No AHI but pressure increasing?

[serabeth]

Is it normal for pressure to increase but to have 0 AHI? I would think that the point of a pressure increase is to respond to an apnea, right? I woke up this morning very dizzy like I used to before my cpap machine, but without the usual headache. It said I had 0 AHI. But my machine was at max pressure (16). It starts at 11. Is there any explanation for this? I feel pretty well rested. No headaches and dizziness quickly resolved, so maybe I was just tired since I only slept for about 5.8 hours. This is not the first night this has happened. My average AHI is less than 1. I’ve never had it be over 1.2.

[Pugsy]

It responds not only to apneas but snores and flow limitations which you may not so easily see flagged on the machine.
It senses something is causing the airway to try to collapse...snores and flow limitations are early warning signs that this is trying to happen...and it increases the pressure in an effort to prevent the warning signs from progressing to the point of earning the apnea flag.

So when you see the pressure go up but you don't see any apnea flags...the machine sensed a warning sign and tried to head it off...and you don't have any apnea flags because the machine prevented that warning sign from growing up and earning a full blown flag.

When you don't see any apnea flags...doesn't mean that the airway didn't try to close up...just means the machine did a good job preventing the collapse. We have no way to know how many might get prevented. The ones that do earn a flag are the ones that slip past the defenses.

[serabeth]

Oh okay, good. Thanks! I just wish it would stop waking me up by blowing into my eyes at 16 pressure. I usually wear my mask as loose as possible on 11 so at 16 it blasts me. I get really bad nose bridge pain if I tighten it though. I’m looking into a different mask that doesn’t hurt my nose so much. My boyfriend found one with good reviews. Amara view. Just trying to get my doctor to send me a script. I don’t want to go through my DME because they are rude, unhelpful, and have very inconvenient hours. It’s kind of b.s. that these things require a prescription, too. They should all be OTC so we can buy out of pocket if we want. And it would be fine for insurance to only pay for it with a sleep study or a script still.

[Okie bipap]

If you want to try one, look at ebay. You can find enough parts to build a mask for a very reasonable price. I have even found complete masks there for reasonable prices.

[Pugsy]

I have some brand new Amara View cushions....if you can find the headgear and frame you can have the cushion.
I would be happy to mail it to you. Not sure as to size but I think maybe medium.

[serabeth]

I have some brand new Amara View cushions....if you can find the headgear and frame you can have the cushion.
I would be happy to mail it to you. Not sure as to size but I think maybe medium.

Thank you! I will look into it and see if my doctor will write me an rx or I can find it elsewhere and let you know .

If you want to try one, look at ebay. You can find enough parts to build a mask for a very reasonable price. I have even found complete masks there for reasonable prices.

Oh really? I didn’t think they would let you sell devices that require a prescription on there. I know amazon will only allow you to sell the cushions and tubing and filters, but not the masks or machines. I will have to take a look. Thanks!

[Pugsy]

Mask packages that are complete require a RX so EBay doesn't allow those (but some slip past the EBay police).
But individual replacement pieces don't require a RX so people break down mask packages and offer the pieces.
You just have to know which pieces to buy to build your own mask with pieces.

Let me wander over to EBay and see what's available.

You need
headgear
frame which fits all sizes of cushions
cushion of some size
and maybe some sort of hose...I need to figure that out

Though I am going to be honest....I think the DreamWear full face mask is a better option between the two...have you seen it?
It's got a lower profile, softer and more comfortable...I have owned both...I gave away my Amara View once I tried the DreamWear.

[Pugsy]

Okay...plenty of listings for what is needed to build the Amara View on EBay.
Headgear around $20 and that includes shipping
Frame..around 13.50 and that includes shipping
the hose...around $15 and that includes shipping
so for less the $50 everything except the cushions.
Cushions run around 23 if it ends up I don't have the size you need.

[serabeth]

Mask packages that are complete require a RX so EBay doesn't allow those (but some slip past the EBay police).
But individual replacement pieces don't require a RX so people break down mask packages and offer the pieces.
You just have to know which pieces to buy to build your own mask with pieces.

Let me wander over to EBay and see what's available.

You need
headgear
frame which fits all sizes of cushions
cushion of some size
and maybe some sort of hose...I need to figure that out

Though I am going to be honest....I think the DreamWear full face mask is a better option between the two...have you seen it?
It's got a lower profile, softer and more comfortable...I have owned both...I gave away my Amara View once I tried the DreamWear.

The amara view has better reviews, but if the dreamwear is softer and more comfortable then I may prefer it. Looking at pictures, it has the tubing come in at the top of your head instead of the front of your face which may help me because I am a stomach sleeper...the tube often gets in the way because my face naturally falls towards the pillow and makes me have to twist my neck awkwardly.

[Pugsy]

The Amara View has been out for a few years now.
The DreamWear was just released last May....so it doesn't surprise me that the Amara View has more positive reviews...it's simply been around longer and more people have got a chance to use it.

Amara View...the top image...hard plastic shell for a frame and then the cushion clips in.
Bottom image is the DreamWear cushion/insert...the only thing remotely hard or very stiff is the clear plastic in the middle and it's still got some flexibility. There is zero give in the Amara frame.



Profile....Dreamwear cushion on the left and the Amara View on the right



Amazon has the fitpack for the DreamWear ....everything included along with all sizes of cushions $96....no RX required.
https://www.amazon.com/DreamWear-Full-F ... +face+mask

I can check EBay and will later to see what can be done piecing stuff together but since we don't know your size...the fit pack is a bonus.
You can swap the sizes you don't need or want with someone who uses those sizes.

I have used both...the DreamWear was by far more comfortable...essentially what Respironics did was take the Amara View and improve on it...softer cushion, etc and the hose attaching on top. If you look at them closely...the overall design is very similar.
You can sleep face down with the DreamWear if you wish...not so easy to do with the Amara.

[Pugsy]

Okay...I checked EBay.
You need 4 pieces
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-dre ... -parts-tab
to build your own DreamWear FFM with one cushion

Frame
Headgear
swivel elbow
cushion/insert

All can be found on EBay...roughly $73 total and that with one cushion...which is why I say the fit pack deal is so attractive.

So you don't have to wait on the RX if you don't want to and you can buy the parts of either mask if you wish and save some money building your own mask if you wish.

[palerider]

Is it normal for pressure to increase but to have 0 AHI? I would think that the point of a pressure increase is to respond to an apnea, right?

In part... (that part being 1 in 4.

[palerider]

Oh okay, good. Thanks! I just wish it would stop waking me up by blowing into my eyes at 16 pressure.

*or* the *events* you're having that are causing the pressure to go up are what's actually waking you up... since that's what breathing events do, they cause sleep disturbances.

Raise your min pressure (probably), let's see some data.

[palerider]

They should all be OTC so we can buy out of pocket if we want. And it would be fine for insurance to only pay for it with a sleep study or a script still.

Um... you can buy all the parts to assemble a mask on amazon, ebay, or any online cpap seller.

You *do* need a prescription to buy a whole mask, but you can often find them on amazon anyway.

There's absolutely nothing preventing you from buying a mask direct.

I bought four P10 frames off Ebay last week, got 'em today.

[palerider]

If you want to try one, look at ebay. You can find enough parts to build a mask for a very reasonable price. I have even found complete masks there for reasonable prices.

Oh really? I didn’t think they would let you sell devices that require a prescription on there. I know amazon will only allow you to sell the cushions and tubing and filters, but not the masks or machines. I will have to take a look. Thanks!

Mask parts, hoses, water tanks, filters.

NO Rx required.

Full masks, machines, humidifiers, that's *all* that requires a prescription.