Hypopnea only. Help!!!

[Guest]

Hi.

I've been recently diagnosed with severe apnea, but my sleep study shows A LOT of only hypopneas through the night (AHI: 30). My titration showed I only need a preassure of four, but I still sleep very poorly, as if I wasn't on any treatment at all. I'm waiting for my next titration, which is taking for ever. So, is there anyone out there whose type of apnea (hypopnea) and AHI (30) are similar that could give me their preassure number so I can switch mine to it so I can feel any better while I wait for my next titration? I feel like hell. Thanks.

John.

[blarg]

Using someone else's pressure won't do much for you. Your anatomy is unique.

I will say, however, that most masks require a pressure of more than 4 to clear the exhaled CO2. So, as such, I'd be using 6 if you were titrated at 4 to make sure I was getting enough oxygen throughout the night.

[dsm]

[quote="Anonymous"]Hi.

I've been recently diagnosed with severe apnea, but my sleep study shows A LOT of only hypopneas through the night (AHI: 30). My titration showed I only need a preassure of four, but I still sleep very poorly, as if I wasn't on any treatment at all. I'm waiting for my next titration, which is taking for ever. So, is there anyone out there whose type of apnea (hypopnea) and AHI (30) are similar that could give me their preassure number so I can switch mine to it so I can feel any better while I wait for my next titration? I feel like hell. Thanks.

John.

[oldgearhead]

Anyone else ever heard of a titration of 4 ?

No. Guest might be mistaken. My check valve won't stay
closed at 4!

Even though I'm not a medical professional, I think a pressure
of 4 must be bogus. I don't think 8 will kill anybody. If it
does, I'm sorry...


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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Titration

[Joethespy]

Been doing titration(CPAP study) studies for almost 20 years.....never had an optimal pressure of only 4. An AHI of 30 is significant. Hypopneas have the same physilogical significance as obstructive events. I would think that a re-titration study at a qualified lab would be beneficial.


Good Luck....Joe

[Snoredog]

I agree, you had a botched PSG, I'd think twice about going back to the same lab unless the retitration was FREE and done by an experienced tech.

In the mean time, I would increase the pressure to at least 6.5cm, if using Cflex then 7.0cm.

4cm pressure is too low to even flush out your exhaled CO2, probably why you are feeling so bad, most likely you have some headaches to go with it.

Bump your pressure up, see your doctor and question the validity of your PSG.

[sleepyWI]

Do you have a machine capable of recording AHI data? I had a similar situation. My titration indicated mostly hypops but it was very poor and I think my doc just made a guess of 7 to start me out at. I ended up retitrating myself which resulted in my resetting my machine to 8.2 and I am now sleeping much better.

[DeltaSeeker]

My sleep study indicated NO OSA events and no centrals with a pre-titration AHI (only Hypopneas) of 52.5. I agree that a pressure of 4 is ridiculous. When they did the split night they were only able to titrate up to a pressure of 9 at which point I got to REM sleep on my side only (not on back) and they wanted to re-titrate after 30 days to figure out optimal pressure. If you have a data capable machine, you can see how many OAs, HAs, and NRAs you are having and can adjust your pressure accordingly. Otherwise, you are just working in the dark (no pun intended). But I would definitely take the advice of the previous posters and raise my pressure to at least 6 if only to flush out the CO2. (My opinion only - NOT MEDICAL ADVICE.)

I currently have my auto set at 9-12 and experience a lot of HAs early in the night. But I am also recording OAs as well. Just because you didn't experience any at the sleep lab (NOT optimal sleep conditions!!!) doesn't mean you aren't having any. That's another reason a data capable machine is so important IMHO.

Hope your issues get ironed out!

Linda

[kteague]

No wonder you feel so bad! Personally I would use nothing before using a pressure of 4 that is obviously not adequate for you. Sounds like you're getting good advice on how to help yourself. So glad you decided to question your doctor's treatment. Especially now, it is important to have a doctor whose knowledge and practices you can trust.

The bigger question is if they've done that to you, how many others might be out there suffering as you are? Makes me angry, but I'll not get on that soapbox, as what you need now is knowledge and hope, and anger can drain your precious energy resources. (Then again, it can be a motivator for some.) It took me several months to be ready to let my former doctor know where I felt he dropped the ball in my case.

I have more hypopneas than apneas too, and have experienced that they too can impact your sleep and resultant health. I ended up going with an autopap and found my titrated pressure was lower than what I usually run on the auto. Getting retitrated tonight because my new doc says the previous report is questionable, and she wants to see how my auto stats match up with lab stats just to be sure everything is being done for me that can be done.

From experience I'd expect things to begin to turn around for you now that you are gaining a better understanding of how to advocate for your own treatment. Best wishes in finding what will work for you.

Kathy