My Dilemma

My prescribed pressure setting is between 10 and 12 - I have used 12 up till about three weeks ago when I finally had the nerve to turn it down to 11 (I was experiencing severe aerophagia). At this pressure my aerophagia cleared up but my AHI was hovering around 7. So I turned the pressure up to 11.2. Now my aerophagia is back with a vengeance and I feel awful. My face swells (chipmunk cheeks) and my eyes water and itch. So, my question is this - is an AHI of 7 so bad? I don't seem to be able to set my machine at 11.1.

Maybe try a constant pressure of 11? This is a wild guess, but might be worth a try.

What is your HI portion of the AHI when you are seeing AHI of 7?
Assuming that you aren't experiencing any leaks that can be improved on maybe AHI of 7 isn't so bad if mainly Hypopneas and you feel better with it as opposed to the aerophagia symptoms. Your CPAP machine allows for .2 increment adjustments only. Can't split the difference and get a .1...

I will check and see what the "7" is made up of. Also, I think I will try using the EPR setting. Maybe that will help.

Pugsy is right on. I agree its the AI number to focus on, not the AHI.

Wish me luck. The aerophagia has really been unbearable.

You still using the Elite II? EPR might help a little, sure wouldn't hurt to try.

Best numbers in the world don't mean much if you don't/didn't get much sleep because of aerophagia or other problems. If this problem continues I would suggest a discussion with the doctor about it. I am sure you have seen some of the threads here about it.

I don't necessarily discount hypopneas as not being important. But if the major factor in your AHI total are hypopneas then you may have a little extra wiggle room because of the way that the ResMed machines seem to score hypopneas. Gotta look at the big picture...and how you feel should be at the top of the list.

Well, I've just had my 4th night with cpap. I made the beginner's mistake of focusing on the numbers, like my own science experiment, and turned my high pressure up to 11... and had bad gas and pain. Lesson learned. I don't think having pain is part of good therapy.

If you have a good relationship with your doctor, discuss it with him/her. I would be interested in what you learn.

It's so great having this safety net here, isn't it?

Still using the Elite II? I have only had it for two months. I just noticed that almost everyone on this forum has an auto machine. Ask my doctor? What doctor? My doctor handed me the machine and told me to have a nice life. There are no follow ups to treatment here. No one reads data or anything. I mentioned this to my family doctor and she is supposed to set me up with an appointment at the local teaching college, they have a sleep disorder clinic and my doctor said that they could answer questions that I have and help me to use my equipment efficently. That is why I need this forum so much. You guys are my sleep doctor.I called the doctor who ordered my tests, he is a pulmonologist, when I first started therapy and asked about the dry eyes and bloating and he told me he had never heard of such a thing. So I will never call him about anything again. I guess the only way I will get an auto machine is to buy one myself and I am still paying for the first one.

raggedykat wrote:Ask my doctor? What doctor?

Okay, understood. Sad to say but I am not surprised.
An auto machine may or may not help you. I have an auto machine. I have always used it in auto mode. It does well for me but I did experience really bad aerophagia with it once. That was when I tried the Hybrid mask. My solution? Hmm. Don't use the Hybrid unless emergency. So just having an auto machine doesn't mean a person won't swallow a bunch of air.

That said, this is what I would do if I were in your shoes. I would back off on the pressure just a bit to see where the aerophagia stops, all the while looking very closely at my reports (I see you have the software). Pay particular attention to anything that affects the therapy numbers like leaks. You have already read up on aerophagia and the various methods users try to limit the effects. Keep reading and keep trying. Then I would look at those pesky AHI numbers and watch them. If I had an AHI of 7 and I slept well and I felt rested AND the HI portion of that number was say 5 or more, I would probably count my blessings and leave well enough alone.

Some day down the road when money permits perhaps consider self purchase of an auto machine (always good to have a spare machine anyway). Sometimes some really good deals can be found on slightly used machines at the auction.

If your AI number is the high number.... well, cross that bridge when you come to it.

I have a nasal aire II mask on its way to try, I thought maybe it would help with the eye problems. I'm trying them out through Babette's program. And I am pretty sure that my lucky number for no aerophagia is 11.

So, with that said I will check my numbers to see what makes up the AHI and hopefully they are coming from the right places.

Thanks Doctor Pugsy!