Need Help Understanding The Results from my Machine

[Jersey Girl]

Dear Friends,

I've only been on CPAP a little over a month, but thanks to all of you, I am able to get into the patient section of my cpap machine. These are my results from last night. Could you please explain to me what each of them means?

Leak: 0.00L/S
AHI: 3.4
AI: 0.2
HI: 3.2

Any information would be mosted appreciated, as I am still a newbie!

[Hawthorne]

This is great data!

An AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index) of 3.4 is very good since the medical profession says that an AHI under 5 is well treated sleep apnea.

An AI (Apnea Index) of 0.2 - well you can't get much better than that!

With an HI (Hypopnea Index) of 3.2, on a Resmed machine (which counts Hypopneas differently and register more than, say a Respironics machine does), you are doing very well.

The leak rate, being 0.0, well can't do any better than that!

How do you feel?

[Ins Man]

Hi, I am also new to CPAP. I have only had my machine for a week as of today. I have been struggling with the mask as for leaks vs. installing it too tight and leaving marks. I have also been playing with the humidity settings to find a balance. After reading several posts over the last few days, I looked at my readings this morning. My pressure is set to 9.
These readings are from the " Day" setting.
Leaks 0.16L/s
AHI 11.3
AI 1.3
HI 10.0
I have no idea what these mean and what is good. Could someone please shed some light? Thanks so much

[Hawthorne]

If you read my reply (above) to the Jersey Girl, you will get some help.

[jnk]

Hi, I am also new to CPAP. I have only had my machine for a week as of today. I have been struggling with the mask as for leaks vs. installing it too tight and leaving marks. I have also been playing with the humidity settings to find a balance. After reading several posts over the last few days, I looked at my readings this morning. My pressure is set to 9.
These readings are from the " Day" setting.
Leaks 0.16L/s
AHI 11.3
AI 1.3
HI 10.0
I have no idea what these mean and what is good. Could someone please shed some light? Thanks so much

Very good for a first week, in my opinion!

We all shoot for 0.0 for leak with a ResMed machine (depending on the mask we use and the mask setting selected in the machine), but that can take a while to achieve. At least, it did me. We also shoot for AI below 1.0, but that takes a while, too. Or, again, it took me a while, anyway.

Usually the first few weeks are about getting used to the machine and the routine and not worrying too much about numbers yet, but your numbers are already looking good, so you are well on your way.

The key, of course, as Hawthorne put it so well, is, How do you feel? That can take a while to improve too, but it is the big consideration.

[Jersey Girl]

Dear Hawthorne,

Thanks for the info. I feel wonderful. I no longer feel exhausted on a daily basis. For years I went to my endo for my type II diabetes, telling him how exhausted I am all the time, feeling as though a truck had run over me. They did tons of blood work but never even suggested a sleep study. My sleep doctor says that I have "mild" sleep apnea - just 4-5 events per hour, except when I am dreaming, when it averages about 19 times per hour. I think it really is probably a bit higher, since I didn't sleep too well in the sleep lab - all those wires and I was nervous my first time there! I kept thinking about the camera watching me and me looking silly while I slept - you know, silly positions, hair a mess, or G-d forbid, drooling. So, I didn't get nearly as much sleep as I do at home. I am amazed at the difference in how I feel now. My fatigue has been replaced with energy!

[jnk]

Dear Hawthorne,

Thanks for the info. I feel wonderful. I no longer feel exhausted on a daily basis. For years I went to my endo for my type II diabetes, telling him how exhausted I am all the time, feeling as though a truck had run over me. They did tons of blood work but never even suggested a sleep study. My sleep doctor says that I have "mild" sleep apnea - just 4-5 events per hour, except when I am dreaming, when it averages about 19 times per hour. I think it really is probably a bit higher, since I didn't sleep too well in the sleep lab - all those wires and I was nervous my first time there! I kept thinking about the camera watching me and me looking silly while I slept - you know, silly positions, hair a mess, or G-d forbid, drooling. So, I didn't get nearly as much sleep as I do at home. I am amazed at the difference in how I feel now. My fatigue has been replaced with energy!

