Hypopnea scoring

catmonkey · Post by **catmonkey** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:45 am

I've found several threads pertaining to hypopneas as scored by software, but somewhat confused as to whether they matter. I have a REMStar Pro M and I bought the Encore View software shortly after I started CPAP (June 4). To date my AHI count is all over the map, largely due to allergy events and their effects on my sinuses, at least that is my interpretation. It's sort of reinforced by the lowest ever AHI I had after a shot of steroids by my ENT when I developed a sinus infection. Before and after that night, AHIs were quite high.

On the average, when my AHI goes higher than 5, it's the usually because of a high hypopnea count. My AI count does fluctuate between 1 and 4 evens per hour from day to day, but consistent results aren't there. I definitely feel better since therapy, but I'm pretty sure I went undiagnosed for a long time so my results were more cumulative than immediate.

So my question is whether I'm putting too much emphasis on the hyponeas and while my allergies were in check the night of the titration, if my results on CPAP indicate a need for pressure adjustment?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:56 am

You didn't say what your pressure is, but you might need a slight pressure increase.....to see if it improves things Are you doing a saline nasal rinse? I'm sure that allergies can raise heck with therapy.
Are you using HEATED humidity? If so, you might want to turn off the humidifier and just use cool pass-over humidity. The warm humidity can actually exacerbate the problems with the nasal passages.

Den

catmonkey · Post by **catmonkey** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:19 am

My pressure is 13cm. I'm using the saline nasal mist during the day and a sinus rinse in the evenings. I usually take Zrytec on a regular basis, but because of aggravated symptoms for the last two weeks I'm taking sudafed during the day and benedryl at night.

I do use a heated humidifier and have experimented with different settings, except off as a passover. I didn't care for the lowest setting very much and didn't seem to have much impact on the numbers. Let me say that I'm not experiencing any nasal congestion with what I'm doing, but I do have a constant nasal drip. I just think my sinus cavity/thoat are inflammed causing greater resistence to airflow when I'm asleep.