When should I expect AHI to decrease?

[NVGirl]

Started two months ago on BiPap, took one month to finally get a mask that fit correctly. My Ahi is at 50; I'm still experiencing a lot of symptoms. What should my expectations be regarding relief?

Still horrible anxiety attacks/nightmares although some increase in energy. Still do not sleep through the night. 100% compliance on my part.

Thanks!

[OpalRose]

Two months on bipap and an AHI of 50?

First, fill out your profile with more detail, the exact model number of your machine.
The pressure your bipap is set at, including the pressure support.

Are you using software? If not, download Sleepyhead (link at top of page), then download some data from your SD card, then someone here who has experience with BiPap machines will be able to help you.

[Possum]

Started two months ago on BiPap, took one month to finally get a mask that fit correctly. My Ahi is at 50; I'm still experiencing a lot of symptoms. What should my expectations be regarding relief?

Still horrible anxiety attacks/nightmares although some increase in energy. Still do not sleep through the night. 100% compliance on my part.

Thanks!

If you have consistent AHI = 50, I would regard your treatment as mostly ineffective. There are likely all kinds of adjustments that need to be made, including but not limited to your pressure(s).

Please post more information and complete your profile, as AHI is only one of many parameters that need to considered.

[cate1898]

Welcome to ApneaBoard NVGirl! Glad you found us. Hopefully you'll get lots of ideas on how to make your therapy MUCH better!

For one, are you a mouth breather when sleeping? Wondering if that is why you have the Mirage Quattro FFM. A lot of people here much prefer nasal pillows and from what I've read (having never worn a FFM) you may get a better seal with them than a FFM. Or you could try getting a liner for your mask.

Keep us posted!

[trish6hundred]

Hi NVGirl,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Much success to you with your CPAP therapy and hang around for more suggestions and answers to your questions.

[Sleeprider]

Your profile indicates you have a BiPAP S/T. This model is normally prescribed for COPD and other obstructive pulmonary patients. If the intention was to treat central apenea, then you needed the BiPAP Auto SV.

We need to determine what kind of sleep apnea you were diagnosed with. You may have the wrong machine, and with an AHI of 50, it's my opinion your concerns should be shared with your doctor. You are not being treated, and it would not be the first time that a supplier provided the wrong machine thinking it was okay. If you need a Model 960 Auto SV, get it. Call your doc tomorrow and get to the bottom of this. The model 1060 S/T will not provide data that can be seen in Sleepyhead, so it's going to be very hard to help you on this forum.

Do you have COPD or other pulmonary issues that would indicate this machine? What can you tell us about your sleep study?

[Tacoma Droner]

Started two months ago on BiPap, took one month to finally get a mask that fit correctly. My Ahi is at 50; I'm still experiencing a lot of symptoms. What should my expectations be regarding relief?

Still horrible anxiety attacks/nightmares although some increase in energy. Still do not sleep through the night. 100% compliance on my part.

Thanks!

NVGirl, welcome to the forum. With 50 events per hour, I think we can all agree that your therapy is not working. Your expectations as a new user should be (1) to have some challenges finding a mask that fits well, is comfortable, and doesn't leak, then when you get that part sorted out (2) you should expect to get immediate relief.

The forum is a pretty good place to find answers. But to find good answers, you need to provide lots of good information. First, look on the bottom of your machine for a label that has the serial number. Somewhere on that label it should say the model of the machine you have. We need to know that. Hopefully, it will be something like 1061420, and your machine will look something like this--


If that's the right machine, then the next thing you need to tell us is what settings are programmed into the machine. You can find out (with the machine plugged in but not running) by turning the big dial to "Setup" then pushing down on the big dial and and on the ramp button (the little button with the triangle symbol on it) and hold those both down until the machine beeps (takes about 5 seconds.) Once that happens, you can release both, then turn the big dial to "Setup" again. That's where you'll find all the settings. (after you write down all the settings, be sure to use the dial to "Exit" -- or simply unplug the machine, then plug it back in.)

That's the first step. The next step is as OpalRose instructed. You need to download the SleepyHead software, figure out how to install it on your computer, then transfer your sleep data from the machine to the computer. If you don't know how to do any of that, don't worry, you're not alone. Just let us know which part you're having trouble with and we'll tell you how to do it in more detail.

At some point, you'll probably want to get yourself a manual for your machine. Lots of info about that here--
CPAP Setup Manuals (clicky)

Unless you have something really unusual going on, we should be able to help you get your AHI down to single digits pretty quick. The nightmares suck, no doubt about it!

[WakeUpTime]

If you have consistent AHI = 50, I would regard your treatment as mostly ineffective. There are likely all kinds of adjustments that need to be made, including but not limited to your pressure(s).

Ditto on that.

I struggled for the first few months with settings that were less than effective. I had AHI numbers of 14-15 for a long time. It took me about 6-8 months to get below 10, and about a year to get below 5 (AHI).

[mandtsmith]

I think I was lucky by the sounds of it. Started at 98 and then down to around 2-5 straight away after treatment.