From Severe to Mild - Now What?

[mdreuben]

When I started CPAP therapy about six years ago, my sleep apnea was severe - approximately 40. Within the past six months I've lost about 35 pounds and the AHI is now 10.7.

I've got an Airsense 10 for home and have traveled with it, but now with the updated sleep study and the lower number I'm trying to figure out what to do or take with me when I'm away from home. I'll be traveling about 5 - 7 days a month going forward. My first inclination before I got the test results back was to get an AirMini, but now that I'm characterized as "Mild" I'm wondering what would be my best (if needed) option.

Thanks!

[LSAT]

40 must have been pre-CPAP......If your AHI with CPAP is 10.7 after 6 years...THAT'S TERRIBLE!...If that is your current Sleep Study number without CPAP.....GOOD JOB! . Mild means 5-14 apneas per hour....If you stop breathing that many times you are depriving your heart of oxygen each time. Keep using your Airsense.

[mdreuben]

10.7 now without CPAP.

[Jas_williams]

Any AHI over 5 should be treated the best way of treating it is a cpap machine, keep using it

[kteague]

Congrats on your improvement. With so much travel in your life, I'd go with whatever machine is most convenient for you that offers the features that matter to you. Do you do ok without a humidifier? I'm ok without it for a long weekend, but any longer and I need the humidity. Am I wrong in interpreting your question as you are wondering if there might be a non-machine option for travel now that your AHI is relatively low? Figuring that out could be a pain in the behind, but it's up to you to decide if it is worth it. Maybe some combination of a dental device, side sleeping, and/or cervical collar could get your AHI low enough to be tolerable. I would suggest you prove its effectiveness with at least a home study. Also, it matters if those 10/hr events were brief or prolonged, what any desats looked like, how many caused arousals, and if they were positional. Make fully informed decisions.