What if I lower the pressure

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:28 pm

If my 95% pressure is 12.5 - 14 and my AHI number is typically 4-5 when I am set on apap at 11-15, what should I expect for AHI if I set the machine on 7.0 or 8.0 cpap? I know the numbers will go up but I wonder how much? Double, triple, more?

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:55 pm

Why would you want to lower the pressure and raise your numbers, most people want the best treatment they can get, and to feel the best they can.

Are you having trouble sleeping enough hours a night at the correct pressure? Jim

track · Post by **track** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:07 pm

Mainly I was just curious how bad a case of Sleep apnea I have. Since I never had a sleep test I figured I might just lower the pressure and find out. You think the machine would tell me that?

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:53 pm

If you want to punish yourself, a setting of 5 cm, should allow you the fun of experiencing most of your Apneas. As I have adapted to the machine, it would kill me, I find myself wanting 10 cm, just to sleep normal.

If you are AHI under 5, at 5 cm, count yourself as lucky. Without the machine I was AHI 150. I don't want to go back to those days. Jim

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:44 pm

How was that 150 figured? Was it 150 over how many hours?

I figure I slept for years with apneas so another night wouldn't be any big deal to find out that sort of info.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:19 pm

Anonymous wrote:How was that 150 figured? Was it 150 over how many hours?

AHI is Total Apneas + Total Hypopneas / Hours Slept.

That means 150 events per hour.

GarthsWorld · Post by **GarthsWorld** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 12:23 am

track wrote: Since I never had a sleep test

Having your doctor set you up to get one might be a good investment of your time.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 12:57 pm

Anonymous wrote:How was that 150 figured? Was it 150 over how many hours?

I figure I slept for years with apneas so another night wouldn't be any big deal to find out that sort of info.

Unless it turned out to be the night it triggered your fatal heart attack. Jim

"Goofproof" on wrong computer!!!

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:16 pm

Track, I can understand why you are curious, and the chances that one night is going to kill you is probably pretty slim. But you would probably feel like crap the next day.

With the current setting on your machine, it does sound like your titrated pressure would be above 11. So, if you set the pressures to 7 or 8, you would probably get many more HIs. Ya, I would think triple is conceivable.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:13 pm

Hi Track,

it is good that you are asking questions and are trying to figure things out.

A common misconception is that the higher the pressure needed the more sever the apnea is.

This is not true.

Mild, moderate or severe apnea is a function of how many events apneas and hypoapneas you have in an hour. AHI Apnea Hypoapnea index.

How high your pressure is, is a measure of how much air is needed to keep your airway open.

For instance someone with a AHI of over 100 (very severe) may need a pressure of 10 cm H2O.

Someone with AHI of 20 (not sure if it considered mild or moderate) may need a pressure of 16 cm H2O to keep the airways open.

Finding out what the AHI number is, is not as important as keeping you healthy. Like GoofProof said, trying to figure the amount could be a very unhealthy or deadly mistake.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:14 pm

That last post was me.

I thought I was logged in.

track · Post by **track** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:39 pm

Thanks everyone for responding.

One of these nights I am going to give it a try. I want to know if my case is mild, medium or severe. My AI events typically run between .5 and 1.2....seems to be about the same whether my machine is set it 8-12 or 12-15. My biggest variable is HI and I get the drift that the resmed machines tend to report these high and they are of less concern than the AIs.

On a bright note I have been using a UMFF medium that came with the machine I bought. I found a large UMFF that fits far better on Craig's list. It was brand new and cost me less than a third what a new one cost.

I have a card reader on the way that I found in california for 50 bucks so I will soon be able to get the real skinny on what's going on.

I am such a good little camper. I found a machine and started this process all on my own...pat myself on the back....and I use my mask every night. My family is quite shocked. They figured I would try this for a week or two and then dump it. On the contare I have only missed two nights since I started in December...and both those were when I had the stomach flu.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:59 am

You can consider yourself, over $1,000 ahead, not bad. Jim

Mask

Additional Comments: Strictly a side sleeper

Mask

Additional Comments: Strictly a side sleeper