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How can I reduce my AHI
#1
Question 
How can I reduce my AHI
Dear Members!

I m a relatively new CPAP user with 5 months of experience. In my sleep study with Night One poligraph 69.0 AHI (3.1 CA 41.4 OA 7.5 MA 17.0 HA) was detected. Right now with DS Auto CPAP 8.57 AHI in Jun. I do not feel that kind of positive changing in my life that should cause to use the CPAP therapy. I wake up at least 2 or 3 times at night and I m sleepy at daytime. I hope it will change. I downloaded OSCAR but its difficult for me to understand results. 

There are some OSCAR experts here with years of CPAP experience. Please, help me with some advise (what can I do) how I can improve my AHI index and give some information about detached OSCAR data, what kind of respiratory problems identify on the charts.

More charts in the first comment.

More charts


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
                       
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#2
RE: How can I reduce my AHI
Your machine (Phillips) is slow to reacting to apnea events. You have yours set at the lowest possible setting that it can be set (4). You need to raise the min. I would suggest a min of 8.

You have your flex at 3 and many people report they have more events - I would try 2.

Last you appear to have some positional apnea. Positional apnea is when you cut off your own airway by the position you sleep. The machine can not help with this. You have to find a way to stay out of that position.

Back sleeping or sleeping on to high of a pillow. Can cause chin tucking. That happens when your chin drops to your Sternum and cuts off your airway.

Many people have needed a collar to stop positional apnea. Please check out my link (in my signature) for collars. It shows people without a collar and the same people with a collar.
Apnea (80-100%) 10 seconds, Hypopnea (50-80%) 10 seconds, Flow Limits (0-50%) not timed  Cervical Collar - Dealing w DME - Chart Organizing
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#3
RE: How can I reduce my AHI
(07-06-2021, 12:26 PM)staceyburke Wrote: Your machine (Phillips) is slow to reacting to apnea events. You have yours set at the lowest possible setting that it can be set (4). You need to raise the min. I would suggest a min of 8.

You have your flex at 3 and many people report they have more events - I would try 2.

Last you appear to have some positional apnea. Positional apnea is when you cut off your own airway by the position you sleep. The machine can not help with this. You have to find a way to stay out of that position.

Back sleeping or sleeping on to high of a pillow. Can cause chin tucking. That happens when your chin drops to your Sternum and cuts off your airway.

Many people have needed a collar to stop positional apnea. Please check out my link (in my signature) for collars. It shows people without a collar and the same people with a collar.

Dear staceyburke!

Thanks for your constructive suggestions. You gave useful advice!
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#4
RE: How can I reduce my AHI
Dear staceyburk,

I changed settings exactly as you suggested:  min. Pressure 4 to 8 and A-FLEX 3 to 2.
I realized that pressure instantly changing is uncomfortable for me, so I turned it back to 5, and go on increasing step by step. In the morning then I checked the AHI, I was disappointed because last night 7.2 went up to 14.4. So do you think it can be work later?
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#5
RE: How can I reduce my AHI
Add an OSCAR chart like the first one you attached in your first post. The one with events, flow rate, pressure, and leaks.

Mention what exact settings you are using now as well.
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#6
RE: How can I reduce my AHI
Dear SarcasticDave94?

Yes, I will do this bit later. 
Otherwise are you agree with staceyburk?
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#7
RE: How can I reduce my AHI
Here you are.

First: min. Pressure 4 to 8 & A-FLEX 3 to 2
Bit later: min. Pressure 8 to 5

   
   
   
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#8
RE: How can I reduce my AHI
I’m sorry you had a poor night. The changes you did actually did nothing. Your min was 5 and your flex at 2 would give you an exhale pressure of 4 - that is same as you had it. There really is no difference.

Centrals are very inconsistent meaning one night you may not have many and the next night there are a lot. So last night might mean you are having more central but you can’t be sure this was just one night. However, you may have centrals that will not be able to treat with this type of pap machine. I’m sure Dave will have more to say about this.

Your other problem is the positional apnea I wrote about last time. You have not done anything to help that. Again look in my signature for collar link. This IS something you cand do that will help.
Apnea (80-100%) 10 seconds, Hypopnea (50-80%) 10 seconds, Flow Limits (0-50%) not timed  Cervical Collar - Dealing w DME - Chart Organizing
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#9
RE: How can I reduce my AHI
Thanks Stacey, 
today I bought one cervical collar. 3M Futuro.
Sorry, but 8 was too much min. for me. I felt it uncomfortable. Do u think I can try adjustment step by step with 1 up? Or I need to change 4 to 8 immediately?

I have no chance to get social security benefits (paying less than 20 %) for BIPAP with back up (an ASV machine or Bilevel ST). There are strict conditions for this.
For BIPAP to get social seurity benefit (paying only 50 %) needs required pressure >12 cmH2O.
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#10
RE: How can I reduce my AHI
(07-07-2021, 12:22 PM)Zsolt Wrote: Sorry, but 8 was too much min. for me. I felt it uncomfortable. Do u think I can try adjustment step by step with 1 up? Or I need to change 4 to 8 immediately?

Do whatever will get your min. pressure up.  Go slow or go fast just keep trying.  We all know its hard to adjust but you need the pressure so you (your brain) can actually sleep.
Thank you,
Brent aka Factor

Just a Regular guy.
My untreated AHI was 87.  You can do it hang in there.
"You can if you will"   Jerry Kramer

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