Newbie here w questions

[Dawnwh]

Hi all,
I had a sleep study w AHI of 44, O2 sat went as low as 77%.  Got started last Tues on apap.  AHI has been below 5 except for last nite it was 6.3, which is still not terrible. Obviously I am still getting used to this whole thing.  The avg pressure on the nites AHI was less than 5 was about 15 and last nite was 11. The machine says 100% mask fit each nite.  I had a difficult time sleeping last nite and was adjusting the mask quite a bit before falling asleep.  Why would the pressure have been lower last nite like that and the AHI higher? Can there still be leakage with the 100% number showing? Also I shut the machine off to go to the bathroom. Does that affect the numbers? I know the numbers vary night to night but just curious. Thank you in advance!

[Gideon]

Welcome to the forum.

The best way to answer your questions would be for you to download OSCAR which will enable you to view data down to the breath by breath detail when necessary.  
Pressure increases are caused by obstructive events (Obstructive Apnea, Hypopnea, Flow Limits),  and by FLEX changing the pressure on each and every breath for comfort.

See my signatures for details.

[DaveL]

Welcome to the forum!
I've been really impressed with OSCAR since I installed it on my MAC computer.
I can see instantly how I've done.
When I don't understand, I post here and people tell me.

It's absolutely wonderful.

If I rely on my Doctor's care I'll learn sometime way out in the future why I felt so badly for so long.

OSCAR and this forum have taught me a lot, and my health is better for it.

[DaveL]

Another thought---my example.

I use a nasal mask, a constant pressure machine, humidifier and heated hose.

I work hard to improve my sleep hygiene. Means I try to go to bed same time every night. I don't watch tv news just before I sleep. Heck there's enough stress without watching canned news.

Sometimes I mouth breath.

That affects my treatment. If my mouth is open, then the air from my cpap hose goes in my nose and out my mouth. So my sleep apnea events increase. My pressure is always the same. (I wish I had a machine like yours.)

So if you use OSCAR and post the results for a night here, people with more knowledge than I will tell right away if you mouthbreath, or if there are other factors that cause higher numbers.

This is one way I've benefited from participating here and using OSCAR

If I'm going to use all this stuff, I want to feel as good as I can when I wake in the morning!