[CPAP] AHI low but still exhausted, help with OSCAR data

[kgrimm1]

Hi all,

My AHI is generally low, between 1-3.  I've been using the cpap for a while and still feeling exhausted all the time like I did not get into a deep sleep.  Recently I tried to adjust my minimum settings from 10-12 with the auto and then the last week I tried regular cpap mode with a current pressure of 11.  Does anyone have any ideas of what I could try to adjust to get better sleep?  It seems like my variable breathing is high, I do have enlarged turbinates but a sleep doctor at UCLA didn't think getting the surgery would fix my sleep issues.
 
Thanks!
Kenny

         

[Deborah K.]

You are having high leaks.  You will need to get those under control before you can trust your AHI results.  Some folks tighten their masks too tightly, thinking that tighter is always better, but that's not true.  Your mask should just sit lightly against your skin.  Then when the air flows in, filling the mask, the mask grips a little more to the skin, thus avoiding leaks.  You can lie down on your bed, as you would when going to sleep, put your mask on, power up, and feel around the mask to see if you feel leaks.  It's possible the connection between your mask and hose leaks.  That's easy to check.  It's also possible that the hose itself leaks or the connection from the hose to your machine leaks.  Check all these.

If it is your mask and you are not overtightening it, it could be that the mask simply does not fit your face well.  Perhaps you need a different mask. Quite a few people like the new ResMed F40 mask, and say it leaks less.  Generally, full-face masks leak the most, nasal masks less, and nasal pillows mask the least of the various types.  If you mouth breathe you can still wear nasal or nasal pillows masks if you want to if you carefully and fully cover your mouth with appropriate tape.

Hope this helps.