Newbie with question about AHI.

fidelfs · Post by **fidelfs** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:37 pm

Hi,

I am a newbie and I don't know if I am understanding how this work. I have learned that normal without sleep apnea is AHI less than 5, well I moved from Houston to Denver and the technician told me when I got the CPAP machine that in Denver normal is AHI 10 or less because the lack of oxygen, altitude and other factors.

He said that he want me to be at 10 and he will be happy. I checked my machine this morning (second night) and I got AHI 12.1. My test showed that I had 47 hypoapneas so it is a good initial treatment. My confusion is people in this forum and other forum said that they finally made the AHI to go lower than 5.
My machine shows no leaks so how people can make it go lower, what am I loosing here? How can I decrease from 12.1 to less than 10?

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:42 pm

Does your CPAP machine have the words "Philips Respironics" on top of the machine itself?

fidelfs · Post by **fidelfs** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:59 pm

Yes, It does. At one side says REMstar Pro C-Flex + and at the other side says "Phillips Respironic".

onesight1 · Post by **onesight1** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:23 pm

fidelfs wrote:Hi,

I am a newbie and I don't know if I am understanding how this work. I have learned that normal without sleep apnea is AHI less than 5, well I moved from Houston to Denver and the technician told me when I got the CPAP machine that in Denver normal is AHI 10 or less because the lack of oxygen, altitude and other factors.

He said that he want me to be at 10 and he will be happy. I checked my machine this morning (second night) and I got AHI 12.1. My test showed that I had 47 hypoapneas so it is a good initial treatment. My confusion is people in this forum and other forum said that they finally made the AHI to go lower than 5.
My machine shows no leaks so how people can make it go lower, what am I loosing here? How can I decrease from 12.1 to less than 10?

WHAT!?

and AHI of 12 is awful.... thats mild sleep apnea.

you want to be as close to ZERO as you can.

think about it, 47 hypopneas
...... how is this good.?

what were you before, super severe?

EDIT: " How can I decrease from 12.1 to less than 10?" .... more pressure... ive heard and understand the theory behind elevations and pressure affect on CPAP... still, if you require more pressure at XXXXXX feet above sea level, then shit.. YOU REQUIRE MORE PRESSURE... nobody should have an AHI greater than 5 while on CPAP .... thats the whole point of CPAP... to get your SLEEPING RIGHT....

if he argues that people tend to have a higher AHI while at a higher sea level... then shit, lol... you treat that HIGH AHI, with a HIGHER pressure ( clearly the pressure is not enough to keep that airway open.... hence the 47 hypops you have a night)

good luck

ps- thats why polysomnography is most accurately done at the home elevation of the patient

fidelfs · Post by **fidelfs** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 1:36 am

Sorry, I didn't explain well. 47 Hypoapneas were in the sleep study in Houston. Now in dEnver my machine shows no leaks, no problems but AHI 12.1.

I also noted that I made a lot of mocus, a huge quantity in the morning after I removed the mask. Brown in color.

My sinus problem is so severe than sometimes when I am awake at any time of the day, working, talking, whatever, I stop breathing and it is because I have mocus and I have to clear my nose. Could it be the reason to the AHI 12.1 the machine is showing?

Confused?????

The pressure I have is 15

fidelfs · Post by **fidelfs** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 12:14 pm

Anyone?

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 12:26 pm

Dunno. I think I'd see a good ENT about the mucous problem.

Usually, raising the pressure a cm or two can reduce the AHI (as onesight1 said), but I'd still try to get the congestion problem dealt with.

While you're at it, I'd also check with my doctor about GERD (acid reflux) even though that's not what you are describing. There's such a thing as Silent Gerd, with none of the obvious symptoms people think of for acid reflux.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 080008.htm

"These are patients without significant heartburn symptoms, who are experiencing acid reflux during sleep," explained William C. Orr, Ph.D. of Lynn Health Science Institute in Oklahoma City, OK. "'Silent reflux' may be the cause of sleep disturbances in patients with unexplained sleep disorders."

"All patients with sleep apnea should be evaluated for gastroesophageal reflux," said J. Barry O'Connor, M.D., of Duke University Medical Center, one of the investigators.

fidelfs · Post by **fidelfs** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:42 am

Rested Gal,

Thanks for the answer. I think I found the answer my self. My AHI has been in constant decline since first day. My AHI is down to 6.9, I guess I had some leaks (mouth breather), but I am now tapping my mouth with my Opus mask. I think the AHI is my machine is an average and that is why is going down more and more.

Yes, I have GERD, but I am under treatment with another doctor. I am taking Omeprazole for that.

My problem is I have 3 illnesses that the symptoms overlap and it is hard to know which one is causing it. (Hypothyroid, Sleep Apnea, Hypogonadism).

Newbie with question about AHI.

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