Searching for the Holy Grail

[JamesW]

Since starting CPAP last November I have had the opportunity to use two different machines. The Resmed Airsense 10 Auto, which I have sent back twice as it is unacceptably noisy , and over the last three nights a Philips Respironics System One (60 Series) Auto with A-Flex. Sleepyhead shows very different data for these machines. I have tended to pore over the data and obsess about the figures. My growing view is that by chasing the Holy Grail of the lowest AHI we tend to overthink the benefits of CPAP, and that is simply better sleep and waking up rested. My AHI figure over the last three nights has been .66-.14-2.03, with the System One (60 Series). No OA just Hypo's and RERA's. As I have quite narrow nasal passages and I am using a nasal mask I think this means a elevated AHI on some nights. So I am tending to not be so concerned about the daily AHI and concentrate on a long term trend and look at how I feel, rather than numbers. It does my head in the fill it with information that just causes concern. We are all a long time dead, so we should be trying to enjoy the benefits of better sleep and not worry about the data tidal wave. And my sleep doctor reckons I am doing well too. Don't worry, be happy instead

[PaulaO2]

It is not a sane goal to want to reach zero AHI every night. It just isn't possible.

The sane goal is to wake feeling refreshed and to keep the AHI under 5. Once that is consistent, then tweaking and the like to get the AHI as low as possible is of course a good thing.

I have woken up some mornings feeling like I had the worse night ever. And had an AHI of less than 1. And I have woken up some mornings feeling like I could take on the world because I got the best sleep! And had an AHI over 5.

[sonicboom]

Once your AHI is <5 how you feel is the best indicator of the efficacy of that night's treatment. Having said that I do strive to keep centrals as low as possible. I don't want my heart to rely on the machine to breathe.