Need help with AHI fluctuations
Need help with AHI fluctuations
Hi everyone!
Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea I did nose surgery to reduce my turbine on my right side - apparently, I had 90% blockage! After the surgery, I have been diagnosed with mild overall sleep apnea (AHI 6.3, RDI 11.3) and moderate in REM and on the stomach (REM AHI 14.5, REM RDI 21.8, stomach AHI 11.9 , stomach RDI 18.5). I have had many complications from sleep apnea, even though it was mild such as:
- high blood pressure(especially my diastolic BP) - 160/110
- polycythemia
- respiratory acidosis
- erectile issues
- high blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides)
- high uric acid
Fast forward 2 months in therapy and second nose surgery on my left side, my blood pressure is around 135/78 - can be better, but it's improving(especially my diastolic BP is great!), my RBC are within range (hemoglobin and hematocrit are still a bit high, but getting down), uric acid normal, my cholesterol dropped 80 points and my triglycerides dropped about 50 points, and the little guy downstairs works much better
I feel much better overall, however, I sometimes have high-ish AHI, for example, if my AHI is > 2.5 I feel terrible and have a morning headache. I am posting some OSCAR charts, from 3 individual nights.
I would appreciate some help here!
Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea I did nose surgery to reduce my turbine on my right side - apparently, I had 90% blockage! After the surgery, I have been diagnosed with mild overall sleep apnea (AHI 6.3, RDI 11.3) and moderate in REM and on the stomach (REM AHI 14.5, REM RDI 21.8, stomach AHI 11.9 , stomach RDI 18.5). I have had many complications from sleep apnea, even though it was mild such as:
- high blood pressure(especially my diastolic BP) - 160/110
- polycythemia
- respiratory acidosis
- erectile issues
- high blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides)
- high uric acid
Fast forward 2 months in therapy and second nose surgery on my left side, my blood pressure is around 135/78 - can be better, but it's improving(especially my diastolic BP is great!), my RBC are within range (hemoglobin and hematocrit are still a bit high, but getting down), uric acid normal, my cholesterol dropped 80 points and my triglycerides dropped about 50 points, and the little guy downstairs works much better
I feel much better overall, however, I sometimes have high-ish AHI, for example, if my AHI is > 2.5 I feel terrible and have a morning headache. I am posting some OSCAR charts, from 3 individual nights.
I would appreciate some help here!
_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Re: Need help with AHI fluctuations
Your leaks aren't terrible, but have you ever considered a full face mask to improve them?
_________________
Mask: Ultra Mirage™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Humidifier: IntelliPAP Integrated Heated Humidifier |
Re: Need help with AHI fluctuations
I can’t tell you thing about your numbers as a newbie here but welcome to the board.mile0105 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 14, 2022 10:59 amHi everyone!
Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea I did nose surgery to reduce my turbine on my right side - apparently, I had 90% blockage! After the surgery, I have been diagnosed with mild overall sleep apnea (AHI 6.3, RDI 11.3) and moderate in REM and on the stomach (REM AHI 14.5, REM RDI 21.8, stomach AHI 11.9 , stomach RDI 18.5). I have had many complications from sleep apnea, even though it was mild such as:
- high blood pressure(especially my diastolic BP) - 160/110
- polycythemia
- respiratory acidosis
- erectile issues
- high blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides)
- high uric acid
Fast forward 2 months in therapy and second nose surgery on my left side, my blood pressure is around 135/78 - can be better, but it's improving(especially my diastolic BP is great!), my RBC are within range (hemoglobin and hematocrit are still a bit high, but getting down), uric acid normal, my cholesterol dropped 80 points and my triglycerides dropped about 50 points, and the little guy downstairs works much better
I feel much better overall, however, I sometimes have high-ish AHI, for example, if my AHI is > 2.5 I feel terrible and have a morning headache. I am posting some OSCAR charts, from 3 individual nights.
I would appreciate some help here!
13 August.png
8 August.png
7 August.png
_________________
Machine: AirSense 11 Autoset |
Mask: ResMed AirFit N30 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Additional Comments: Newbie who loves her machine! |
Last edited by lynninnj on Sun Aug 14, 2022 3:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Beware the schoolyard bullies, mean girls, and fragile male egos. Move along if you can’t be kind.
