(11-22-2014, 01:07 PM)Lambsydoats Wrote: Here's the latest & greatest report. Does more data give you any more opportunity to educate me about what's happening?
Hi Lamb,
How are you feeling, regarding daytime mental clarity, energy level, sleepiness or fatigue?
Your statistics look pretty good.
Your compliance is great and your Leak statistics are great, too. Good going.
The AHI is around 4 or 5, comprised mostly from the Central Apnea Index (CAI) which is around 3 or 4.
Your EPR setting is already only 1, which is probably a good place to keep it (unless it would be perfectly comfortable for you to lower it to zero).
In future, after achieving over a month of therapy, if the CAI is still the majority of the AHI, I would suggest you ask your doctor about trying a lower pressure (like maybe 8) for a month, to see if this lowers the AHI. If the AHI drops lower, you could try reducing a little more (perhaps to 7) to try to find the Pressure Setting which gives you the lowest AHI or RDI (Respiratory Disturbance Index, which is equal to the AHI plus the RERA index, which is the average number of RERA events per hour)
A lower Pressure of 8 or 7 might increase the obstructive component of AHI slightly but may reduce the CAI component by a greater amount, resulting overall in a lower AHI or RDI.
But more important than AHI or RDI is how you feel. So, every day, remember to notice how you feel, and perhaps keep notes in a notebook or smart phone so you can track your progress.
Take care,
--- Vaughn
ADDED: Another option (to discuss with doctor) would be to change from the "CPAP" therapy mode you are presently using to the gentle "AutoSet For Her" therapy mode, with Max Pressure setting of 9 cm H2O like now, but with Min Pressure setting of 7 or 8. Because this would lower your average pressure it might lower the CAI.
Also, it looks like your Ramp "Start Pressure" setting is presently 4. If 4 feels uncomfortably low, the Start Pressure can be raised to 5 or 6.
The Advisory Member group provides advice and suggestions to Apnea Board administrators and staff on matters concerning Apnea Board operation and administrative policies. Membership in the Advisory Member group should not be understood as in any way implying medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.