Now we know why Mr. Waits wrote what he did when he saw you on the street and you looked so tired. Time for Tom to do a rewrite!

[rosacer]

Congratulations JerseyGirl, it's very nice to know you feel full of energy after a shord period of time using your machine.

Hawthorne, you can maybe suggest something to me. I have been using my machine every day 7 to 8 hours, the last 68 days. I have had lets say 60% improvement in my energy (my brain is back again), I'm still feeling tired and I don't understand why. I sleep every day until my body wakes me up. I don't wake up in the middle of the night (it rarelly happens). Maybe the weight? I know I need to lose weight. I know I have a kind of respiratory insuficiency, my doctor had never explain to me anything about that. I discovered that by somebody who was not supposed to tell me that My high blood pressure medication needs to be adjusted?

My numbers are not bad (last month readings):
leaks = 0.0 L/min
AI= 0.3
HI= 2.6
AHI= 2.9.
Pressure = 7 cmH2O

I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow and I would like to have some suggestions for her. If you have any idea you are the welcome.
p.s. I just ordered the low carb cook book

[Hawthorne]

rosacer - 68 days is not very long and you may not yet see as much improvement as you would like. Everyone is different and some people take longer than others to show improvement. You say you are 60% improved and that is great. You say you need to lose some weight and that will make a difference if you can do that.

If I were you, I would discuss your blood pressure medication with your doctor. I assume you monitor your blood pressure, since you take medication for it. Have you noticed an improvement since you have been on cpap? It could be that your blood pressure medication could be reduced now that your sleep apnea is being treated. I'm not a doctor but it is certainly something to check into. Your blood pressure may have improved and you could be taking too much medication now. For many people with high blood pressure and sleep apnea, good cpap therapy can improve things. Check that out with your doctor though and do not make adjustments in the BP meds without the her approval.

Your numbers tell me that you are certainly getting good therapy!

That low carb cookbook could certainly help with the weight though.

Sounds to me like you are doing good things for your health. Keep it up!!

[rosiefrosie]

Great numbers Jersey Girl!! Is the nasal mask still working out for you? And did your husband have his sleep study?

Congrats. It's always nice to see someone improve so fast.

rosie

[Jersey Girl]

Dear Rosie,

Although I have discovered how to properly use the Swift LT for her with nasal pillows, for me, I just prefer having air float around my nose, rather than have something at the entrance to my nostrils. It's just a personal preference. So, my comfort gel nasal mask is still the more comfortable one. I have also ordered a few items from pad-a-cheek to make it more comfortable still.

My husband did go for his sleep study, but our sleep doctor is very busy and we were told it would be 4 weeks before he meets with his nurse practitioner to get his results and then if he does have sleep apnea, they would set up another sleep study with the mask. So, this is going to be a long process. In the mean time, I have developed a system of tapping him (annoyingly) whenever he is snoring so that he turns the other way. He still snores, even on his side, but at least I can sleep if he's not snoring directly at me!

Thanks so much for your kind words of encouragement. I no longer care that I look like a robot with a tube when I sleep. The important thing is that I wake up well rested. I still can't get over the difference! I wish doctors would become more educated about this so that people like us wouldn't go on for years sleeping, but feeling as though we hadn't slept!

How are you doing Rosie?

Warmly,
Jersey Girl

[rosacer]

Thanks Hawthorne!

[Debjax]

rosacer, you mentioned that weight may be part of your issue, and while I can't say for sure for you, I KNOW it is the issue causing my remaining lack of energy..I am so out of shape, my body has to struggle sometimes to catch my breath with minimal exertion. As I've started exercising, that has helped, and hopefully will continue to improve as I start to lose weight.

You also mentioned that you rarely wake up at night anymore, and I have to day that was the greatest blessing I could have received from my treatment, that I no longer have to get up twice night to go to the bathroom....It seems like so little a thing as a CPAP machine can make so much difference, but it is amazing to me.