CAN ONE OF THE EXPERTS CHECK THESE NUMBERS

[jrcmlc]

Here are my #'s from the last 4 mos, as the ResScan software gives them to me. Can someone tell me if this is good/bad/in between?

Thanks,

JC

Settings: Min: 7.4/Max: 16.0
EPR: OFF
Total days: 147
Total days with usage under 4hrs: 3
Total days not used: 1 (not true, something must have happened to the recording)
AHi & AI: Apnea index: .7 %time in apnea: .2 Hypopnea index: 3.1 AHI: 3.8
Leak: Median: 0 95th percentile: 9.6 Max: 229.2
Pressure: Median: 8.7 95th percentile: 10.8 Maximum: 12

[ozij]

It doesn't take an expert to see those are execellent results.
O.

[DoriC]

Looks good to me! The question is how do you feel?

[jrcmlc]

I feel roughly the same as I've felt forever. I haven't seen my blood pressure, weight, etc go down because of CPAP, like they said I would, and I don't feel like I have any more energy. I'm glad the results look good, I thought so also, but then I see people talking about repeatedly getting .0x AHI and I started to question the results.

Thanks guys.

JC

[Hawthorne]

It's very hard to get 0 AI (AHI) when using the Resmed machines, since they count things differently - especially Hypopneas (HI). Apnea .2! Can't do much better than that and that's the number you need to be concerned about. Some say to 1/2 your HIs when looking at Resmed data.

People getting 0 AHI are often using Respironics machines and they count things differently again.

I'm not sure if that is true of the new Resmed S9. Someone using that can let us know about that.

[Uncle_Bob]

Hey JC

Like others have said the results look good. So your 4 months in, it can take up to a full year to feel completely rested. Some refer to the process of paying off your slept dept before you notice any significant difference.

I wonder how long you have been getting the good results you just posted?

UB

[jrcmlc]

I've only had the resmed about 4-5mos, before that was a FP604 straight CPAP. I've been on CPAP for over 2 years now. I feel the same as I did before, and before that...but I keep on wearing my mask, mostly to make my wife happy that I'm not snoring.

JC

[echo]

I was going to suggest straight CPAP, since some people can't tolerate APAP mode (like me), but you already tried that. Question is, at what pressure?

You could also try raising the lower pressure closer to your 95% pressure, e.g. 8.8 or 9.8

There could be other health issues at play too.

Good for you for not stopping with CPAP! Even if you're not feeling so much better, at least you're not getting apnea's and oxygen desats, and your body will be happier for it!

[jrcmlc]

My straight CPAP was at 9, they put me on a respironics auto to check my levels and I "felt" better with it, and especially I liked that it adjusted for changes with me. I called and let them know, and like all those guys they told me I couldn't get an auto, gave me the runaround, etc...I returned their respironics, sold my FP and I bought my own resmed and set it all up myself.

I've thought about raising the bottom pressure a little, might do that and check the results.

What other health issues would you say might be at play...or are you insinuating that the other health issues are why I feel the same, not RE: the #'s being lower?

JC

[Big Daddy RRT,RPSGT]

Here are my #'s from the last 4 mos, as the ResScan software gives them to me. Can someone tell me if this is good/bad/in between?
Settings: Min: 7.4/Max: 16.0
EPR: OFF
Total days: 147
Total days with usage under 4hrs: 3
Total days not used: 1 (not true, something must have happened to the recording)
AHi & AI: Apnea index: .7 %time in apnea: .2 Hypopnea index: 3.1 AHI: 3.8
Leak: Median: 0 95th percentile: 9.6 Max: 229.2
Pressure: Median: 8.7 95th percentile: 10.8 Maximum: 12

An AHI of 3.8 is not bad. The standard goal in the sleep lab is an AHI<5. However an AHI of 5 is great if your untreated AHI is 50 or whatever. The problem is if you have mild sleep apnea with AHI=7 then 3.8 isn't even cutting it in half. What is your untreated AHI during your diagnostic study?

You might try two above and two below your 95th percentile so 10.8 would be a range of 8.8-12.8 On this you'll spend less time on inadequate lower pressures and avoid higher pressures that might cause arousals. Another idea now that you are accustomed to CPAP you might go to a straight setting of 10.8. Some people are disturbed by the units constant adjustments. Try each change at least for a few nights before making more changes. You might even rate your sleep and daytime sleepiness in a journal. You'd be surprised how difficult it is to remember how you felt on X pressure a week later. I rate my sleep 0-5, 0 is great, 5 is horrible. Then I rate my daytime sleepiness 0-5, three times a day, 0 is energized, 5 is inappropriately sleepy for a potential daily score of 0-20. I used this technique to find my best pressure settings.

If you have severe sleep apnea you may want to ask your doctor for an overnight oximetry on your best settings to make sure your oxygen level is good at night as a poor oxygen level can make you feel bad and put your health at risk.

Hope you feel better soon

[rested gal]

It's very hard to get 0 AI (AHI) when using the Resmed machines, since they count things differently - especially Hypopneas (HI). Apnea .2! Can't do much better than that and that's the number you need to be concerned about. Some say to 1/2 your HIs when looking at Resmed data.

People getting 0 AHI are often using Respironics machines and they count things differently again.

I think Hawthorne nailed it. Here's why I think that (bear in mind all those old topics were discussions about the ResMed S8 models, not the newer S9 models:)

AHI question... - topic started by LaurieJ31981
Aug. 1, 2009
viewtopic.php?p=390817#p390817

I'm not sure if that is true of the new Resmed S9. Someone using that can let us know about that.

I've not used an S9, but from what I've read about what others who do use S9's are reporting, it does seem the definition of "hypopnea" has been changed and the S9s seem to be reporting lower numbers for hypopneas than the S8s do.

Actually, I don't think (but am not sure) the S9 even gives a "HI" (hypopnea index) in the efficacy data display in the LCD. But the hypopnea index can be figured by subtracting the AI from the overall AHI (both of which can be displayed on the screen.) I think maybe the ResMed S9's are defining hypopnea a bit differently than the S8's did -- defining when a flow limitation will be called "hypopnea" differently. And defining it now more like other brands do. Just my guess, though. Dunno.

[echo]

My straight CPAP was at 9, ...

Well just based on the 95% pressure I would say that you would need higher than 9 on straight CPAP. If it was me I would try something between 10 and 11. But if you felt better with the APAP then no need to go back to straight CPAP, unless you're up for tweaking, in which case....
If you're going to start experimenting with changes to the settings, then I agree with what Big Daddy said. Make a change and stick to it for a week and note how you feel. Change ONE thing and stick to it for ONE week. Follow leaks and AHI closely too. Sleep or health journal is a great idea. That's what I used to find my right pressure too.

What other health issues would you say might be at play...or are you insinuating that the other health issues are why I feel the same, not RE: the #'s being lower

I guess I mean both: some health issues may be keeping you from feeling better even if the OSA is being well treated, like diabetes, hypothyroidism, etc, and other health issues may be affecting your night-time breathing/sleeping like GERD, PLMDs.

[jrcmlc]

I don't know what my untreated AHI was, unforunately.

I think the APAP works better for me, the pressure changes don't _seem_ to wake me, I feel like I sleep better because it adjusts.

I don't have any diagnosed diseases or conditions, other than very high lipids which are controlled to some degree with medicine, but I am somewhat overweight, albiet not much MORE overweight than I was before CPAP.

I think I'll bump the bottom number a little and see what that does for me.

Thanks guys.

JC