Re: Need help with AHI fluctuations
Yes, initially I started with a full face mask, but I just couldn't tolerate it. I have noticed that if I sleep a bit on an incline, the AHI is low as well as when I use my chin strap since I'm forcing my body to breathe through my nose.
_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
- Okie bipap
- Posts: 3553
- Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2015 4:14 pm
- Location: Central Oklahoma
Re: Need help with AHI fluctuations
most of your events are clear airway (central apnea) that your machine can"t do anything about. I believe most, if not all, of them are caused by poor sleep. You are having very few obstructive events. We do not sleep the same every night. Some nights we just have crappy sleep which often leads to having more central apnea events.
_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: Evora Full Face Mask - Fitpack |
Additional Comments: IPAP 20-25, ps 4, OSCAR software |
Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.
Re: Need help with AHI fluctuations
Welcome and I am very new and trying to figure all of this out.
It is amazing to me how many problems sleep apnea really causes. 2 years ago my wife was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension caused from years of severe untreated sleep apnea.
There are a lot of great people here that will be able to help you out.
_________________
Machine: AirSense 11 Autoset |
Mask: Evora Full Face Mask |
Additional Comments: I CAN BREATHE! |
Angry much?
Re: Need help with AHI fluctuations
Your leaks are fine:
Large leak
1. Aug. 13th - 0.00
2. Aug. 8th - 0.00
3. Aug. 7th - 0.00
Okie bipap has it right.
You are doing fine.
JPB
Large leak
1. Aug. 13th - 0.00
2. Aug. 8th - 0.00
3. Aug. 7th - 0.00
Okie bipap has it right.
You are doing fine.
JPB
_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Additional Comments: Sleep on a Buckwheat Hull Pillow. |
Re: Need help with AHI fluctuations
@ Mile - Okie has nailed it. There is simply night-to-night variation. Humans are not robots and will not replicate the same results night after night. With the same gear and the same pressures and going to bed at the same time and no alcohol or drugs, I have nightly variations too. One thing you CAN control -- which you have been doing -- is controlling the leaks. That is not the only factor but is an important one. After you have more time on CPAP, I recommend trying a FFM again. It may work for you in the future.
_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset with built in humidifier
Resmed P10 pillow mask
Resmed P10 pillow mask
Re: Need help with AHI fluctuations
There is no reason for you to wear a full face mask, if you don't want to.
The only reason to worry about your level of leaks, is if they are waking you up.
The leaks you currently have do not affect therapy pressure. The machine you are using can easily handle/hold adequate therapy pressure at these leak levels.
JPB
_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Additional Comments: Sleep on a Buckwheat Hull Pillow. |
Re: Need help with AHI fluctuations
Thank you all for your wonderful replies!
I might consider a full face mask in the future, I still have it lying around somewhere
I spoke to my ENT doctor and he thinks that sometimes my leaks could be mouth leaks (I have slept with my mouth open pretty much my whole life - my body needs to adjust) which could also explain the central sleep apneas - in reality, I might be just breathing through my mouth and my machine registering it as a CA. I don't really wake up from the leaks.
He also thinks that I may have had moderate or even severe sleep apnea before my right side of nose surgery as my throat was permanently inflamed/swollen (due to mouth breathing) which could explain all the complications - mild sleep apnea rarely causes issues, but it is good to have it treated anyway! Now that my throat is better and less dry, it opened my airway a bit.
I might consider a full face mask in the future, I still have it lying around somewhere
I spoke to my ENT doctor and he thinks that sometimes my leaks could be mouth leaks (I have slept with my mouth open pretty much my whole life - my body needs to adjust) which could also explain the central sleep apneas - in reality, I might be just breathing through my mouth and my machine registering it as a CA. I don't really wake up from the leaks.
He also thinks that I may have had moderate or even severe sleep apnea before my right side of nose surgery as my throat was permanently inflamed/swollen (due to mouth breathing) which could explain all the complications - mild sleep apnea rarely causes issues, but it is good to have it treated anyway! Now that my throat is better and less dry, it opened my airway a bit.
_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Re: Need help with AHI fluctuations
the larger the surface area the mask covers, the more places that you can get leaks.
Not everyone understands this.
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Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.
Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.