Drastic increase in Obstructive Apneas

Hi guys and gals,
just looking for some sort of help or reassurance here. Over the last few days my AHI, namely the amount of Obstructive Apneas, has shot up to shockingly high levels, the last two nights having an AHI of 56.7 and now 65.9. I actually woke up at 4am this morning, and saw my AHI was around the 56 mark, went back to sleep for another hour and my amount of obstructive apneas in that time went up by roughly 100.
Definitely feeling it too, bit of a headache and feel groggy.

Generally my scores have been great. I saw the Nurse on the 23rd of May, which is why my results don't go back further, they wiped the SD card. They were really impressed as my average AHI was right down. Most nights it was between 0.5 and 4. I did have a bit of a spike last month to around 20 on one night, and earlier this month to 17 but was told not to worry about one night every now and then.

But obviously this is a hell of a spike so I am a bit worried, as the numbers are almost reaching the level I was diagnosed at.

The last two nights have also been spent in different places, so don't think its to do with the immediate environment.
I generally sleep on my back but last night I slept on my side, and more of a mouth breather, but I have in the past been able to just focus on breathing through my nose without the aid of a chinstrap or anything.
Never had an issue with mask leak. Checked the filter and it looks to be clean but going to clean it today to be safe.

My thoughts are it could be one or more of the following;
Hay fever. Although I am not feeling too bad with it, have been a bit stuffed up.
The Heat. If any of reading this are in Britain you will know it has been incredibly hot the last few days. I have been sleeping without bed sheets. On the 16th I had a small bedside fan on right next to me. Last night a larger fan at the foot of the bed.
Stress. I am in the middle of moving house (hence the sleeping at two locations). Been off work since Tuesday to clean the house and move stuff. Also had a job interview mid week. Some money issues. Generally angry with several people wasting my time on Shpock (trying to sell some junk). I'm a happy go lucky guy usually but no denying it, have been a bit stressed lately.

I don't think its the equipment, like I said i'll clean the filter but otherwise it all looks fine to me.

Here is some sleepy head data too. I'm not sure what exactly you'd need to see though.

overview - http://imgur.com/I2Jbz0o

16th - http://imgur.com/lfFhr44

17th - http://imgur.com/0NSfTCD

Any help greatly appreciated, thanks everyone!

You have a PM...

Thanks Julie!

If anyone does have any info, please let me know but just want to apologise in advance if I am late responding from now on, about to go back to my other place to continue cleaning/moving and I won't have access to my PC for the week, just Iphone/Ipad (so can't add any more sleepyhead data either).

I assume you have made an appointment with DME to get your machine checked and one with your doctor. I can't see anything because of the number of flags covering it. you could zoom in and see if they are real or a sensor fault. When there is a drastic change, you may need a medical examination, testing or another sleep study

Nothing booked yet, it's the weekend and my doctors and the sleep clinic won't be open today.
I'm hoping it's just down to the heat and stress, trying to remain positive.
I've only been on the Cpap machine for 2 months, can't see how it would escalate so much in one night.

It wouldn't be impossible for the machine to be malfunctioning.
I know of at least one person who had a machine similar to yours and had a sudden overnight change from acceptable AHI to unacceptable.
It was a sensor malfunction and covered under warranty.

Okay cool. Well I'm gunna give it another few nights (it's still a heat wave here), but definetly going to call if there's no improvement this week. Thanks for getting g back to me folks!

Beechyboy wrote:16th - http://imgur.com/lfFhr44

17th - http://imgur.com/0NSfTCD

Why it is in CPAP mode??? It MUST be APAP (the automatic mode with range of pressures - for example, 13-18)!!! The machine should remove obstruction by increasing pressure, but it is always set to 15 which could be not enough. Or, maybe, the mask is leaking too much, so the pressure escapes outside instead of doing its work of keeping the tissues up.

Beechyboy wrote:Okay cool. Well I'm gunna give it another few nights (it's still a heat wave here), but definetly going to call if there's no improvement this week. Thanks for getting g back to me folks!

Your sleep doc and DME should both have after hour phone numbers. My suggestion, tell someone. Let them know your concerns and let them make the decision rather than risk making the wrong decision.

As some on the forum have said, maybe your machine is malfunctioning. If so, they should be able to loan you a CPAP machine to use while yours is being checked.

Pugsy wrote:It wouldn't be impossible for the machine to be malfunctioning.
I know of at least one person who had a machine similar to yours and had a sudden overnight change from acceptable AHI to unacceptable.
It was a sensor malfunction and covered under warranty.

Yes, this. And also consider changes in airway. For example, might you have a cold or allergies?

Hi folks, just saw the newer messages.
As for the CPAP/APAP mode no idea why it's only on CPAP mode, I can't change that anywhere in the settings. May have been like this since last month when I saw the nurse.

As for airway issues, I have felt slightly blocked up with hay fever but nothing terrible.

Sunday nights results were actually down to 9.7.

Tonight I woke up after an hour to see an AHI of 95.9 with just over 100 obstructive apneas.
I turned off my desk fan, and could feel hot air coming through the mask but decided to put up with the heat.
Now at 5 hours the ahi is down to 35 and have only gone up by another 60 obstructives in that time.
Going to call this morning to see what the doctors say/ see if I can get an appointment.

Ursego wrote:Or, maybe, the mask is leaking too much, so the pressure escapes outside instead of doing its work of keeping the tissues up.

yeah..... no.

Just had roughly over another hour with it, same sleeping position, no fan, only had 1 more obstructive apnea register. Average now down to 27.
And also should say the mask fit has always shown as 100% and I've never felt any leaks. I wear the mask quite tight, doesn't feel uncomfortable to me.
Thanks again for the advice everyone!

Beechyboy wrote:Hi folks, just saw the newer messages.
As for the CPAP/APAP mode no idea why it's only on CPAP mode, I can't change that anywhere in the settings. May have been like this since last month when I saw the nurse.

As for airway issues, I have felt slightly blocked up with hay fever but nothing terrible.

Sunday nights results were actually down to 9.7.

Tonight I woke up after an hour to see an AHI of 95.9 with just over 100 obstructive apneas.
I turned off my desk fan, and could feel hot air coming through the mask but decided to put up with the heat.
Now at 5 hours the ahi is down to 35 and have only gone up by another 60 obstructives in that time.
Going to call this morning to see what the doctors say/ see if I can get an appointment.

Sounds like the first hour is the worst. Are you using ramp?

Any chance your throat is a bit swollen form allergies? It may be fine during teh day, but could make it easier for your throat to collapse while asleep. The air could be helping, which would be why the events improve during the night.

Can you change the temp on your air? It sounds like you are getting warmer air than you want. There should be a way on that machine to not heat the air. Or is it just too hot where you are?

zoocrewphoto wrote:

Sounds like the first hour is the worst. Are you using ramp?

Any chance your throat is a bit swollen form allergies? It may be fine during teh day, but could make it easier for your throat to collapse while asleep. The air could be helping, which would be why the events improve during the night.

Can you change the temp on your air? It sounds like you are getting warmer air than you want. There should be a way on that machine to not heat the air. Or is it just too hot where you are?

Possible there could be some swelling, although don't really feel much aside from a bit of a blocked nose occasionally.

As for the temperature unfortunately no options I can change, and it is boiling hot here in the UK right now, yesterday it reached around 30 degrees where i am and there's barely any breeze to cool stuff down. Worse still my house gets direct sunlight while I'm out at work so when I get in it's like an oven.

Just tried calling the clinic but getting no answer right now, and no voice mail despite their booklet saying to leave a message...