[CPAP] AHI Creeping Up

[Melman]

I had graphs similar to yours , in that my events were in clusters. it appears that my issue was positional because I was able to drop my AHI from ranges of 5 to 15 to 0.0 to 0.19 in one night by controlling my head position using a buckwheat chaff pillow and sleeping on my side. (Which I couldn't do for long without the new pillow to support my neck). The decrease in AHI was immediate when I started using the new pillow. The value of this change was somewhat verified last night because in the middle of the night I woke briefly to find I was on my back and had slid down so that the raised portion of the pillow that was supposed to be supporting my neck was under my head tilting it up. I decided to stay in that position as an experiment to see how it effected my data. A couple of hours later I shifted back to my side.

During the time I was on my back I had a cluster of RERAs and OAs but only one RERA while I was on my side. Also I had numerous flow limit spikes to 1 while on my back with my head raised, probably due to chin tuck. So I'm all the more convinced that positioning is critical.

I'm not saying the buckwheat chaff pillow is the answer for you. I find it quite comfortable, others may not. If your interested google buckwheat chaff pillow and you'll find a lot of info. I got mine from Amazon for $49.

[Sleeprider]

I had graphs similar to yours , in that my events were in clusters. it appears that my issue was positional because I was able to drop my AHI from ranges of 5 to 15 to 0.0 to 0.19 in one night by controlling my head position using a buckwheat chaff pillow and sleeping on my side. (Which I couldn't do for long without the new pillow to support my neck). The decrease in AHI was immediate when I started using the new pillow. The value of this change was somewhat verified last night because in the middle of the night I woke briefly to find I was on my back and had slid down so that the raised portion of the pillow that was supposed to be supporting my neck was under my head tilting it up. I decided to stay in that position as an experiment to see how it effected my data. A couple of hours later I shifted back to my side.

During the time I was on my back I had a cluster of RERAs and OAs but only one RERA while I was on my side. Also I had numerous flow limit spikes to 1 while on my back with my head raised, probably due to chin tuck. So I'm all the more convinced that positioning is critical.

I'm not saying the buckwheat chaff pillow is the answer for you. I find it quite comfortable, others may not. If your interested google buckwheat chaff pillow and you'll find a lot of info. I got mine from Amazon for $49.

Hi Melman!  Glad to see you contribute in this thread.  The original poster's problem looks a LOT like what you went through.  In your case, changing to APAP which gave higher pressure as needed, and avoiding the chin tuck, worked some magic.  Thanks!

[cadogan]

Just want to say thank you to all the amazing people on this forum...So the advice was basically, 1) increase pressure by 1 cm from 7 to 8, 2) wear a cervical collar to stop chin tucking, and 3) sleep on my side.

Here are the results: 23 AHI before change, 10 AHI first night and 3.54 AHI last night. So happy. I have also bought a buckwheat chaff pillow which arrives next week.

You guys are great, and now I can work on getting it even lower than 3.54.

[tedgreen]

I would also disable EPR, as I had worse results with EPR than without.

[Sleeprider]

Things are moving the right direction for you, and glad to hear the feedback. I'd avoid further changes other than the pillow until things stabilize.

[cadogan]

Its been an interesting month.  I returned from Aspen last month, and discovered my AHI was sky high, 15 to 20.  I attributed it to the high altitude, and thought it would readjust.  It didn't. 

I then went on this Board, and picked up lots of good suggestions.  Increasing my pressure from 7 to 8, using a collar to hold my chin in place, using a buckwheat pillow, sleeping on my side, etc.  The first night was great.  My AHI decreased to 3.5, but then it bounced up again.  My AHI averaged 15.5.  (CA: 7.3, OB: 14, HY: 3.5).  Last night I turned off the Exhalation setting.  The results were amazing.  My AHI: 1.4 (lowest ever), with the components (CA: .4, OB: .5, and HY: .5).

One night is just one night, and these numbers have been bouncing all over the place.  But this is encouraging.  Hopefully this will be the new normal.

[OpalRose]

Yes, turning off EPR with hi AHI readings seems to help decrease the CA's.
Give it some time to settle down, and let us know of your progress.

[GrammaBear]

Not meant to discourage you in any way, but some of us have AHI numbers that vary a bit from time to time. My AHI numbers are anywhere from .5 to 1.5 which at times does discourage me. I figure it is just part of the game we play with sleep apnea every night. Good Luck to you.

[Sleeprider]

Not meant to discourage you in any way, but some of us have AHI numbers that vary a bit from time to time.  My AHI numbers are anywhere from .5 to 1.5 which at times does discourage me.  I figure it is just part of the game we play with sleep apnea every night.  Good Luck to you.

GrammaBear, nothing to worry about there.  I am usually below 1 but had an uncharacteristic 1.8 the night before last.  It's nothing, and many members rarely see less than 2. 

Cardogan, EPR seems to have a very individual response.  Some people easily tolerate a full 3 cm, and others need to turn it off. In fact I think a significant amount of the problems we see on the forum derive from using EPR or Flex instead of a more constant pressure, especially at lower pressure requirements.

[cadogan]

Hi.  I am experiencing a fair amount of AHI variability, especially with CA.  Some nights great, others 10.  Thoughts?  Here is last night's  chart

http://imgur.com/bND7QfL