Help me to understand.....

As you all can see from most of my posts, no one has explained anything to me about sleep apnea, this machine, etc. (by that I mean, doctor, DME, etc.) so I am still a bit lost.
What is the difference between apneas and hypoapneas?

My readings from last night were:

Leak .02 (yah! with the breeze, modified with extra strap, tape, etc.)
AHI 8.0
AI 2.2
HI 5.8

Slept 6.13 hours before taking off mask
Cpap pressure set to 10 and EPR set to 2

What I don't understand is, why am I having so many episodes? I mean, they did explain to me during my sleep study that each apnea episode is disturbing to the quality of sleep, even if you don't wake up. So, if I am reading this right, then 8 times an hour I am having either an apnea or hypoapnea? I don't see how I can ever feel rested if that is what is happening.
Also, since the leak rate was so low last night, it can't be because of leaks, What do I need to do? I know someone said the anything less than 5 is considered normal, but having my sleep disturbed even 5 times an hour would keep me from restful sleep. I see some of you have your apnes down to 0, so what do I need to do? Is it just a matter time, or do I need to ask the dr. about increasing pressure?
I am one confused newbie.

Oh,and I never did introduce myself properly. I am 41 years old, and was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago. I have two children, a cat, a cockatiel, and inside dog and 3 outside dogs. (oh and a husband LOL)

I am just trying to wade through all this information, and I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found this site.
Thank you for all your help!

Christy

Lummusc,

First of all, how long have you been on CPAP? The reason I ask is that it took me about a week to get used to the treatment (and I was lucky enough to be quicker than a lot of people who have posted here). That first week, my numbers AHI ranged between 6 and 13. Now, I am only about 7 weeks into treatment, and my AHI is fairly steady between 2 and 4. It may just be a matter of you getting used to the treatment.

I wouldn't jump in and change anything right away - give yourself time to get used to the changes in sleeping and breathing you a going through. Many veterans on this forum recommend at least a week between any changes to your treatment.

What was your AHI during your sleep study? I would wager it's lower now than it was then, so you are probably receiving some benefits now.

There was an excellent post here this weekend regarding the difference hypopneas and apneas. Basically apneas are a cessation of breathing for at least 10 seconds and hypopneas are a reduction in breathing for at least 10 seconds.

Good luck,

I have been on cpap for about 5 or 6 weeks. I have used it every night with the exception of one or two. I don't always keep it on all night though.
They said my sleep apnea index was 4.8 during my sleep study (is that the same thing that my machine reads?)

thank you for your response. I'll look back through for those posts on apnea/hypoapnea.

lummusc,

Your machine records Apnea Index (AI), Hypopnea Index (HI) and Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI).

I don't know of a Sleep Apnea Index - I assume it refers to the AI and not the AHI, but you know what they say about assuming...

The post I was referring to can be found at:
viewtopic/t22808/Cause-of-hypopneas.html

Good luck,

The sleep apnea index is what they give you after all your sleep study information is interpreted. I don't think it is the same as the numbers that are on the machine.
I just checked my data for tonight (I know, I didn't sleep much!) and the numbers look very similiar to last night.
Maybe I just won't worry about the hypoapneas.

DEFINITIONS:
APNEA = cessation of airflow for 10 seconds or greater.
HYPOPNEA =>50% decrease in airflow for 10 seconds or greater with a decrease in oxygen saturation of >3%.
APNEA/HYPOPNEA INDEX (AHI) = apnea plus (+) HYPOPNEA/hour of sleep.
RESPIRATORY AROUSAL INDEX (RAI) = AHI +snoring related EEG arousals/hour of sleep.
AHI/RAI** Scale =<5 events /hour = (none); 5-15 events/hour = (mild); 15-30 events/hour = (moderate); >30 events/hour = (severe).
Respiratory related sleep fragmentation: Sleep arousals due to respiratory events or snoring.
Desaturation = Drop in O2 oximetry distribution saturation by 3% below average saturation.
SaO2 scale: >89%=(none); 85-89%=(mild);80-84%=(moderate); <80% (severe).
EPWORTH SLEEPINESS SCALE =<10=(does not indicate EDS (Excessive Daytime Somnolence));10-15=(indicates daytime somnolence-not excessive);>16 (indicates EDS).
RESPIRATORY EFFORT RELATED AROUSALS (RERAs)=Sleep Arousals due to respiratory events characterized by pressure flow limitations in the airflow indicator channel without significant O2 desaturations.
StageIII and StageIV are combined and referred to as Deep Sleep.
Sleep Efficiency = Normal is >80%
As established by AASM/ABSM 1999.

Normal Sleep Architecture:
Stage1: 5%
Stage2: 50%
Stage3: 10%
Stage4: 10%
Stage REM: 25%

I have the Resmed Auto Cpap machine. I was told here somewhere that it is very sensitive to breathing changes when you turn over (yawn, grunt in your sleep whatever) and records those as hypopneas. Maybe your machine does the same.

I try not to pay much attention to the AHI, which is the sum of the apnoeas and the hypopnoeas divided by the hours of sleep. The important number at this stage is the Apnoea index, ie how many times you stop breathing. The AHI in my machine is followed by the AI and the HI.

When I am waking up I toss and turn and stretch and try to kick the dog out of the way. I'm sure a lot of that activity is recorded as hypopnoeas. As well as some of the less savoury side affects of swallowing air all night