Is my AHI low enough?

[Simbot]

I've found that I can only tolerate the pressure up to about 10 - 10.5, beyond that I get leaks, which keep me awake, and the blowing in my face keeps me awake. So I run it at 10, the sleep study said I should run at 15, but I just can't make that work, I tried for months.

At my max tolerable pressure, my AHI is usually around 10-12. Is that low enough to do me any good?

[LSAT]

No one can answer that without knowing what your sleep study said. If the study said you should be at 15 and you are using 10...it's not doing you much good.

[jlklinko]

Hi there
1) It's probably better than nothing, but....
2) You may have to try a different mask to take the higher pressure.

[Simbot]

Well that's my dilemma. As I mentioned the sleep study recommended 15, I tried for months and couldn't tolerate it. At 10 the mask/air flow doesn't wake me up. I don't know what my AHI is/was with no CPAP, but I'm assuming there must be SOME benefit even at 10. That air being pumped down my throat must be doing something to keep my airway open.

Some benefit should be better than both other options:

Option 1 - Not sleeping at pressure of 15 due to massive leaks, air being blasted into my face. I don't see how it's possible for anyone to sleep at high pressures like that, but I guess people do, seems amazing to me.

Option 2 - no CPAP at all.

Option 3 - some pressure between 10 - 15, 10 is about the limit where I start having the mask leak a lot.

[chunkyfrog]

Software would definitely help.
Look for a member named Pugsy; she has links to free software in her signature.
I was unable to use the Quattro FX because the leaks were horrible--for me.
Most masks are made to take the pressure, but fit makes a huge difference.
Many suppliers fail in providing good fitting service.
You may also check some of the mask fitting tips here to improve the leakage with your current mask.

[Simbot]

Thanks, my DME only offers 2 full face masks. One has a latex seal that I'm allergic to, I tried it, didn't know I was allergic to latex, found out the hard way. The other is the Quattro, I've tried large and medium. Large works best. At first I had horrible leaks with it, but I learned to fit it better, and it's fine up to a pressure of 10 or so. Beyond that it farts unless I'm sitting upright. When laying on my sides it doesn't maintain the seal at higher pressures.

I wouldn't mind buying another mask on my own dime if I had high confidence that it would work. Even if it didn't leak I can't imagine tolerating the high pressures. How can people possibly sleep through that? Do you build up to it, or are you just not bothered by it?

Thanks Chunkyfrog, I just discovered Sleepyhead a week ago and have been trying to understand what it all means. Wish I had the softwarea year ago. My Dr. said I didn't need it.

[robysue]

Thanks, my DME only offers 2 full face masks.

This is ridiculous. Tell the DME you want them to order you a different FFM since neither of the ones they stock works for you.

If they won't order you a mask of your choice, then you've got the following choices:

1) Go to a different DME. Unless your health care is provided by an HMO, your insurance company likely has a number of DMEs that it considers "in network". Ask the sleep doc's office to fax your prescription over to the new DME.

2) Get a copy of your prescription and consider buying a mask on line from a place like our host cpap.com. You may have to pay the full price of the mask OOP, but if you find a mask that works for you, it may be well worth it. You can pay for "mask insurance"---i.e. for a small fee you can return the mask even after you've opened it and used it for a while before determining that it won't work for you.

My Dr. said I didn't need it.

Yet another clueless doc. Here you are feeling forced into using your machine at sub therapeutic pressure setting and the doc has been assuring you that you don't need the software. Bet he's also told you not to worry too much about the data on the machine's LCD too.

[Elle]

My pressure stays around 15 now making my DME suggest upping it to 16. I have very low leak rates and don't find it any different than when I had a pressure of 10. I definitely notice a difference in energy level now that I am getting good sleep thanks to using the pressure required.

I agree with the advice to get the proper mask.

[Julie]

Cpap.com will let you try various masks for a small 'insurance' fee - I would definitely look into that because as Roby Sue said what you're doing is pointless and ridiculous.

[Pugsy]

At my max tolerable pressure, my AHI is usually around 10-12. Is that low enough to do me any good?

Wouldn't be for me but if your AHI without cpap machine was 100 then obviously better than nothing.
People not on a machine with an AHI of 12 get a diagnosis of OSA and a RX for a machine.
Also depends on the event duration...All of them right around 10 seconds..might not be nearly as bad as if you had 30 to 45 second events. Also depends on oxygen levels...how much does it drop..if it drops.
I felt like I wasn't even using a machine when my AHI was 10 when my pressure wasn't optimal and my pre cpap AHI was over 50 with 45 second long events.

So yes, it obviously is probably doing some good. Just depends on how bad you were to start with.
Any therapy is better than no therapy I suppose. I am just not satisfied with so so anything and damage can be done to the body with an average of 10 or 12 events per hour all night long. I always want to limit everything possible that might do my body harm.

[LSAT]

Well that's my dilemma. As I mentioned the sleep study recommended 15, I tried for months and couldn't tolerate it. At 10 the mask/air flow doesn't wake me up. I don't know what my AHI is/was with no CPAP, but I'm assuming there must be SOME benefit even at 10. That air being pumped down my throat must be doing something to keep my airway open.

Some benefit should be better than both other options:

Option 1 - Not sleeping at pressure of 15 due to massive leaks, air being blasted into my face. I don't see how it's possible for anyone to sleep at high pressures like that, but I guess people do, seems amazing to me.

Option 2 - no CPAP at all.

Option 3 - some pressure between 10 - 15, 10 is about the limit where I start having the mask leak a lot.

You are an engineer...I'm sure you can figure it out...What about starting at 10 for a few days, then upping the pressure to 10.5 or 11 for a few days then to 12...etc.

[archangle]

Thanks, my DME only offers 2 full face masks.
...
My Dr. said I didn't need it.

Find another DME.

Your doctor may be right that you don't "need it," but you will benefit from having it and using it correctly, especially if you're having trouble with CPAP.

[archangle]

I've found that I can only tolerate the pressure up to about 10 - 10.5, beyond that I get leaks, which keep me awake, and the blowing in my face keeps me awake. So I run it at 10, the sleep study said I should run at 15, but I just can't make that work, I tried for months.

At my max tolerable pressure, my AHI is usually around 10-12. Is that low enough to do me any good?

What was your AHI without CPAP? If it's dropped from 70 to 12, you're probably better off. Are you "good enough?" It's hard to say. You may very well be still suffering the harmful effects of apnea. It may be like smoking 5 cigarettes a day vs. smoking two packs a day.

[DoriC]

The goal is to achieve an AHI <5.0. My husband gets by with AHIs in the 3-4 range but most feel better lower than that.

[MarylandCPAPer]

When I first started, I was having trouble at the CPAP pressure the sleep dr. prescribed--13 I think it was. I would wake up with the air blowing so hard I felt like I was hooked to a vaccum cleaner and i couldn't breathe to keep pace with the pressure. After learning from the great people here, I reviewed my sleep study pressure data and asked about using APAP (auto-adjusting pressure, as you need it). My sleep doctor agreed to a range of 6-15. I think I have since set it to a range of 9-15. The problem of the pressure being too high immediately went away when I converted to APAP. Fortunately, I had gotten a CPAP machine that could be used for APAP. You might ask if APAP is an option. My AHIs, per the machine, are around 3 now.