Increasing AHI

For the last 2 months my AHI has been erratic and the average has been creeping upwards. I have been on the hose for 4 1/2 years and my AHI average has been 1 or less. I am now nearing 5. Pressure averages remain constant (about 11). The CPAP is set for a min. pressure of 9 an a max. of 14. The leaks are up a little but still acceptable. I use a RespCare Hybrid mask which I really like, being an incurable mouth breather. I take data off my CPAP (Resmed S8 Autoset II) daily and have kept a spreadsheet from day one. I have access to an Imac computer which Sleepy Head does not support for my CPAP. I do not have a version of Microsoft Windows loaded on the computer and don't want to purchase it if I can avoid it. Tried my backup mask for a few days, which is a Quattro FX and had the same issue. Anyone have any thoughts?

joelrk35 wrote:For the last 2 months my AHI has been erratic and the average has been creeping upwards. I have been on the hose for 4 1/2 years and my AHI average has been 1 or less. I am now nearing 5. Pressure averages remain constant (about 11). The CPAP is set for a min. pressure of 9 an a max. of 14. The leaks are up a little but still acceptable. I use a RespCare Hybrid mask which I really like, being an incurable mouth breather. I take data off my CPAP (Resmed S8 Autoset II) daily and have kept a spreadsheet from day one. I have access to an Imac computer which Sleepy Head does not support for my CPAP. I do not have a version of Microsoft Windows loaded on the computer and don't want to purchase it if I can avoid it. Tried my backup mask for a few days, which is a Quattro FX and had the same issue. Anyone have any thoughts?

I used that machine for about a year and what I learned was that it over states the hypopnias by about X2. My AHI was always about 4-5...As soon as I switched to the S9, my AHI dropped to <2 and has remained there. If you are seeing more hypopnias than you did before, that may account for some of the increase.

joelrk35 wrote:For the last 2 months my AHI has been erratic and the average has been creeping upwards. I have been on the hose for 4 1/2 years and my AHI average has been 1 or less. I am now nearing 5. Pressure averages remain constant (about 11). The CPAP is set for a min. pressure of 9 an a max. of 14. The leaks are up a little but still acceptable. I use a RespCare Hybrid mask which I really like, being an incurable mouth breather. I take data off my CPAP (Resmed S8 Autoset II) daily and have kept a spreadsheet from day one. I have access to an Imac computer which Sleepy Head does not support for my CPAP. I do not have a version of Microsoft Windows loaded on the computer and don't want to purchase it if I can avoid it. Tried my backup mask for a few days, which is a Quattro FX and had the same issue. Anyone have any thoughts?

Too bad you aren't using ResScan software to see what's happening.
Another problem with the S8 Auto machines (and earlier ResMed auto machines) is that they used the A10 algorithm and were very cautious about increasing the pressure above 10 cm. for fear of causing pressure-induced Central Apneas. Well, not everybody is susceptible to pressure-induced Centrals, so setting a maximum pressure above 10 cm. doesn't help those people who are NOT susceptible to Centrals......especially when they actually NEED that extra pressure.

Things change. Some of us need a little more pressure over time. I think you should increase your minimum pressure and see if you see some reductions in numbers.


Den

.

LSAT wrote:

joelrk35 wrote:For the last 2 months my AHI has been erratic and the average has been creeping upwards. I have been on the hose for 4 1/2 years and my AHI average has been 1 or less. I am now nearing 5. Pressure averages remain constant (about 11). The CPAP is set for a min. pressure of 9 an a max. of 14. The leaks are up a little but still acceptable. I use a RespCare Hybrid mask which I really like, being an incurable mouth breather. I take data off my CPAP (Resmed S8 Autoset II) daily and have kept a spreadsheet from day one. I have access to an Imac computer which Sleepy Head does not support for my CPAP. I do not have a version of Microsoft Windows loaded on the computer and don't want to purchase it if I can avoid it. Tried my backup mask for a few days, which is a Quattro FX and had the same issue. Anyone have any thoughts?

I used that machine for about a year and what I learned was that it over states the hypopnias by about X2. My AHI was always about 4-5...As soon as I switched to the S9, my AHI dropped to <2 and has remained there. If you are seeing more hypopnias than you did before, that may account for some of the increase.

Thanks for the input. What has me concerned is that for over 4 years my AHI was 1-2 with AI 0.0 - 0.1 and now I am getting AHI of 4-5 with AI 0.1 - 4.0 .The HI is up and down depending on the AI which makes sense. It's really got me baffled.

Wulfman... wrote:

joelrk35 wrote:For the last 2 months my AHI has been erratic and the average has been creeping upwards. I have been on the hose for 4 1/2 years and my AHI average has been 1 or less. I am now nearing 5. Pressure averages remain constant (about 11). The CPAP is set for a min. pressure of 9 an a max. of 14. The leaks are up a little but still acceptable. I use a RespCare Hybrid mask which I really like, being an incurable mouth breather. I take data off my CPAP (Resmed S8 Autoset II) daily and have kept a spreadsheet from day one. I have access to an Imac computer which Sleepy Head does not support for my CPAP. I do not have a version of Microsoft Windows loaded on the computer and don't want to purchase it if I can avoid it. Tried my backup mask for a few days, which is a Quattro FX and had the same issue. Anyone have any thoughts?

