We use cookies and other tools to enhance your experience on our website and to analyze our web traffic.
For more information about these cookies and the data collected, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

More pressure vs more AHI

3 posts
Was this reply useful? Learn more...
   
[-]
PowerfulOrangeRedWoodpecker4651 -1 point · about 7 years ago Original Poster

I had a sleep study done they didn't have a full face mask available the half mask didn't fit so I use the nasal pillows at the end of the survey they decided that my number should be 13. First week on my CPAP I averaged 13 AHI and slept around 4 to 5 hours.I convinced the supplier to switch to flex. After a month my AHI went down to around 2 my sleeping increased to 5 to 6 hours however I will still waking up with the Air blowing too hard. I then convinced my supplier to switch to auto. My sleeping increased to 6 1/2 to 8 hours however my AHI also increased to between 4-6. My pressure was at 13 fixed. With auto it veries between 7-9. My question is which is more important to have more sleep with a slightly higher AHI or less sleep with less AHI's .

944 posts
Was this reply useful? Learn more...
   
[-]
wiredgeorge +0 points · about 7 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Don't like what you said about the sleep study. They didn't have a full face mask? Wow. If your insurance company paid, I would speak with them about the protocol used and see if they feel the study did things they should or should not be paying for. You are asking the wrong question re the pressure and AHI. The sleep study should tell the prescription writer what pressure, mode of operation and imply the mask type. If the place that didn't have a correctly fitting and applicable mask, the study could well be flawed and the results questionable.

3 posts
Was this reply useful? Learn more...
   
[-]
PowerfulOrangeRedWoodpecker4651 +0 points · about 7 years ago Original Poster

They said the pressure should be 13 with flex. The supplier didn't want to do the flex. I was waking up with a mouth full of air. I then had them ( though my primary doc) set it to auto between 4-13. I am getting better sleep and the machine is saying the max is now under 10. You are correct in that I should have had the full mask in the study. While on 13 my AHI was under 2. Now at 4-13 they are under 7. So my question is how bad is 7 vs 2 AHI but getting more sleep.
Couldn't sleep last night so tried an experiment. Put the mask on and watched tv and played poker. After 2 hours took it off went to sleep. Woke up later, put it on then fell back to sleep. Here are the numbers:

Obstr. Apneas. 3 Hypopneas. 12 Time 2.02 hours

Then after sleeping Obstr. Apneas. 5 Hypopneas. 20 Time 4.34 hours

So awake and breathing normal is worse then breathing while sleeping So now I am lost

Please be advised that these posts may contain sensitive material or unsolicited medical advice. MyApnea does not endorse the content of these posts. The information provided on this site is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for advice from a health care professional who has evaluated you.