Sleepyhead showing obstructions

[DumfriesDik]

I am getting between 15 and 20 obstructions every night. I think it is my soft pallet closing that's the cause.

My first thought is that the lower pressure on the S9 autoset is too low at 4.

I have a review in a few weeks, probably new year now, at the sleep clinic. But I am just wondering if raising the pressure would assist?

[kaiasgram]

Is that 15-20 AHI or 15-20 total for the night? Any central (clear airway) events?

[DumfriesDik]

No, its the number of obstructions.

Please see screen dump.

[zonk]

My first thought is that the lower pressure on the S9 autoset is too low at 4.

I think so, given the 95th percentile is over 12

[DeepBreathing]

It can be confusing to talk about events per night, as not all nights are the same length. That's why they developed the indices ie apnea index (AI), hypopnea index (HI), apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and so on. Each relates to the number of those events per hour (coz all hours are the same length). The idea is to get the AHI as low as possible, but below 5 is considered clinically treated. In your case at 2.14 you are clinically treated. There's no reason you can't try to drive this number down (and good reasons why you should), though getting obsessed with the numbers can spoil a good night's sleep.

Having said all that, I'd suggest bumping your minimum up to around the median level 8.5 and see how you go. Don't do it in one go - raise it a cm or so, give a week then raise it some more if it's showing a benefit.

[DumfriesDik]

Thanks for that guys. I am really happy with my numbers, but its always nice to keep them under review. My appointment ticket has arrived for the 18 December, so I shall see what they say.

I feel so much more in control of my treatment. I am aware I am still learning though.

Thanks for the input, thats what makes this forum so good.

[Terry]

My first thought is that the lower pressure on the S9 autoset is too low at 4.

I think so, given the 95th percentile is over 12

There's no reason to leave the minimum that low. Those giant pressure changes (4-> 12 ) wake a lot of people up.

If it was me, I'd bump the lower limit up to 11.5 and see how I felt. I sleep much better with a narrower range.

[kaiasgram]

If it was me, I'd bump the lower limit up to 11.5 and see how I felt. I sleep much better with a narrower range.

I definitely would not bump the minimum up that high. I wouldn't go higher than the median pressure which was 8.5. Even then -- the median pressure means that half the time the pressure was above 8.5 and half the time it was below 8.5.

If this was my SleepyHead report I'd increase the minimum pressure to 6 and see if that helps reduce the apneas. If it doesn't, I'd increase the minimum pressure again but only by 1 cm at a time. DumfriesDik already has a pretty good AHI and is just trying to improve that, so going slow and gentle makes the most sense to me.

Assuming DumfriesDik is new to PAP therapy we also want to advise gradual and small adjustments and watch to make sure centrals don't start popping up with the pressure increases.

[OpalRose]

Bump up to medium pressure, which is 8.5, but do if slowly. Keep max pressure as is.

[DumfriesDik]

Assuming DumfriesDik is new to PAP therapy

I have been using an S8 Escape for five years, so not new to therapy, but new to an auto machine. Only had it a couple of weeks.