What's your ahi normally?

What's your norm ahi with cpap? I've been watching my data and there are nights when it's under 1 and most nights, like last night, it was upwards of 3.81... I think I've read that anything under 5 is good but the lower the better. But in my data, I'm guessing in rem sleep from the timing, my graphs are showing events lasting 10-20 seconds and most if the time it's one right after the other with as many as 5 in a row.... That's gotta be enough to kick me outta rem and screw with my sleep right? I use to sleep on my side, and still do but I usually wake up on my back since starting cpap and from what I understand apneas are worse on the back so I'm wondering if my pressure should be adjusted. I'm almost positive I slept on my side for my Titration test. My current pressure is set to an 8. I have the ability to change it on my own, but seeing as how I'm "not" supposed to be in that menu, I wonder if I should even if it is just for one night to see what happens.

I usually have my epr set to 3 but last night I put it on 2 and couldn't notice a difference... I thought that would help the not enough air problem but alas I think that's a mask issue and will be going to see the dme about a new one on Friday. maybe I should take the epr down to 1? Could that be enough to let my throat cave in and let the apneas slip in? Makes me wonder why they give you the epr just do drop your pressure... I guess once the pressure goes back up it should be enough to pop open the throat... Crazy how this thing works isn't it lol.

Hope y'all are sleeping better than I am tonight!

It's too early for you to be worried about lowering your AHI or changing the pressure....worry about how you feel. Be concerned about getting a good nights sleep with your equipment and getting up feeling good. An AHI under 5 is considered good. There are people with very low AHI that still do not feel good and there are people with AHI of 5 that are doing very well.

Not enough air with the Swift FX? As in feeling rather stifled? You might try a large sized pillow.
Also your pressure of 8 is not all that high and when you use EPR it reduces the pressure on exhale a cm per the setting. So a setting of 3 means that during exhale your pressure drops to 5 cm. For some people this simply feels like not enough air is moving....rather stifling. Some people just aren't comfortable unless the pressure is a bit higher than 5 or 6...not enough air movement. While technically we aren't suffocating it can sure feel like we are. You might try turning off EPR or use a setting of 1 and see if that helps.

BTW...AHI variations from less than 1 tonight and maybe having 4 tomorrow night...is quite common even for seasoned cpap veterans. My AHI varies all the time between AHI 0.5 to as much as AHI 4.0.

Looking at last night it was 1.5 when I look at a monthly average it is 1.4 both numbers are based on machine display.

I'm normally around 4.6 on any given night. On a bad night it may jump to 6. Last night was one of the best at 3.4.

With me, it's a battle of whits with a leaking mask keeping me awake. Most of my events happen when I'm awake, removing them would more than likely put me in the 1-2 range.

EPR only lowers the pressure while you are exhaling. As you inhale the blower speeds up in order to maintain pressure in the mask to keep your airway open. When you reach the end of your inhalation, with EPR set to zero, the blower continues to supply air at the prescribed pressure. However as you exhale, the air flowing out of your lungs works against the air being supplied by the machine, and until the blower slows down, there is a brief period during which the air pressure exceeds therapy pressure. During that time your mask may leak, nasal pillows may float and little annoying air jets may cause you to awaken. Dialing in 1, 2, or 3 cm of EPR quickly drops the pressure the blower supplies while you are exhaling by 1, 2, or 3 cm. If you are feeling like you're not getting enough air, or if you feel like you are blowing up a balloon, you need to increase, not decrease the EPR setting. EPR does not/should not affect apneas.

If you feel like you're not getting enough air, then you need to increase your pressure and/or use larger nasal pillows to allow the air to flow into your nose more rapidly.

Oh, and last night was another 0.0 for me. My machine-reported AHIs are almost always below 0.5.

Encore Viewer average say's 6.6 for me. I kind of have Slot Machine AHI's, one night maybe a 4. then like last night a 10. Mine seem to be made up mostly of all hypopneas.

In the 15 months I've had/been using my CPAP - AHI has always been lower than 1.0.
That said - I still don't bounce out of bed full of energy, like I dream of, but most mornings I do feel rested and sleep mostly through the night unlike pre-CPAP.

Cheers,
Xena

Slartybartfast wrote: EPR does not/should not affect apneas.

Use of EPR can cause an increase in apneas as compared to using the same pressure without EPR. Some people do have some apneas commencing on exhale.

