AHI 2.3 but still tired....RLS to blame?

[KingdomeMariner]

For my Quattro FF I am on my inital setting of 8, but my leak rate is around 52. I have seen on here that some say who cares what the leak rate is as long as your AHI is under 5. I still feel tired and havent noticed much of a diference. I was also observed in my study to have RLS, but have yet to get any help for that. Anyone out there know how much RLS impacts sleep, and should i try getting my leak or ahi even lower?

Thank you!

[jules]

The quattro at 8 is supposed to have a flow rate of 32. Your leaks are excessive. You might be having large leaks where the machine can't respond to events from mask slippage or mouth breathing. You need to get the leaks under control then worry about the AHI.

If you have RLS while on cpap, you need to find a doc who can discuss a meaningful treatment for that too.

[kteague]

KingdomeMariner,

Your sleep study results should show if your limb movements disrupt your sleep stages, although cpap treatment changes that picture for some. What did your titration study show?

Some with mild RLS don't need treatment. If you work the kinks out of your cpap treatment and are still sleepy in the daytime, or if your tests indicate a need, you could discuss your treatment options with your doctor.

RLS can range from mildly annoying to absolute torment. It's been discussed on here quite a bit in the past. A search on RLS will give you more than you'll probably care to read.

Best wishes for restful sleep.

Kathy

[tangents]

Hi KingdomeMariner,

Keep in mind that the "recovery time" is different for everyone. Some notice a steady improvement, others wake up one morning feeling "cured", still others feel more tired for awhile after starting CPAP treatment. The length of time before treatment and severity of a person's apnea may cause the differences in recovery time, IMO.

In my case, I entered what I think of as a healing period, where I couldn't seem to get enough sleep, and needed to cut myself some slack when it came to living up to my own expectations. This period lasted 4 months, and then I finally started feeling rested with a normal amound of sleep.

Good luck with your therapy, and be sure to post your questions and problems so the kind folks here can keep you on the right path!

Take Care,
Cathy

[Slinky]

W/o knowing how much RLS disturbed your sleep during your evaluation and during your titration its hard to know whether it is worth the risk of starting a medication for it or not. Did you also go thru a titration study? Do you know the data regarding any RLS arousals during the titration?

I'd be much more inclined to concentrate on reducing the leak rate w/my Quattro than wanting to start medication for RLS unless I KNEW FOR SURE that RLS was a major contributor to my sleep disturbances AFTER CPAP therapy. And if I couldn't reduce my leak rate w/the Quattro I'd try a different mask before agreeing to RLS medication unless I knew for sure that RLS was a major factor after CPAP therapy.

In other words, I would need PROOF that RLS was interfering w/my sleep AFTER CPAP therapy before I would even consider medicating for RLS. These medications can be a blessing for those who need them but they are more prone than many medications to producing undesirable side effects. JMPO.

[sharon1965]

restless leg syndrome occurs when one is awake and can interfere with falling asleep

periodic limb movement of sleep disorder occurs during sleep and causes arousals

logically rls shouldn't be causing excessive tiredness unless it is causing insomnia

[Slinky]

I encounter RLS, usually in the evening, but often enough during the day as well, that I fail to see where RLS wouldn't also occur during the night whilst sleeping and I further fail to understand WHY it wouldn't disturb sleep every bit as much as PLM.

As a matter of fact, there have been a (fortunately) few times that I have "jerked awake", fully awake from not just a severe leg jerk, but it could be an arm jerk, or a full body "jerk" like I'd just received an electric shock.

Now my husband definitely has the PLMs. Gentle, rhythmic movements of his legs and/or feet. Used to drive me NUTS until we got a Queen size bed so we have the room to avoid leg contact. I'm convinced his PLMs are directly related to his 3 back surgeries. He also has severe varicose veins in the one calf and ankle from his back injuries/surgeries.

[Gerald]

Let's look at the "givens".......You're still tired.....your AHI is 2.3......and you think you have RLS.

The whole purpose of XPAP is to get the O2 saturation levels up where they're supposed to be.... when we're asleep.

If O2 doesn't stay above 93% all night, we feel crappy the next day.

I strapped an Oximeter on my honey.....and found that her O2 levels weren't where they were supposed to be.....EVEN THOUGH her AHI for the night we ran the test was about where yours is (approx 2.3).

I'm beginning to think that this idea of an "AHI of 5.0 or below" being OK....is equivalent to the "Bigfoot Myth". I don't think it's realistic.

Probably the only way you're going to get a pretty good idea of what's going on with your therapy....is to hook yourself up to a recording Oximeter.....and do a series of nightly tests for a month.

At the end of a month. you'll know what you need to do.

Gerald

[Sundown]

I had severe RLS (before sleep study) and was prescribed Mirapex. It was a wonder-drug at first and then I noticed my legs were actually getting WORSE about 3 months into it. I went off it because of this and experiencing panic attacks/heart palps.

RLS can be torture. I now take Magnesium and Calcium Citrate before bed and though my legs do jerk a bit, they are much better and the pain is gone. However, I would like to have another sleep study to see how often RLS occurs now that I am on therapy.