AHI reading and leakage

I used CPAP since 1997 and upgraded and changed machines few times since. My present machine is a BiPAP Auto M Series (Respirnics). This was prescribed after a sleep study in Feb. 09 which showed an AHI of 34. The mask fitting is an issue, I have significant leakage that I physically feel and it shows on the data collected on the smart card. When the doctor looks at the data the machine shows an AHI of 5 and under, at times even 1. If my sleep is that good I won't be waking up devastated every morning. It is a huge task to get up with very dry mouth and virtually ZERO energy left in me. If I have an AHI of 1 to 5 I won't be having very persistent day time sleepiness that causes at least one major nap at day time and at times 2 or 3 naps. If my AHI is that good I won't be feeling sleepy after driving 2 miles, the other day I had to wake up earlier and ended up sleeping on one traffic light stops. Given all of that my machine is giving me 1 to 5 AHI.

I know that the data analysis by the software is as good as the algorithm used and the formulas entered by humans. I am not sure if any one else has a similar experience. Is any one with inside knowledge on how the software presents that data collected on the smart card and comes up with the significant numbers like AHI and other results?

what is your leak rate. What is you AI and HI...

aayjaber wrote:IIf my AHI is that good I won't be feeling sleepy after driving 2 miles, the other day I had to wake up earlier and ended up sleeping on one traffic light stops.

Hi aayjaber

To protect yourself (and others) you may want to look at -

http://www.nonap.com.au/

which is designed to warn you that you are too tired to drive.

It works well, but only if your head drops forward when you go to sleep.

cheers

Mars

A large leak rate will render the AHI that the machine reports useless... I just learned this myself from a sleep technician at my doctor's office.