Is AHI of 22 bad?

[Leonbergergirl70]

I know an APAP has a slightly higher AHI, but mine has been hovering around the low 20's. The previous
mask was leaking, so DME gave me 2 new Resmed Mirage masks. The one with the cushion shows same
AHI, the one without ranges from 9-19. DME didn't check to see if the masks leaked in the office,
and they are not concerned. But i am. Everybody on the CPAPlist seems to have rather low AHIs.
I'm not going to die, am i?
Leonbergergirl

[williamco]

are you kidding?

AHI of 20 means your treatment is not effective at all

[Julie]

You're not going to die (or it's highly unlikely, because after all you went untreated, with probably a much higher number of events, prior to Cpap, and this is fixable I'm sure. But not knowing more, like whether or not you may be mouth breathing when asleep, which makes Cpap pretty much not helpful, makes it hard to guess what's wrong. It very likely could be that your new masks leak, whether because they're fitted badly, the wrong size, or just not for you (and maybe you need both a new DME and/or to be more assertive with them about fitting when you're trying on masks) but you need to go back and address things with them. Do you have software which would make it easier to know what happens when you're sleeping? If not, consider getting it (what kind of machine do you have?).

[Janknitz]

I know an APAP has a slightly higher AHI, but mine has been hovering around the low 20's.

Who says an APAP has slightly higher AHI???? Did the DME tell you that to excuse the way too high AHI you're having? My AHI is always under 1.0, usually around 0.5. It sounds like your DME is not being helpfu at all, and you are not getting benefit from your therapy. This needs some time and attention from someone who knows what they are doing.

If you can let us know what machine you have, you may be able to access some data without software, or we can help you get the proper software to see what is going on. If you truly have an APAP, it should be data capable unless they foisted one of the new Resmed S9 Escape Autos on you.

It will also help to know which Resmed Mirage masks you are trying as there are a few "models" in the Mirage line.

You may be mouth breathing. Even in a FF mask, if your mouth opens it can cause the mask to leak. Or the pressure may not be set correctly. But let's start with machine and mask makes and models.

[elena88]

oh my, no 22 is BAD.....

you would qualify as not even being treated with numbers like that..


so please go up the to the top left corner of the home page


click on user control panel

then click on profile

then click on edit equipment and put your machine and all the info in those fields..


also do you have a copy of your sleep study? If not, please ask your doctor for the five to eight page summery..

do you know what your ahi was at your study?

stick around, read the new users icon at the top and the cpap wiki as soon as you have some time..

everyone will help you here.. this is a great forum!

elena

[Janetlm]

Thank you all for your help. I am now reregistered (been on List for years.)
My equipment should be listed below.
I was having huge leaks with my old Mirage Activa LT, and AHI (mostly HI) of 22, so i was given 2 new ones, one with
a cushion inside, one just plain. The cushioned one produced AHIs of 20-22. The simple mask gives me HIs of 19-20 or 8; i never
know what will appear, with leak rates of 1.20 or 0.88 (once i got zero leaks first time in my APAP life, with HI of 8+).

DME informs that high HIs are due to leaks and not to worry. But i am exhausted, listless, forgetful, useless.
I can't believe i am getting any therapy, and don't know what to do, especially since the new Activa does SEEM to
fit so well.

You all know so much more than i do, and perhaps can suggest some reasons for sudden high HI's.
Thank you so much in advance.
Tired in Green Bay

[robysue]

Some additional information that might be useful to sleuthing this issue:

What straight CPAP pressure were you using before being switched to APAP? What were your typical AHI's when you were on straight CPAP? What's the pressure range the APAP is using? And why were you switched to APAP?

Like others, I think an AHI in the 20s with APAP is way, way too high.

[Tired Linda]

Janetlm, what pressure are currently using?

Linda

[donnafowler]

I just switched a month ago to an APAP and my AHIs are lower than with straight CPAP (and they were very good before!) I don't believe that the DME knows what he is talking about! That being said, the pressures should be set correctly--if the pressures are set too far apart it is harder to get to a higher pressure quickly enough to be effective, so that could be what they are talking about, but that should be easily corrected with a narrow pressure range.

No matter what, 22 is too high and should be investigated! It may be time to go DME shopping!

[jdm2857]

Take a look at the mask pictures at https://www.cpap.com and you can figure out which masks you have.