Decrease in AHI does not mean Decrease in nighttime awakenin

[Mkatz27]

I'm into my first week and have seen a great decrease from a AHI=8 to averaging a AHI=1!! I realize that these numbers reflect a very mild condition, as compared to many others here.

I would have thought that my nighttime awakenings would have decreased as well. I still wake 3 to 4 times a night. Is this common? Should I expect things to improve as I get further along as well?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[CapnLoki]

I also had (moderate) early success with the AHI numbers but it took about 3-4 months for the bathroom breaks to reduce. I was getting up every two hours, I assume after each REM sleep cycle, but now its common to sleep through the first potential break, and frequently through two. The last several nights I slept about 5 hours without waking. Early morning is harder for me - I don't get back to sleep easily after I've slept 5 hours, the cats come for a morning check, the sun is coming up, etc.

Some of the improvements can come fairly quickly - I stopped taking serious noontime naps within a few days - but others seem to take a while as old habits are broken and new ones formed. For instance, for several months I was finding myself sleep on my back in the middle of the night, which is a disaster for my apnea. After changing the mattress and pillows and paying attention to things, I was able to eliminate that problem.

[Sheriff Buford]

Too early to tell or see any patterns. Yes, some folks here would kill for a 1 AHI! I would not consider a "pattern" until after 6 months of good therapy has kicked in. Your body is still adjusting to "proper" sleep. That being said, being sensitive to your body and how it is responding is commending. I have been able to search and find my "sweet spot" by noticing how my body responds to small "tweaks" in my therapy. My latest "tweak" is upping my EPR. After giving it time (6 weeks), I am finding my body is not adjusting very well to the EPR. But, I gave it ample time. Make note of how your body is responding, but don't be surprized if its way too early to tell. Looks as if you are doing great!

Sheriff

[kcellwood]

I am 26 days into CPAP and I knowingly wake up 2-4 times a night for just a bit and go right back to sleep. But when sleeping, the quality of sleep is so much better. Dream like crazy. I am one who saw immediate results. What a difference!!! Since starting CPAP I have not had to get up, even once, to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night!!! Come morning I am not rushing to go either. My AHI is averaging under 5. Started first 2-3 days low and went up to 10-12 for a few day and the last several days I am back down to the 2-3 range. The spike coincides with the use of CFLEX+ relief. May be just a coincidence but not sure at this point.

[Country4ever]

I've been on cpap for about 7 years. One question for you.....when you wake up, do you have to go to the bathroom?
That cleared up for me when I started using cpap. But about a year ago, I started waking up alot at night, but didn't have to go to the bathroom. So I think its something else, rather than having an increased cortisol from sleep-related cortisol production. As everyone has said, it might take time for you. But if you don't have to go to the bathroom, I would look at something else..............like caffeine use, eating in the evening, etc.

When I started drinking caffeinated coffee again about a year ago, I started waking up alot more at night again. I don't have to pee though. It happens even if I quit drinking caffeine by noon.
Give it a little time, but also be aware that other things could be causing it....like what I mentioned, plus noise, plus alpha wave intrusion, etc.

[Country4ever]

P.S. Pain can cause these awakenings too. I occasionally take acetaminophen before bedtime and it helps alot. Actually, my cpap doc said they're finding out that acetaminophen helps with sleep, other than just easing pain.

[-tim]

AHI is a general indicator which is good for overall tends but it can also be meaningless.

AHI is an average "events per hour". It doesn't cover the length of those events.

As an oversimplified example, An AHI of 8 over 8 hours sleep means a machine noticed 64 issues. An AHI of 1 over 8 hours means it detected 8 issues but that could be 8 in 30 minutes or one every hour. As you get used to the machine, you may find your AHI increases. If you have 8 90 second events now but later each of those 90 second events turn into two 30 second events then your HAI may double but your oxygen levels will be much better.

[Mkatz27]

Thanks...I am very encouraged by my results so far, and look forward to sleeping threw the night real soon

[Lukie]

CPAP does not treat an underlying insomnia. It treats disordered breathing during sleep. If you have bad sleep hygiene, or other medical or psychological issues CPAP won't cure your insomnia. I had an AHI of 7 but had a lot of oxygen desaturation so they did prescribe CPAP. My AHI now is usually <0.5. At first I slept a lot, but gradually my old habits of waking up at three and other times of the night came back. I have never been a heavy sleeper. Arthritis pain and other things have a way of waking me up.
One thing that does help is regular exercise. I do an hour a day of mixed aerobic and weights.

[Mkatz27]

Good Point..its only part of the puzzle

[prion]

I've had tremendous success with CPAP. Started with 48.1 AHI. Now I'm averaging under 3.0 with some nights even .4.
I no longer fall asleep at the wheel or nap all day long. That said, I still wake up every 2 hours and my perceived sleep
quality doesn't feel improved. I still feel like I thrash around most of the night. The nights I do feel like I've slept OK
don't have any relation to "good looking" results in ResScan. What does relate is my pulseox results. The best perceived
sleep does relate to minimal desaturation and a more even pulse rate.