Maybe AHI<5 is not possible for me

[avi123]

Questions:

I still don’t understand it why a person suffering from a Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) would use a CPAP, unless there is an additional respiratory condition.
Otherwise, how could a CPAP help with counteracting the longer sleep latency and the higher arousal index, which are the major sleep disorders accompanying RLS?
As to the goal of lowering the AHIs, since a pure RLS condition has nothing to do with AHIs, don’t the values between 10 and 15, indicate other underlying conditions?

Also, since RLS is both a neurological disorder and a sleep disorder, are not Neurologists MDs those to seek?


Causes of RLS:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Dis ... auses.html

p.s. did you know that RLS test is not a requirement by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), to be incuded in Sleep Studies PSGs?

[scrapper]

Dear Avi123:..........Please see the links posted by rested gal for further information.

[gasp]

Are you seeking a lower number because you don't feel rested or other another reason?

I chased zero for some time, checking my reports daily and adjusting every adjustable factor I could. I did this because zero must be better than 5. However, I've come to accept the frequent zero, 1, 2, 3 that I see as my 90th percentile. Now I view my reports when I don't feel rested, have allergy issues, or am curious. I've learned for myself that I've done all I can do within reason to achieve the lowest numbers I can so I've relaxed around it and believe ironically this has contributed to me feeling even more rested.

[BlackSpinner]

After 6+months, I still have no consistent data. I've tried so many different pressure settings. I'm on my second kind of machine. Both of my sleep studies ended up with AHI below 1.0, but I have NEVER been able to achieve that at home.

Have you considered your bed and bedroom?
That is another variable in the difference between a sleep study and home.

[robysue]

Are you seeking a lower number because you don't feel rested or other another reason?

Having read numerous posts by jbn3boys, I can tell you that she's not feeling anywhere close to rested most days. She's still extremely exhausted and tired most mornings. And that's at the root of her concern about the elevated AHI.

[jbn3boys]

Questions:

I still don’t understand it why a person suffering from a Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) would use a CPAP, unless there is an additional respiratory condition.

I happen to HAVE obstructive sleep apnea.

Otherwise, how could a CPAP help with counteracting the longer sleep latency and the higher arousal index, which are the major sleep disorders accompanying RLS?

I have NO problem with sleep latency.

As to the goal of lowering the AHIs, since a pure RLS condition has nothing to do with AHIs, don’t the values between 10 and 15, indicate other underlying conditions?

I would assume the high AHI is an indication that either
a) the OSA is not under control
or
b) the RLS is causing arousals, which are triggering hypopneas or "central" apneas.
Either way, it is leading to crappy sleep on my part, with NO restorative sleep.
That is exactly why I am working closely with my doctor, and am not willing to just change things willy-nilly on my own.

Also, since RLS is both a neurological disorder and a sleep disorder, are not Neurologists MDs those to seek?

My doctor IS a neurologist

Causes of RLS:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Dis ... auses.html

I was diagnosed AFTER it was proven that the stores of iron in my body (ferritin levels) were low. So, yes, it may be caused by low iron stores, but I HAVE low iron stores.

p.s. did you know that RLS test is not a requirement by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), to be incuded in Sleep Studies PSGs?

My sleep lab DOES record leg movements. It was this value, plus the low ferritin levels that brought about the RLS diagnosis.

Are you seeking a lower number because you don't feel rested or other another reason?

RobySue is spot on...I have never felt rested, aside from a small handful of days. And I've been at this for over six months, with 100% compliance and a perfectly acceptable leak rate (at least most nights).

After 6+months, I still have no consistent data. I've tried so many different pressure settings. I'm on my second kind of machine. Both of my sleep studies ended up with AHI below 1.0, but I have NEVER been able to achieve that at home.

Have you considered your bed and bedroom?
That is another variable in the difference between a sleep study and home.

I'm not sure what else I can do to improve my bedroom. It is calm, inviting, comfortable. If anything, I would think the consistency of my bedroom would help in getting results. The sleep lab is foreign, cold, not what I am used to. How could that improve my numbers? If you have ideas, I'd love to hear them.

[HoseCrusher]

Well since nothing else seems to be effective, how about this direction...?

http://fengshui.about.com/od/love/qt/perfectbedroom.htm

[jbn3boys]

Well since nothing else seems to be effective, how about this direction...?

http://fengshui.about.com/od/love/qt/perfectbedroom.htm

Of the tips mentioned there, the only ones that I don't already have in place are the open windows (BRRRR--and don't own an air purifier), and I don't keep the bathroom door closed at night. I'm afraid that would lead to some sore noses in the morning!

[avi123]

not relevant = waste of time

[jbn3boys]

I'm beginning to think that the idea of having an AHI below 5 on any kind of consistent basis may just not be possible for me.

Has anyone else not been able to achieve "success" with xpap?
(success being defined as AHI lower than 5.0)
Is a low AHI just not possible for some people

Yes, since I started CPAPING, 4 months ago, I have never seen my AHI below 10.

THAT is the information that i was asking for.

...
You mentioned that you have Obstructive Ap., have you provided somewhere a breakdown such as I did above?

I have posted that information multiple times. Feel free to search my posts, as I have already said. I did not feel it was pertinent to this conversation that I list all of that information yet again.

BTW, in this report I see that in a sample of 2,685 participants with NO RLS and 136 with RLS the AHIs were similar in both groups of No RLS
and Yes RLS at around 11 to 14.

Several problems with correlating me to that study:
1. This is a study of "older adults" with the average age of 67 to 68 years. I am no where near that yet, although my kids think I'm older than dirt. This is important to note because RLS is known to worsen with age.
2. I do not have your run-of-the-mill RLS. If I were a member of that study group, I would have reported ZERO effects of RLS. The ONLY way I know I have it (or at least have been told I have it) is through a NPSG and a blood test. I am really not yet convinced that I do have RLS.

But none of that has anything to do with my concerns stated in this post. This is NOT a post about RLS. It's a post about what might or might not be possible for me, and maybe asking for a little support and encouragement, not looking for someone to argue with me.