Correlation Between Deeper Sleep and Higher AHI?

[M'ohms]

I finally slept all night without waking! It took 15 months on PAP therapy and 3 xPAP machines to get me there. My new ASV finally delivered the magic.

The funny thing is, my AHI went from 0.3 the night before (it has been less than 1 all week) to 8.41 last night. I didn't change anything about my night. AHI is mostly hypopneas followed closely by centrals. Is there any correlation between sleeping more deeply (being more relaxed?) and higher AHIs?

[old dude]

My own completely unscientific, subjective and seat-of-the pants opinion is that you are exactly right. That's exactly how it has been in my case. My AHI hasn't jumped up quite as high as yours, but a jump from say .03 up to 1.8 or the like isn't uncommon on a night when I feel that I've slept particularly well.

Someone should be along shortly that actually knows what they're talking about, but anecdotally anyway I'm agreeing with you.

[Day_Dreamer]

As you drift into a deeper sleep you become more relaxed. Your throat is also more relaxed and prone to more apneas.

[Pugsy]

One of my "Best" days in terms of how I felt during the day was after a night where my AHI was 10.2. Go figure that one.

I haven't really read of any documented scientific reasoning behind it but I think that when we sleep deeper and perhaps get more of that REM sleep where apnea can be made worse...then the AHI can go up some but the better sleep outweighs the negative effects of the apnea events.

Just goes along with what I have always said...AHI of 0.0 doesn't guarantee you a thing except a nice math score.
There's just so much more to getting good quality restorative sleep and feeling better than a single little number.

[M'ohms]

I must be living proof of that statement, Pugsy. I feel better than I have in years. People around me comment on how much better I look since moving to the ASV. I'll take an AHI of 8.41 every night if it means feeling refreshed in the morning like today!

[JLtheDrone]

Your post and comments to your post actually make me feel better. I had an AHI of 8.0 last night. But last night was the most uninterrupted I have had since starting cpap therapy. I just switched from nasal pillows to a nasal mask and that's made a world of difference for me being able to move around in my sleep without causing leaks.

[M'ohms]

It amazes me how such small tweaks can make such dramatic differences in the quality of our sleep! I'm glad you found a mask that suits you better. I hope you continue to find success!