Low AHI, high O2 sat= OSA?

I have just concluded my sleep study(PSG) and MSLT(Multiple Sleep latency Test). The result AHI=6, Oxygen saturation=94%, the MSLT indicate showed that I was able to fall asleep at average of 6.5 mins. The reason I went for the sleep study was because I tend to sleep alot in the daytime, and no amount of sleep was enough for me. I have tried a lot of other treatment but nothing seems to work. For now the sleep doctor advised me to try the CPAP therapy to see if my condition was due sleep apnea which she is a bit doubltful since my AHI is only 6 but because my daytime MSLT showed that I have daytime sleepiness despite having good night sleep as indicated by my PSG test. Does anyone think I have OSA problem?

Or should I ask whether the mild AHI 6.5(OSA?) is causing my daytime sleepiness?

First a couple of questions -
Do you know if you slept on your back for part of your sleep study?
Do you know if you got any REM sleep during your study?

First of all, have you been checked for any other medical conditions that cause sleepiness - there are many, and a blood test could at least rule some of them out. If the PSG was correct, I would think you don't have OSA, but could have either another type of sleeping problem (there are many) or another medical problem, or even clinical depression. You need to work with your MD to sort out what's what. Good luck.

Julie wrote:First of all, have you been checked for any other medical conditions that cause sleepiness - there are many, and a blood test could at least rule some of them out. If the PSG was correct, I would think you don't have OSA, but could have either another type of sleeping problem (there are many) or another medical problem, or even clinical depression. You need to work with your MD to sort out what's what. Good luck.

Thanks for all your replies. As per the doctor advice, I am trying out CPAP therapy for a month(I am on to my 2nd week now). I feel more alert now. I am not sure whether is it psychological or I am really feeing better, only time will tell. The thing is when I am using the auto CPAP is that when the pressure is about 9cmH2O. there is a 'wheezing' noise that wakes me up and kept me from dozing off again. And that is not due air leak, I check. Is it normal?

Ask your Doc if you could have UARS (upper airway resistence syndrome). It is also treated by CPAP therapy.

Muse-Inc wrote:Ask your Doc if you could have UARS (upper airway resistence syndrome). It is also treated by CPAP therapy.

Thank you Muse-Inc. I did a check on the site Medscape Today on UARS. One of the diagnosis seem to be very similar to mine. Below is the quote
"Polysomnography reveals AHI < 5, oxygen saturation > 92%, and the presence of respiratory related respiratory arousals (RERAs)"
Where did you get notion that that my condition was UARS? And you might just be right. Thanks again

ping wrote:...Where did you get notion that that my condition was UARS? And you might just be right...

There are posts about it here that engaged my curiousity as I had a lot respiratory arousals in my sleep study. Try searching for "UARS".

ping wrote: there is a 'wheezing' noise that wakes me up and kept me from dozing off again. And that is not due air leak, I check. Is it normal?

That might be just the sound of the air coming out the exhaust port on the mask. This is completely normal.

WindFlyer wrote:

ping wrote: there is a 'wheezing' noise that wakes me up and kept me from dozing off again. And that is not due air leak, I check. Is it normal?

That might be just the sound of the air coming out the exhaust port on the mask. This is completely normal.

That' s what I thought too but it is not. It seem like air rushing through the flexible tubing. If I blocked the outlets but not exhuast port there is no 'wheezing' noise. It happens when there is a transition, that is, during breathing in/out. Because the tubing is practically very close to the face it sound very loud especially in the middle of the night. I am going to set the pressure lower, hopefully it might help. Thank you.

ping wrote: That' s what I thought too but it is not. It seem like air rushing through the flexible tubing. If I blocked the outlets but not exhuast port there is no 'wheezing' noise. It happens when there is a transition, that is, during breathing in/out. Because the tubing is practically very close to the face it sound very loud especially in the middle of the night. I am going to set the pressure lower, hopefully it might help. Thank you.

I don't see your machine listed anywhere? Add your machine to your equipment list in your profile along with the settings.
Is it possible that the variations you hear are slight pressure variations from some sort of exhalation relief?
EPR in ResMed machines, CFlex or AFlex in Respironics machines...... Just a thought.