Help me interpret the reports from my ResMed S9

[dans]

So I've been using my ResMed S9 Autoset for a few days now. Definitely an upgrade over the rental Respironics machine I was using. And now I get access to detailed overnight data

Here's a report (PDF) from 2 nights ago. Not the best night of sleep I've ever had, but OK.
And here's last night's report (PDF).

I did not realize until now that AHI is an average of events per hour not per night. Wow. So I was averaging 99 events per hour without CPAP treatment, now down to about 1.6 per hour with treatment. That's a huge improvement, but still that results in many events per night where I am not taking in oxygen. I'd like to get that number down as low as possible, obviously, without causing other problems for myself. Any insight you can give me based on these reports and your experience would be very helpful. Thanks!

[billbolton]

...now down to about 1.6 per hour with treatment. That's a huge improvement, but still that results in many events per night where I am not taking in oxygen.

Any AHI below 5.0 is considered to be in the normal sleep range.

Sleepers without OSA experience some "events" too, so there's no point in worrying about it overly

In terms of your graphs, you seem to be experiencing a number of Central Apneas.... these are non-obstructive apneas which xPAP cannot treat.

You may be find that restricting the range of auto operation on the S9 could help with that. Some OSA sufferers are prone to experiencing more central apneas as the flow rate rises in APAP operation, so need to be careful about what the upper end of the auto range is set to.

I don't experience that symptom so can't give you specific advice on it, but I'm sure there are others here who can, though you might need to post a specific question about it to catch their attention.

Cheers,

Bill

[dans]

Sleepers without OSA experience some "events" too, so there's no point in worrying about it overly

Thanks, good to know!

In terms of your graphs, you seem to be experiencing a number of Central Apneas.... these are non-obstructive apneas which xPAP cannot treat.
You may be find that restricting the range of auto operation on the S9 could help with that. Some OSA sufferers are prone to experiencing more central apneas as the flow rate rises in APAP operation, so need to be careful about what the upper end of the auto range is set to.

My prescription was originally for a set 9cm/H20 but after I requested an APAP my doctor changed to 4cm-20cm/H20, the maximum available range. I took the liberty of changing that to a 9cm-20cm range because I am used to the airflow now and I don't feel comfortable with only 4cm airflow. The machine never seems to go to 15cm/H20 pressure, so in theory I could switch to a 9-15 range. Is it worth trying a lower top end (let's say 13) to see if centrals are reduced?

[billbolton]

My prescription was originally for a set 9cm/H20..... Is it worth trying a lower top end (let's say 13) to see if centrals are reduced?

In general you should keep the range as a norrow as possible so if I were you, I'd be setting it at (say) 9 to 11 and see how that goes.

Cheers,

Bill