Can't get the balance right AHIs v Leaks

I am unable to get an AHI under 5.

My average is around 8, but I want to feel more rested on waking. I have found that if I have more leaking than I should eg 3, my AHI level is around 6, but when my leaks are under control - 2.24 or less, the AHI level rises to 9 ish.

I've tried moving from my preferred nasal mask to a full face mask again - just to see if my leakage is due to mouth breathing - but there is no consistency. At least using the full face mask wasn't as traumatic this time round as it was in February when iI had a fortnight from hell. (So I suppose that's a victory in itself!!!)

Should I up my maximum pressure to see if it makes any difference? I thought by raising it by 1 at a time, or is that too much? (I'm currently at 14 with no ramp.) And how long a time period should I allow to be confident that any improvement in my AHI levels (if any) is consistent with the increase in pressure?

For those of you who rightly would suggest a return to my doc, I'm on a yearly examination, due in December, and my titration study showed 12.8 but this still gives me more AHIs than I consider to be desirable - and from your comments it would seem that the AHI rate should be under 5. I should explain that apparently in France, under 10 is considered to be correct and compliant treatment in France ......... so my sleep tech and doc don't see my AHI levels as being a problem, but in comparaison with what I read on here, and elsewhere, they're not really good enough.

Advice and help please ........ oh and of course encouragement should you consider it appropriate! Many thanks in advance!

I think you need to know what makes up your AHI. AHI is a combination of different types of events, not just obstrutive apneas. If you have an AHI of 9 and 8 are obstrucitve, that is one answer. If 8 are central, that is something entirely different.

I'm old to xPAP but new to numbers so I am still trying to figure it out. I tend to get around 3.5 central apneas per hour, so to stay under an AHI of 5 I only have a small window for obtructive and hypopnea events.

I kept pushing the pressure up evey couple of days to find the max point and did when I woke up gasping for air and an AHI of 20 after 2 hours, all of which were centrals. I have since lowered the pressure.

John

You certainly deserve encouragement. I'm still fighting to get my AHI under five, too. Certainly an increase in pressure may be warranted. I change mine by a cm at a time, though I know there are folks who recommend less of a change. You're right to work on keeping leaks under control- when leaks are high I don't believe our AHI numbers can be considered accurate. Good luck, keep us posted on what you do and how it works out.