CPAP Malfunction?

[trevo745]

I have been on cpap for 2 1/2 years now. Every thing has been great up until recently. I have gotten to the point where I feel like I did before my cpap. My machine says I am breathing properly. AHI has been around 2 forever, and I average 6.5 hours of sleep every night. I am wandering if anyone has had an experience where the cpap says you are getting enough sleep but actually aren't. IE machine has malfunctioned and just telling you that you slept well. Thanx for the help.

[icyura10]

Ummm... not to ask the obvious, but have you taken the machine to your DME for a little diagnostics?

[trevo745]

I actually haven't. My pulmonologist looked at my data and said it looks fine. I'm just having a hard time of understanding why I feel this way and everything looks normal according to my cpap. My primary is getting an oximeter test done for me this week. Yet again I don't understand how I could have low oxygen and low ahi.... that doesn't seem to make since. I assume that high ahi=low oxygen.

[justMongo]

A *good* AHI is not proof of good oxygenation.
For example, if you breathe too shallow, you may desaturate below acceptable limits.

The machine may be fine; you may have changed...
Weight? Diabetes? Cardiac condition? Medications? (and the list goes on.)

[trevo745]

I don't have any condition except apnea. I'm 30 weigh 180 and am totally normal. I'm just freaked out because I'm beginning to feel how I felt prior to cpap. I thought the cpap would solve everything and I wouldn't have anymore issues. Thanx.

[trish6hundred]

Hi trevo745,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
You might take your machine and have it checked out.
Much success to you as you continue your CPAP therapy, good luck with getting your machine problem straightened out, and hang in there for more responses to your post.

[Sleepster]

I don't have any condition except apnea.

It could be something as simple as your mask leaking because the straps have stretched, or the cushion has worn out.

It could be that you need more than 6½ hours of sleep per night. I know everyone is different, but most people need more sleep than that. I know I do.

[OpalRose]

I don't have any condition except apnea. I'm 30 weigh 180 and am totally normal. I'm just freaked out because I'm beginning to feel how I felt prior to cpap. I thought the cpap would solve everything and I wouldn't have anymore issues. Thanx.

trevo745,
May I ask what issues you are talking about? Is is too little sleep, or waking up frequently, or are you tired during the day?

As far as the CPAP machine telling you that you get enough sleep....well it can't do that. Only you know how much sleep you need.
For me 6 1/2 hours would not be enough.

After a couple more posts you can send us a couple screenshots of your data if you would like someone here to take a look. We may see something that you aren't noticing.

Use an outside source like imgur.com. It makes it easier to upload.
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ganization
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...pnea_Board

[eseedhouse]

I don't understand how I could have low oxygen and low ahi.... that doesn't seem to make since. I assume that high ahi=low oxygen.

Understand or not, it happens. I am a case.

The machine kept my AHI under 2 and I was not showing any unusual amount of central apneas, but when a home oximetry was done my O2 levels were still falling below 80% most of the night, and I felt I was deteriorating.

In my case adding three litres of oxygen per night made all the difference.

Too bad the dang oxygen commentators are so damn noisy, but I solved that eventually by moving it to another room on another floor.

So yes, you can have a nice low AHI but still have low oxygen levels when you sleep.

[Sleepster]

One way would be to have 2 events per hour, each lasting 60 seconds. That would give you an AHI of 2, but deprive you of oxygen, and cause you to wake up.

Do you have an auto-adjusting CPAP machine? Please fill out your profile with the type of machine you're using. Look here for help.

It's possible that an adjustment to your machine could fix the problem.