AHI question

Hi all,
First, I'm new here and have been reading for some time. Great folks here and great deal on info, I'm here for the long haul.

I just got my machine last week and have used it for 5 nights now and my AHI is running about 7.8. I have read that it should be 5 or less. My pressures on the auto Bi are set at 16/4 and am averaging around 11.5 for the night. I know 5 days isn't very long, but will my number improve over more time with the machine or is this something I should address now?

Thanks

Do you have the software or are you getting your numbers off the LCD screen?

Did you know about the software? I have some examples here.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64906&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... re+options

Off hand without seeing the reports I suspect the 4 EPAP minimum is not quite enough pressure.
Machine quite respond quick enough to do an optimal job.

5 days isn't very long but unless you see the reports and see a downward trend on a nightly basis, I wouldn't won't to wait an awful long time before perhaps thinking seriously about bumping that EPAP 4 to maybe 6 or 7 and see how it went.

The LCD onscreen averages will show a cumulative average so some really bad first nights could bring up the overall average. I would look at each night and see how they are trending. So if not using software...need to.

Thanks for the reply Pugsy,

I'm using Sleepyhead to view the sd card.

At first the doc ordered a bipap at 17/6 after talking to the med tech before i picked up the machine I requested and auto as I like to fall asleep watching tv. The doc changed to auto with no questions asked, but also changed the pressures to 16/4. I ask the med tech about this and he couldn't see any reason why.

I would suggest going back to the 6 EPAP and see how it goes. The max IPAP doesn't really come into play unless you reach it all the time which it doesn't sound like you do with average of 11 something.

The machines do take a little bit of time to respond to events and at 4 cm it takes a little longer to get to where it needs to be than it would if you started at 6 cm and gave it a bit of a head start. I think you will be pleasantly surprised and still be quite comfortable breathing.

I am trying the same machine that you are trying. I seem to need minimum EPAP around 10...when I drop it to 8 cm EPAP minimum I have significantly more events.

I'll give that a try for a few nights and see how it goes. I'll post back here in a few days and let ya know how it goes.

Thanks

AHI of 7 something isn't horrible but obviously needs just a wee bit of work. I think you are probably really close to having optimal therapy.

You didn't mention how you feel and 5 days is really not much time to notice much of an improvement, if any.
I will tell you that I can tell a difference when I have AHI night of 5 or 6 and when I have AHI night of 2 or below.
Not everyone will notice the difference but some do. I seem to feel more crappy when I see little groups of events..sort of back to back. Makes sense when we think about it. A lone random event is more easy for the body to bounce back from.....have several events within a relatively short time and the body doesn't have the chance to bounce back. So less than restful sleep because the body has been stressed a little.