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Frustrated with AHI scores after 1 year on CPAP
I have been on CPAP for 11 months now. Tolerate it well. Sleep 7+ hours per night. Have tried every mask except for F20 Resmed. My best results in comfort and results have been with the N30i Resmed. I'm on my 2nd MD sleep doctor and one bump up in air pressure from 11 to 15. Here is the delima - Avg AHI for the year is 8.05 events per hour. Avg AHI for the past 90 days has been 10.58 events per hour. Avg AHI for the past 30 days has been 10.71 events per hour. I'm going backwards. I'm a back sleeper and I use mouth tape to keep from opening mouth and leaking air. With the bump up in air to 15 I had to add a Somofit mouth device behind the lips before tape because the tape would not entirely hold the air pressure in my mouth. Advice needed on: should I change Doctors again? Should I try the F20 Full Face Mask and ditch the tape and mouth device? or should I stay with it awhile longer with what I'm doing. I feel I sleep well. No sleepy afternoons. Mind is sharp as I expect a 74 year old mind to be. Physically active, good diet although I'm still carrying 45 lbs excess around on my 6' frame. Walk 6-9 miles per week. Play a little golf, etc. Also for those that don't know me on here, I've a "mild" case of AFIB <2% most of the time and Left Bundle Branch Block in the Heart.
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I lower my to Cpap mac. 6-8
only have 2-3 events per hour without had 78 per hour good luck
@bigj Sorry, I'm not sure I understand what you have said here. Are you saying you lowered your air pressure to 6-8? And that you had 78 per hour without a cpap?
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What is your machine, which type of delivery (APAP, BiPAP, straight pressure...), and what are the full settings, including pressure relief/comfort settings?
I recommend you go to apneaboard.com and register, and then put your case to the good people there. They have several very highly experienced and helpful people on staff who have helped literally thousands of people whose physicians/therapists haven't managed to dial in their therapy settings. Note that an AHI of >5.0 is deemed to be 'untreated'. You typical AHI is twice that. If it helps, and I'm admittedly somewhat unusual, my year-over-year average AHI for eight years now is 0.5. Most users on apneaboard will admit to an AHI, and doing well enough, ranging between 1.0-5.0. Again, you're twice, or more, than that range of figures. You are not being treated.
Please, against maybe your reservations, go and register, and download the freeware OSCAR found at the top marquee of the main forum page. Then, place your OSCAR data on a post and ask for help. You may not get it immediately, but you'll get some useful tips on what to change and to try for two/three nights to see if you can get your AHI down to half your current figure.
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4 ReactionsActually attempted to download OSCAR yesterday and MacBook Air would not open the file for fear of viruses. I’ll try again today.
All good advice. Thank You!
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1 Reaction@gloaming Failed to answer specific questions: Resmed 11
Straight pressure I believe
Setting at 9-11
Ramp. Time is minimal. I’ve use every mask but F20 full face. Best scores including some under 5 have been with Resmed N30i nasal. BTW tried my F30i nasal full face again last night and hit 37 events. Crazy stuff.
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1 Reaction@4aces4me I believe there is an OSCAR version for Mac/Apple/iOS, but I could be mistaken...can't believe that site wouldn't have a compatible version... by now? Maybe 'white list' it in your settings.
Your pressures, just on the face of it, don't seem to be unusual, but it doesn't follow that they are correct. The OSCAR data will show you 'event's that happen, and those events tell the tale, along with leakage, tidal volumes, etc. So, I'm afraid you'll have to figure it out. Don't be afraid to ask on the forum over there. There's lots of experienced folk who would love to get you up and running. 😀
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2 Reactions@gloaming Thank you for your help. It is much appreciated.
Hi @4aces4me. Havnt read all your prior posts so hope not repeating and explain well🙃 My cpap journey seems ever changing and dont know how typical as advice also seems different for same question like can you tell by cpap readings electronically sent when actually
asleep?🙃. That said I wear full mask and one thing I have personally found is the event count is averaged over the whole night worn time. My post covid creates all sorts of symptoms that I have to track to know whats reasonable to try to do or that I cant do the next day so if Im awake most of the night wearing the cpap for the good cellular level oxygen benefit my ahi will be much lower and if Im exhausted by symptoms effects and actually sleep my ahi is tremendously higher. So seems the root cause of apnea events can also affect ahi number. Suggest tracking any time you wake up by just taking picture of event screen or write down in dark if able to go back to sleep to see possible pattern for yourself that you can share with respiratory therapist etc. Kind reminder finding the actual answer can be very involved and manner finding it very different for each of us so helpful focus on goal of feeling better along the way no matter how small it is to build on🤞. Quickest healing journey to you🌈
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1 ReactionThank you for your help.