Central Apnea's and the S9

I've been using the S9 for just over a month now. The first few days I stayed with my pressure at the prescribed 7cm. I didn't like the AHI readings (between 6 and 10) which I expected to be close to 0.0 since my doc had told me during the sleep study that I had zero apneas. I switched to Auto pressure 7cm-13cm for 3 days and had a low AHI of about 2.0 I switched back to 7cm because I wanted to see if as I got used to the mask the prescribed pressure would eventually work. I had some AHI days in the 3's but never got back to the 2's. I switched back to the 7cm-13cm pressure again for the last week and have fluctuated the AHI between low 2's and 5. During this whole time (at the CPAP of 7cm or the APAP of 7cm-13cm) I have had been registering Central apneas between a low of .4 and a high of 3.5 Based on my sleep studies I hadn't even heard of them and it's only been on this board (and the data from the S9) that I even know about them. My question to the group is What central apnea number should be a concern? and Is it possible the S9 reports "false" centrals?

Yes the S9 could be reporting "false" centrals...

Since it is an Apnea that is NOT caused by an obstruction of some level... the S9 does not treat for this condition... just notifies you to be aware.

The Central Apnea as you probably already know is controlled by at least 4 possibilities IMHO:
You stopped breathing on purpose for whatever reason.
You stopped breathing at the same time that a leak occurred and the leak could not register as a Obstructive.
It starts as an Obstructive and then you hold your breath and gets registered as a Central or perhaps Mixed or Unknown depending on what the machine thinks.
Your brain has told your lungs to stop working for a period of time... more correctly it doesn't tell your lungs to keep working which is the definitive Central Apnea.

There is no acceptable number but a small number every once in a while is generally not a recognizable problem. You have to look at why they are happened based on all the circumstances available and then read up to understand and get a professional opinion. You really should be in a data collection mode at this point and not making rash changes or decisions.

Remember: Here you are going to get some experienced and inexperienced opinions about your health issues.
Doctors base their decisions on many other optics that has been shared by yourself and maybe after referrals to Specialists if thats what is required.

Nord

Hello, that is correct the CPAP is unable to add the event in the AHI calculation for whatever reason, I would say if your symptoms return you should definately have another study done. And also remember if the altitude at the sleep lab was lower than where you live this can also add to a CA-I.

ungy wrote:I've been using the S9 for just over a month now. The first few days I stayed with my pressure at the prescribed 7cm. I didn't like the AHI readings (between 6 and 10) which I expected to be close to 0.0 since my doc had told me during the sleep study that I had zero apneas. I switched to Auto pressure 7cm-13cm for 3 days and had a low AHI of about 2.0 I switched back to 7cm because I wanted to see if as I got used to the mask the prescribed pressure would eventually work. I had some AHI days in the 3's but never got back to the 2's. I switched back to the 7cm-13cm pressure again for the last week and have fluctuated the AHI between low 2's and 5. During this whole time (at the CPAP of 7cm or the APAP of 7cm-13cm) I have had been registering Central apneas between a low of .4 and a high of 3.5 Based on my sleep studies I hadn't even heard of them and it's only been on this board (and the data from the S9) that I even know about them. My question to the group is What central apnea number should be a concern? and Is it possible the S9 reports "false" centrals?

Just about everyone has centrals - benign ones that is. Roll over in bed & you can expect to see a central registered. Sleep onset centrals are commonplace.

Mostly benign centrals occur after movement or doing anything that causes you to take one or more deep breaths. When you take one or more deep breaths your breaths expel more CO2 & the central is the body's way of letting CO2 build up again.

Cheers

DSM

Ungy,
You and I are in the same boat. Sleep study showed central index of 0.3 but I have had anywhere from a CI of 3 to zero... first night on CPAP it was through the roof but that is to be expected.
They seem to be a natural thing and as DSM said you can take some big breaths in your sleep and your brain is waiting to breathe again.

That is a typical central apnea event for me, some erratic breathing followed by a central event.