Things OTHER than leaks/position that affect AHI?
Hello there Xpap-pers,
So can anyone tell me some of the things other than leaks or change of position that can affect one's ahi/apnea in a given night, thus creating an outlier of sorts?
Even if not proven, things suspected of (please no Aliens or Cats, I already know about them!) from your own experience or observations.
The Manse Hen
RE: Things OTHER than leaks/position that affect AHI?
Meds, pain, even slight pain will cause an uncomfortable sleep, stress, a worn out mattress and/or pillow, an unfamiliar bed (your guest room, hotel or at a relatives)(don't read anything in to this!) and finally. . . temperature or humidity change.
RE: Things OTHER than leaks/position that affect AHI?
Caffeine, overeating, especially before bed. (I'm not guilty!)
Worn out mask, nasal pillows, etc.
Changing your pressure settings.
Sometimes it just happens for no reason!
RE: Things OTHER than leaks/position that affect AHI?
I notice mine run a little higher on the weekends, Mine are under 1 AHI during the week and around 1.5 - 1.7 on the weekend.
I'm know I sleep at least 3-4 hours longer, maybe a couple more adult beverages.
But regardless it's way better than the 37 AHI before treatment.
Wished I would of found CPAP ten years ago.
RE: Things OTHER than leaks/position that affect AHI?
Anything that would relax you further or make you sleep deeper:
alcohol
very good day
bad day that made you extra tired
some medications
Pain levels
Pain medication
Anything that represses breathing
pain medication again
other meds like those for allergies
Sometimes even sleeping lightly can cause more.
And yes, aliens. Always the aliens. Cats are just used as examples. They are useless for anything else.
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.
RE: Things OTHER than leaks/position that affect AHI?
Thank you, helpful list. Be glad to hear more if others join in.
Highly Windy night here in the city, rain, barometric pressure changes, had a stuffy nose on one side, A nice long lazy Saturday, reading, internet, some tv with hubby, took a Benadryl due to some sneezing during the day. (Have various allergies, sometimes the heat being on in the house makes them worse, we live in a Manse built in 1899, doubt the vents have ever been cleaned...aliens in there for sure)
Saturday night always hard cause I go to sleep same time very night but Sunday's I have to be up much earlier to go to church. So I know I'm only getting a fraction of the sleep to boot. Then our one bathroom (typical in SF) is adjoining our bedroom and I probably am disturbed by the family getting in and out of bathroom to shower while I catch my last zz's.
Had been so encouraged to have 5 days under 5.0 for first time yet in 43 days, but last night was a 9.7 AHI and most of the events were crowded into short periods of many many! I'm glad to say they were shorter than they used to be, not sure if cpap helps that, but the events have seemed to overall shorten vs early days on cpap and pre-pap. (My long is now what the median was pre-pap) I'm not going to change anything, will see if Monday/Tuesday replicate last week's weekdays.
I did seem to "live" at much higher pressure last night, 95 percent at 13. something. My max pressure setting is 14.00 I wonder if I need to raise it to accommodate the weekend?
Susan
The Manse Hen
RE: Things OTHER than leaks/position that affect AHI?
Greetings The Manse Hen,
SO glad you are using your CPAP/APAP.
On the bathroom/shower issue, can you note the time people are using the facilities and compare that to your graphs to see in they correlate at all? If they do, some folks use earplugs or hang blankets, quilts or soundproofing material on the problem wall.
Also, light level in the room can cause a sleep disturbance. I am able to use a sleeping mask over my eyes with my nasal pillow headgear.
I noted you said you watched TV, presumably right before going to bed. Since my hubby and I are definitely nerds our sleep specialist made sure to tell us "NO blue screens, TV or computer, 1/2 hour before bedtime".
Best regards,
Evpraxia in the Pacific Northwest USA
Diagnosed: 44 AHI when supine, O2 down to 82%
Treated since 20 Sept 2014:: 0.7 AHI, Settings 7-15, EPR on Full Time at Level 3
Better living through CPAP/APAP machines!
RE: Things OTHER than leaks/position that affect AHI?
(02-10-2015, 03:10 PM)Evpraxia Wrote: Since my hubby and I are definitely nerds our sleep specialist made sure to tell us "NO blue screens, TV or computer, 1/2 hour before bedtime".
I'm pretty sure that alone would kill me...
Ed Seedhouse
VA7SDH
Part cow since February 2018.
Trust your mind less and your brain more.
02-10-2015, 05:19 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-10-2015, 05:22 PM by DariaVader.)
RE: Things OTHER than leaks/position that affect AHI?
(02-08-2015, 10:22 PM)TheManseHen Wrote: Thank you, helpful list. Be glad to hear more if others join in.
I would add congestion to the list.
and really anything that serves to increase the odds of obstruction. any throat or tonsil swelling, for instance.
these are my main variables, since I am a allergy sufferer and have several obnoxious food allergies in addition to fighting sinus congestion.
(02-10-2015, 03:10 PM)Evpraxia Wrote: Also, light level in the room can cause a sleep disturbance. I am able to use a sleeping mask over my eyes with my nasal pillow headgear.
I find that I can sleep with my head under the covers with cpap. One of it's best payoffs after the big one of getting actual sleep
هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه
Tongue Suck Technique for prevention of mouth breathing:
- Place your tongue behind your front teeth on the roof of your mouth
- let your tongue fill the space between the upper molars
- gently suck to form a light vacuum
Practising during the day can help you to keep it at night
هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه هههههه
RE: Things OTHER than leaks/position that affect AHI?
(02-10-2015, 03:10 PM)Evpraxia Wrote: ...light level in the room can cause a sleep disturbance...our sleep specialist made sure to tell us "NO blue screens, TV or computer, 1/2 hour before bedtime"...
Make that 3 hours before bedtime, and this is part of blue light suppressing melatonin production. May or may not be a factor, because usually suppressing melatonin has only one negative effect (other than Seasonal Affective Disorder issues), which is to keep you from falling asleep. That is not really connected to apnea events. If you fall asleep, well, you're asleep, regardless whether melatonin aided this or not.
But there is a compromise; you can download f.lux for your computer which changes the color temp when the sun goes down. There is a browser called Koala that does much the same thing; useful if your late-night computer stuff is primarily surfing.
I love a cool (blue) color temp on my TV, but I have changed it to warm for this very purpose. Took a bit to get used to it, but it seems to help me not be all wound up if I watch TV just before bedtime.
And one more for the list...REM. Your sleep state can affect AHI. Occasionally you may see clusters of events associated with your REM periods. A good reason to have auto-CPAP.
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