Too bad you aren't using ResScan software to see what's happening.
Another problem with the S8 Auto machines (and earlier ResMed auto machines) is that they used the A10 algorithm and were very cautious about increasing the pressure above 10 cm. for fear of causing pressure-induced Central Apneas. Well, not everybody is susceptible to pressure-induced Centrals, so setting a maximum pressure above 10 cm. doesn't help those people who are NOT susceptible to Centrals......especially when they actually NEED that extra pressure.

Things change. Some of us need a little more pressure over time. I think you should increase your minimum pressure and see if you see some reductions in numbers.


Den

.

Thanks Den, Will try an increase on the min. pressure and see if anything changes. I don't know if it means anything but I don't use the ramp feature so I start up now at 9.0 pressure.

joelrk35 wrote:

Wulfman... wrote:

joelrk35 wrote:For the last 2 months my AHI has been erratic and the average has been creeping upwards. I have been on the hose for 4 1/2 years and my AHI average has been 1 or less. I am now nearing 5. Pressure averages remain constant (about 11). The CPAP is set for a min. pressure of 9 an a max. of 14. The leaks are up a little but still acceptable. I use a RespCare Hybrid mask which I really like, being an incurable mouth breather. I take data off my CPAP (Resmed S8 Autoset II) daily and have kept a spreadsheet from day one. I have access to an Imac computer which Sleepy Head does not support for my CPAP. I do not have a version of Microsoft Windows loaded on the computer and don't want to purchase it if I can avoid it. Tried my backup mask for a few days, which is a Quattro FX and had the same issue. Anyone have any thoughts?

Too bad you aren't using ResScan software to see what's happening.
Another problem with the S8 Auto machines (and earlier ResMed auto machines) is that they used the A10 algorithm and were very cautious about increasing the pressure above 10 cm. for fear of causing pressure-induced Central Apneas. Well, not everybody is susceptible to pressure-induced Centrals, so setting a maximum pressure above 10 cm. doesn't help those people who are NOT susceptible to Centrals......especially when they actually NEED that extra pressure.

Things change. Some of us need a little more pressure over time. I think you should increase your minimum pressure and see if you see some reductions in numbers.


Den

.

Thanks Den, Will try an increase on the min. pressure and see if anything changes. I don't know if it means anything but I don't use the ramp feature so I start up now at 9.0 pressure.

You're probably like me.......I like to get the full air pressure right from the start. I never have used Ramp.

Let us know over time if and how the pressure increases are working.
I think basically, you're having events that the machine won't increase pressure to try to stop or prevent. And, you may need some pressure over 10 cm. to prevent them.


Den

.

Wulfman... wrote:

joelrk35 wrote:

Wulfman... wrote:

joelrk35 wrote:For the last 2 months my AHI has been erratic and the average has been creeping upwards. I have been on the hose for 4 1/2 years and my AHI average has been 1 or less. I am now nearing 5. Pressure averages remain constant (about 11). The CPAP is set for a min. pressure of 9 an a max. of 14. The leaks are up a little but still acceptable. I use a RespCare Hybrid mask which I really like, being an incurable mouth breather. I take data off my CPAP (Resmed S8 Autoset II) daily and have kept a spreadsheet from day one. I have access to an Imac computer which Sleepy Head does not support for my CPAP. I do not have a version of Microsoft Windows loaded on the computer and don't want to purchase it if I can avoid it. Tried my backup mask for a few days, which is a Quattro FX and had the same issue. Anyone have any thoughts?

Too bad you aren't using ResScan software to see what's happening.
Another problem with the S8 Auto machines (and earlier ResMed auto machines) is that they used the A10 algorithm and were very cautious about increasing the pressure above 10 cm. for fear of causing pressure-induced Central Apneas. Well, not everybody is susceptible to pressure-induced Centrals, so setting a maximum pressure above 10 cm. doesn't help those people who are NOT susceptible to Centrals......especially when they actually NEED that extra pressure.

Things change. Some of us need a little more pressure over time. I think you should increase your minimum pressure and see if you see some reductions in numbers.


Den

.

Thanks Den, Will try an increase on the min. pressure and see if anything changes. I don't know if it means anything but I don't use the ramp feature so I start up now at 9.0 pressure.

You're probably like me.......I like to get the full air pressure right from the start. I never have used Ramp.

Let us know over time if and how the pressure increases are working.
I think basically, you're having events that the machine won't increase pressure to try to stop or prevent. And, you may need some pressure over 10 cm. to prevent them.


Den

.

Thanks Den, Will let you know in a couple of days what happens after increasing my min. pressure.