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+--- Thread: AHI's not getting below 5 - Suggestions (/Thread-AHI-s-not-getting-below-5-Suggestions)
AHI's not getting below 5 - Suggestions - NorthernGuy - 07-07-2016
I have been at my current prescription for a month (and APAP for about 3 months) and my AHI's are not dropping below 5. I have an appt. coming up and would like ideas to discuss at the appt. Ideas meaning how to improve my AHI's.
I am feeling better than before starting xPAP therapy (down from a starting AHI of about 19-30), but definitely not the great and not changed over the past 30 days.
I also am concerned with what 'periodic breathing' is and why I go from 0% most nights to 6 or 8% on other nights with no known changes. I have no other diaganosed cardiac or breathing problems and can (and do) exercise fine with no problems.
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RE: AHI's not getting below 5 - Suggestions - kwhenrykerr - 07-07-2016
If that was my chart I would raise my min. pressure up two steps for a week and reconsider another raise.
RE: AHI's not getting below 5 - Suggestions - justMongo - 07-07-2016
Your AHI is primarily composed of CA and Hyponeas. You're sort of walking a balance between the two.
PR machines work a bit differently that ResMed Machines -- and I cannot read your machine settings.
One of the "Flex" settings that controls the difference between IPAP and EPAP may improve things if narrowed.
You'll need someone who's more familiar with PR machines to tell you. Sleeprider is pretty sharp on PR machines.
The theory is: lessen the split between IPAP and EPAP may decrease CAs; while permitting higher pressure to suppress HAs.
RE: AHI's not getting below 5 - Suggestions - NorthernGuy - 07-07-2016
My settings are:
APAP 8-20
Flex (A-Flex) set to 2 (1-3 allowed)
Humidifier set to adaptive and '3' (1-5 allowed)
Optistart is 'Off'
No ramp in use.
I might try your suggestion lowering or turning off Flex to lessen the difference between inhale and exhale. I thought that was mostly a comfort setting and not greatly affecting the AHI.
BTW, I tried to add the 'Flow limit' graph, but it doesn't seem to exist on mine. Maybe a Philips Respironics thing?
RE: AHI's not getting below 5 - Suggestions - kwhenrykerr - 07-07-2016
Here are two of my charts for your review. one at my start and one after reading this form and it's help. My doctor has done nothing for me other than order cpap. My cpap provider is less helpfull than the doctor.
Read and learn from others to better understand how to help yourself.
RE: AHI's not getting below 5 - Suggestions - NorthernGuy - 07-07-2016
(07-07-2016, 08:37 PM)kwhenrykerr Wrote: Here are two of my charts for your review. one at my start and one after reading this form and it's help. My doctor has done nothing for me other than order cpap. My cpap provider is less helpfull than the doctor.
Thanks for the encouragement. I find it interesting that your pressure never got to (and stayed) at 12 cm very much while under automatic control, but in the second chart the minimum is set at 12 and it regularly goes higher.
Thanks again.
RE: AHI's not getting below 5 - Suggestions - kwhenrykerr - 07-08-2016
I kept feeling better with each step when raising my pressure. I am not stopping with the current settings. I think that I understand better now what to do.
Hang in and do not quit