AHI question

howardgt · Post by **howardgt** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:31 pm

I've been on CPAP for about 4 weeks now and I can't get my AHI down. It's always between 10 and 5. It's the Hyponeas that keep it up. Any advice or is this ok? I feel 100% better than before CPAP. Before CPAP, my AHI was 99. I use a resmed s8 elite with mirage swift nasal pillows and no humidifier. My pressure is 16, EPR set at 3.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:33 pm

Have you tried changing your pressure to see if it lowers your AHI?

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:38 pm

are you using any kind of a ramp getting to that 16cm? If the ramp timer is too long it can cause higher # hypoapneas seen resulting in a final higher score.

What happens if you drop the EPR to 2 or even 1? how does that impact your score?

If your not using any ramp, I would try 17cm and see what happens. If it doesn't impact your score any then I would drop it by 1cm to 16cm. If 16cm is your ideal pressure your score should be the lowest there.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:07 pm

howardgt,

I bet snoredog has hit on it! At 99 events per hour you may be having 5 to 10% of them during the expiratory cycle. With the EPR set at 3 the 3cm pressure drop for the duration of expiration, it may be allowing hypopnias to go untreated. That being said... if you are feeling good I would not worry about the 5-10 AHI.

howardgt · Post by **howardgt** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:10 pm

Thanks for all the info. I'll try turning off the ramp and EPR.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:21 pm

You might do better with a HH set low, some moisture is nice. AHI 5-10 isn't bad seeing where you were at, a little fine tuning and you are in. I would turn the EPR to 2 not off, it's a nice feature. I move my C-Flex from 3 to 2 last week and got a little lower AHI 1.3 now. Still snoring some.