High AHI numbers

I just recently received a S8 Elite II machine from my DME. I have been monitoring my data from the LCD screen for the past 2 weeks. My AHI is 12.8, all hypopneas. My pressure is currently set at 11. My mask is a Mirage Quattro FFM. My leak rate has always been below 0.3L/min. I have been sleeping on my back due to back pain. Side sleeping is not an option right now.

Any suggestions on how I could get my AHI numbers down? Incrementally raising pressure?

Dave.....

I think you're on the right track to raise your pressure in small increments. Raise it a bit and leave it at the new setting for a week, then adjust from there. Your leak rate is excellent, congrats on that! While not an option now, sleeping on your side would probably also help, as would sleeping in a recliner. Good luck!

why do you care about AHI numbers? what is important is how do you feel during the day, and you have not mentioned anything about that..

williamco wrote:why do you care about AHI numbers? what is important is how do you feel during the day, and you have not mentioned anything about that..

One of the objectives with these machines is to get your AHI numbers down to 5 or below. Right? It is for me. Hell, it makes me feel better just knowing my AHI is below 5.

Well, from my limited experience so far you might want to stay the course for a bit longer. I'm at week 4, and only in the last week have I seen my AHI start to drop. I had been running between 10 - 12AHI for the first 3 weeks, but have been single digits for the last week. It takes some time to get used to the xPap - don't rush it, don't get frustrated, just keep going.

Beer and decongestants don't hurt either.

Jamie

To answer your questions, I am feeling better than before CPAP. That being said, I think I can be doing much better.

Before CPAP, I was very foggy - difficulty with words, forgetful, tired during the day etc. After 6 weeks on the hose, I still have some issues with daytime drowsiness and I think I could do better cognitively.

jamieay wrote:Beer and decongestants don't hurt either.

Jamie,

What, no pizza?

-john-

Pizza *totally* messes it up! Of course, the dill pickle I just ate isn't going to help any....

Jamie

Do you have any issues with allergies? When i first started off I had fair numbers once i got past the leaky mask stage and learning to sleep with the gear on. Then the numbers slowly increased. I was titrated for 14 but my sleep doctor had the machine set for 11.
the ahi readings were steadily climbing and i finally called the doctor and complained. She said since you are due in next week we can run the data on your machine and see what it has to say. She did that and confirmed what i had been saying that my numbers were way too high. She had the pressure set to 14 and sent me on my way. For the first week or so the numbers were terrible. I was pretty disappointed. The doc recommended i get my allergies under control so I started taking zyrtec daily and the nose drops I had a prescription for. I also played with the humidity settings a bit. the numbers steadily decreased over the next 2-3 weeks after that. I had some issues getting used to the added pressure once i settled down and got used to that and took care of the allergies it all seemed to come together.

If you do make changes to pressure make small ones and give it time to see if actually has an effect. I tried that for a week or 2 to see if raising the pressure slowly would help.
In my case it didn't. i left it at 14 and went after the sinus issue.
Then it all came together. I noticed several things affected me during that trial and error process. Allergies affected me. Sleeping habits were an issue. Stress was a factor.
If any of those things were an issue my numbers increased.

It is all trial and error. You sound like you are close to nailing it. Good luck.

Welcome, VA3AEQ! You said that you have an S8 Elite II machine and you've been reading the leak rate on the machine's LCD screen. You mentioned that your leak rate has been below 0.3 L/min. I believe that the S8 machine's LCD screen reports the leak rate in L/sec, so you may want to double-check that. If your leak rate is actually 0.3 L/sec, then it's getting close to the 0.4 L/sec threshold where leaks can affect therapy (discomfort, disturbed sleep and reduced efficacy of treatment), as well as cause the other data (such as AHI) to be inaccurate. With a ResMed machine, the closer the leak rate is to zero, the better.

Thanks All,

DreamOn, My leak rate is usually around 0.03L/sec or 0.18L/min. Not too bad. I've noticed if my leak rate is 0.03 - 0.05L/sec my AHI goes up. So I keep working on the leak rate.

Overall, I am heading towards my worst time of year with allergies. From Sept until freeze up, I have lots of nasal congestion. Looks like I'll be taking an OTC antihistamine for the next 6 - 8 weeks.

Things have been better recently, some nights my AHI is 5.0 or less. With other nights with AHI around 12 or 13. It also has been very humid here recently, so sleeping has been difficult. Hopefully things calm down soon.

I'll be leaving my pressure for the next 3 weeks and see what haappens. I'll report back later.

Dave.....

Would it be possible for you to raise the head of the bed 4-6" off the floor with blocks? It could temper the back sleeping problems and deal with any GERD you might incidentally have.