Flow Limitation--the number is paranthesis?

I have done a lot of reading up on the how to understand statistics on Sleepyhead, but can't find what the numbers mean that follow the recording of a flow limitation. For example, last night my machine (Respironics Dreamstation Auto Flex) recorded 23 flow limitations. Here is an example of how the first one looks:

#001: 22:15:13 (6)
Now obviously the first number is the event number (my first event) and the second is the time of night in military time--but I can't find information on what the number is parenthesis is. My "parenthesis numbers" are almost all 6, with (1) 8 and a couple of 4's.

I feel that I have a good understanding of what flow limitation itself means, but I can't find info on what the (number) means. I'd be appreciative if anyone can give me a clue.

My AHI numbers are very good. They are usually in the 0.24 range. Last night I had one hypopnea event and one clear airway event.

Also, I know we are each very individual in our health, apneas, machine, masks, etc., but I it sounds like 23 flow limitations is high? Would that be generally considered high?

On a Respironics machine the number in parentheses is a "marker" number and we don't know what it means.
It might be a close estimate of the duration in seconds.
Respironics machines don't report event duration....ResMed machines do.
Now I did a manual comparison of the number in parentheses on some OAs and hyponeas (probably manually counted over 100 such events) with a zoomed in manual counting of the duration in seconds. You have to zoom way in to manually count the seconds which makes it kinda hard to see the exact beginning and ending of the flow reduction.

It is very close though. OAs, hyponeas, CAs all have to be at least 10 seconds in duration to earn a flag. People will often see 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 in parentheses and obviously they can't be 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 seconds in duration or they wouldn't be flagged.
Most of the time when I would manually count those single digits...they barely made 10 second duration.
If I saw a 30 in parentheses...manually counting it I might come up with 28 seconds or 31 seconds...or in that neighborhood.
Remember it's hard at that level of zooming in to see the beginning and ending of the flow reduction.

It's close enough to give a person an idea as to event duration though.

If you want to zoom way in on one of those FLs you can manually count the second hash marks and get an idea how log it lasted.

Lahree wrote:t sounds like 23 flow limitations is high? Would that be generally considered high?

It depends on how long the sleep session is and are those Fls in dense clusters or spread out randomly over the entire night.
Sleep session of 2 hours...23 would be considered too high
Sleep session of 8 hours...not that big of a deal.

Flow limitations are when the airway is trying to collapse but doesn't progress to the point of earning an apnea flag of some sort. Either not enough % of reduction or duration isn't at 10 seconds.

Very many FLs and in dense clusters usually indications sub optimal pressures.
When in auto mode the machine will usually try to kill FLs with more pressure. Sometimes it can't get the job done for various reasons and in when that happens we just increase the minimum a little bit and give it a bit of a head start.

When wondering about the number of FLs...and is it too much...we look at several things.
How long is the sleep session
How many other apnea events are also flagged
How is the sleep quality in general
How are we feeling
Do we see snores associated with the FLs in very large numbers...snores are also signs the airway is trying to collapse (except VS2 snores which we don't really know exactly what they are).

When evaluating anything you see on the report we take a step back and look at the big picture. Just one thing that is a bit ugly doesn't necessarily mean that the therapy is sub optimal enough to warrant changes.

How we feel and how we sleep....should always be factored in when evaluating the numbers of anything.
Numbers alone don't mean much.

You are an awesome person to take so much time giving detailed explanations. I am very grateful!

I have 8.21 hours sleep last night; I slept very well, I feel refreshed.

My flow limitations are very spread out! Not in clusters at all.

I had 24 vibratory snore events with only one correlation on the graph between with VS and the FL. The rest seem totally unassociated.

All so interesting--so much to learn.

Thank you for helping me!