoring noise'. I am scheduled to return in January, to pickup home sleep study equipment and then return for yet another evaluation of the results.

My thinking is, IF I was 7, down from 19 with Dr. Roy home study, and my OAD was not advanced at all, that with advancement my score should drop even further, hopefully well below the threshold of 5 and then no uncomfortable and intense user discomfort with a CPAP plus travel hassles etc I'll be a happy, more well rested patient. My big difference from 2022 to 2025, higher quality patient care and testing, I now use Flonase (although I'm on a self imposed break after my 2nd ablation procedure) and I also no longer partake in a glass (or two) of wine in the evenings. While AHI 19 was still mild-leaning moderate, the 7 is very mild and hopefully the OAD will handle that with proper advancement.

I hope you are able to get quality care and resolve your sleep apnea issues. I looked back to when they first contacted me for these Oct & Nov appts and it was April. The wheels of progress in receiving medical care turn very slowly these days!!!

@qwackertoo Good to hear you’re progressing well. Interesting to hear your experiences with a Mandibular Device. Especially AHI events under 10. I’m averaging 7 events per night with CPAP. Trying new Nasal Pillows instead of simple Nasal Cushion that has been my predominant mask. I tolerate both better than any of the full or half face masks. I just can’t handle all the pressure points of multiple straps on head and face. I creeped back into a couple or 3 glasses of red wine each night and it’s an obvious factor in lesser quality of sleep, although the cpap numbers do not prove that out in my case. I just know I don’t feel my sleep is as restful. So back on the wagon of sobriety.

Regarding AFIB, I’m scheduled for an Electrophysiology doctor visit this coming Wednesday and hopeful for an Alablation scheduled soon. My AFIB events have actually been in better control. I’ve been walking 2-3 miles 3 times per week now that the temps have lowered and feeling better because of it. Still need to take off 40 lbs to get to fighting weight. Good luck to you and look forward to hearing of continued positive results.