AHI = 7 [updated 6/24/14]

[nfrederick86]

So I got my new data ready cpap and I have noticed that every night my AHI is 7 or 7.1. This model has the A-Flex feature that I have been using, its just so comfortable, is this a reason why my AHI is as high as it is?

[Pugsy]

No, AFlex isn't the reason the AHI is higher than we would normally like to see.

What is the event category breakdown of that AHI? You will need to use the software to see the different categories
Clear Airway index
Obstructive Apnea index
Hyponea index
all 3 of these added together make up the AHI.

[nfrederick86]

Gotcha, I'll upload the screenies when I get home from work.

[Pugsy]

If the AHI is composed of primarily Clear airway events then we just sort of sit back and watch them.
If the AHI is composed of primarily Hyponeas and OAs then normally a little pressure adjustment upwards is all that is needed.
I don't remember what pressure you are using on your brick machine and/or did you start out in APAP mode with a minimum sort of pressure with a small range.
We will have a better idea what is going on once we see the detailed data reports.
If you don't know how to do that
Screen shot thread viewtopic.php?f=1&t=81072&p=737779#p737779

[nfrederick86]

[Julie]

But what about leak rate data, etc?

[nfrederick86]

Let me know if these are not what I should be posting

[Pugsy]

Turn the AHI graph on the right side off. Go to Preferences/Graphs tab and remove the check mark by the AHI graph. It isn't needed.

Your second image...you have zoomed in on a tiny timeline and we can't really see much with it.
Back out the image so it looks like the first image but includes the leak line

If leaks aren't excessive I suspect that the snores, hyponeas and the few OAs are slipping past the defenses because the minimum pressure is not quite sufficient to hold the airway open and prevent the airway collapse.
You may need more maximum pressure...can't tell for sure but most likely more minimum for sure.

What pressure were you using when you had the brick?

[nfrederick86]

Pressure I had on brick was 13

[palerider]

Let me know if these are not what I should be posting

In addition to what Pugys wrote, click the ^ on the calendar to turn that off, and it'll display more data on the left.

then drag the AHI chart down (yes, you can rearrange the charts! so that events, flow, pressure and leaks (at least) are visible, and turn off the navigation panel on the right (view, right sidebar), then screenshot! you'll present more usable data and less wasted space (and less requests for 'do this too'

[palerider]

Pressure I had on brick was 13

if you were bricking at 13, I'd think that 11-15 might be better pressures on the auto, now that you've got charts to show how you're doing...

pugsy?

[Pugsy]

Yeah, at least 9 cm minimum, probably a little more most likely. I always like to start lower and work up when given a chance. Never know when we might get lucky and be able to get by with a little less pressure than expected.
I am always a fan of using as little pressure as possible when we can.

Leak line graph shows minimal to none excessive leaks. So leaks aren't an issue.

This first night on APAP isn't horrible by any means. Just needs a little tweaking on that minimum pressure would likely improve things even more.

[Pesser]

Bet in a few weeks your events will be close to zero!!!

[palerider]

the fact that his max pressure setting is 13, and his median, 95% and max observed are all 13 also says to me that the machine would like more top end, yes?

[Pugsy]

the fact that his max pressure setting is 13, and his median, 95% and max observed are all 13 also says to me that the machine would like more top end, yes?

Yes...but...often when the minimum pressure is set more optimally we have seen that the maximum or even close to the maximum doesn't always come into play. When the pressure is holding the airway open more optimally in the first place i.e. more optimal minimum, then the airway collapse is less likely to happen and/or it doesn't take as much pressure to either prevent further collapse or remedy the existing collapse better. Better to try to prevent in the first place than to try to fix it after the fact. The machine doesn't have to maybe work so hard.

The 95% pressures aren't the holy grail of numbers unless looking at them long term (like months) and one night doesn't really mean much because the 90/95% pressure is fairly easy skewed to a higher number. Remember it is only the pressure at OR BELOW for 90/95% of the night.

I prefer to go up with minimum pressure choices instead of starting higher and work down. Other people like to do it the other way and rely heavily on the median or 90/95% numbers. Going up is easier on the body. So I always opt for "easier" when I can.

OP here may very well need 11 or 12 minimum but if it were me I would still go up slowly with 9 cm being the first big jump. Back 5 years ago my reports were similar...actually worse because my AHI was 10ish. My 90% pressures were around 15. My minimum was 8 cm. I elected to go up slowly in 0.5 cm increments over about a week or so.
At 10 cm minimum my AHI was 2.5 and my 90% pressures were stable at 12 and often I barely went over 11 cm.
On occasion I would still see 90% pressure around 16 to 18 cm but for only occasionally but long term (over 6 months) my 90 % pressure was 11.8.
So 10 cm minimum in APAP mode did a bang up job. 90% and average pressures dropped significantly just by having a better minimum. Several people told me I needed a much higher minimum based on the 90% numbers. I decided what the heck...I might but I preferred to go up slowly and take the chance I might get lucky...and I did.
What does it hurt to take a few nights to get there?