Think about BIPAP. A good lab tech is very careful to set not only the upper pressure but also the lower pressure. He knows airway patency must be maintained on both inhale and exhale.

Holding the airway open on exhale is very important and the importance should not be underestimated.

esangston wrote: But in my data, I'm guessing in rem sleep from the timing, my graphs are showing events lasting 10-20 seconds and most if the time it's one right after the other with as many as 5 in a row.... That's gotta be enough to kick me outta rem and screw with my sleep right? I use to sleep on my side, and still do but I usually wake up on my back since starting cpap and from what I understand apneas are worse on the back so I'm wondering if my pressure should be adjusted. I'm almost positive I slept on my side for my Titration test. My current pressure is set to an 8. I have the ability to change it on my own, but seeing as how I'm "not" supposed to be in that menu, I wonder if I should even if it is just for one night to see what happens.

You hint that you are not sleeping too well. I treat my apnea aggressively and would not tolerate the conditions you describe.

A pressure of 8 is a low pressure and IMO exhalation relief is not needed and may actually decrease CPAP effectveness. So first I would turn EPR off and see what happens during that troublesome period you refer to.

I bet that troublesome period is still there in which case I would choose one of these options:

1. Sleep exclusively on your sides (tennis ball rigged on back is effective for some people). This may take care of the problem.

or

2. Raise the pressure to 9 cm and observe what happens for two to three nights. I would go as high as 10 to take care of the troublesome period. If you get to a pressure that works well then experiment with lowering it .5 cm per night to see if you can find the minimum pressure that is highly effective for you.

Don't be afraid of the machine and playing with the settings. Just check the software every day until you have an optimal therapy.

Good luck,

When I was titrated this last time, I was clear of AHIs on my side at 10 when I slept on my side. My AHIs on my back were at 36 (or 38, something like that) and so they ended up putting me on a pressure of 12. As it turns out, it has down the trick. Mine mostly stay well below 1 and just occassionally, I'll go up. You may be flipping over to your back because the mask is uncomfortable on your sides. Possible a pillow with the areas out or one of the "bean" pillows would help you stay on your side?

esangston wrote:What's your norm ahi with cpap? I've been watching my data and there are nights when it's under 1 and most nights, like last night, it was upwards of 3.81... I think I've read that anything under 5 is good but the lower the better. But in my data, I'm guessing in rem sleep from the timing, my graphs are showing events lasting 10-20 seconds and most if the time it's one right after the other with as many as 5 in a row.... That's gotta be enough to kick me outta rem and screw with my sleep right? I use to sleep on my side, and still do but I usually wake up on my back since starting cpap and from what I understand apneas are worse on the back so I'm wondering if my pressure should be adjusted. I'm almost positive I slept on my side for my Titration test. My current pressure is set to an 8. I have the ability to change it on my own, but seeing as how I'm "not" supposed to be in that menu, I wonder if I should even if it is just for one night to see what happens.

I usually have my epr set to 3 but last night I put it on 2 and couldn't notice a difference... I thought that would help the not enough air problem but alas I think that's a mask issue and will be going to see the dme about a new one on Friday. maybe I should take the epr down to 1? Could that be enough to let my throat cave in and let the apneas slip in? Makes me wonder why they give you the epr just do drop your pressure... I guess once the pressure goes back up it should be enough to pop open the throat... Crazy how this thing works isn't it lol.

Hope y'all are sleeping better than I am tonight!

My average is 3.9, and most of that is hypopnea. I upped my minimum pressure support today, to see if that will get rid of some of them, since my average pressure support is 4.8

My average is 0.3-0.4

My AHI goes from 3.00 to about 12.00 not sure why?

How much does it go to 12? If it's doing that fairly regularly, your apnea may be getting worse or you seal isn't good on your mask. Have you tried to change anything to account for the AHI?

Gazhacks wrote:My AHI goes from 3.00 to about 12.00 not sure why?

My range is .5 - 4, and generally it is closer to 3. Almost all of them are hypopneas. Conditions such as position, amount of food close to bedtime, humidity, congestion, etc. all can contribute to AHI. When I traveled to Boston, MA my AHI was 1.5 - 2.0 ALL WEEK. I think that the humidity, and overall cleanliness of the hotel room (no pet dander, minimal mold/mildew/dust) may have been great for the AHI.