Question about AHI vs. Titration level.....

Hello
I've noticed from some peoples posts that list what their AHI's are and their titration levels are somewhat higher than what mine were recommended. I am wondering why I was diagnosed with severe OSA and AHI of 56.2/hr but only have a very low titration setting recommended to keep my airway open. I mean 10 is low compared to how high the levels can be set for, right? Does this make sense to anyone. I guess I would assume that if I just had mild OSA, that I would need low level of titration and if I have more severe OSA that I would need higher setting.

I am newly diagnosed so I very well probably do not understand the whole anatomical process going on in my airway. I was told by my sleep doctor and oral surgeon that I have a very small airway and that even using CPAP I might still need surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids.

Could someone please explain the correlation between titration settings and AHIs?

Suzy

I'm sure more expert folks will chime in as well - but, the amount of pressure needed is independent of our level of OSA. It's simply the amount of pressure our particular airway needs to be "splinted" open by the air. For some, they can have severe OSA but only need low pressures and others with mild OSA may need higher pressure.

There is no "rule of thumb" that certain levels of OSA need x pressure - everyone is unique and so is our pressure requirements.

Welcome to the CPAP club! If you have other questions as you begin this journey, please do post them - I have found this forum a wealth of help and support since I began CPAP in October.

Karen

kikisue wrote: the amount of pressure needed is independent of our level of OSA. It's simply the amount of pressure our particular airway needs to be "splinted" open by the air. For some, they can have severe OSA but only need low pressures and others with mild OSA may need higher pressure.

There is no "rule of thumb" that certain levels of OSA need x pressure - everyone is unique and so is our pressure requirements.

Beautiful explanation, Karen! Absolutely right.

Suzy, hope things go well for you. Sometimes it takes awhile to get used to this crazy new way of trying to sleep, but it's worth sticking with it. You'll find lots of good hints all over this message board for ways to make it more comfortable. You're very lucky that it doesn't take a lot of pressure to keep your throat open.

If your doctors (and you) finally decide the tonsils and adenoids must go, ask your oral surgeon about a "capsule sparing" tonsillectomy. I've never had mine out, but I've read on various message boards that there's a leeeetle less post-op pain removing the tonsils that way.

I was glad to hear that neither of your doctors mentioned UPPP surgery. That's an operation to avoid, imho, as it has a very low "success" rate -- if one measures success as actually being able to get off cpap -- and even can make using cpap more difficult.

As Rested Gal said, you are very lucky, 10 is close to the magic number needed for most people. My AhI was in the high 70's and I run 14 and not 15 with AHI under 2.0 avg.

What machines do you use and can you get software to show how much you are being helped?

Keep up the good work.