AHI Numbers While Dreaming

[harmon k]

I'm sure this phenomenon has probably been discussed elsewhere on the board. 

My daily AHI numbers are always 1 or less. But I just found out today that, when I'm dreaming, my numbers shoot way way up to like 64 or so! Don't quite understand it yet, but was surprised to learn this.

[Beej]

There can be more apneas during REM sleep. Do you have a copy of your diagnostic sleep test? It may indicate that (mine did).

I'll also note that the AHI is an average over the time you slept, so if there is a period during which there are repeated apneas and the other time has nearly nothing, the overall AHI will be low. If you highlight just the period with the repeated apneas, a line under the graph will show you an approximate AHI over just that period.
It may be helpful to show the wave forms to your doc for these periods.

[harmon k]

The doc is the one who pointed this out when he downloaded my card

[Beej]

And did he suggest anything to improve that period?

[harmon k]

no. should he have?

[Beej]

I don't know; perhaps someone else does.

[C0mbe]

Interesting, there is an article in NIH at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2919664/. Basically what it says is that they found REM related apnea events were worse in the supine position than they are when laying on ones side.

Perhaps trying to stay off the back would decrease the REM related events you are experiencing.

[kwhenrykerr]

My events are often clustered around REM.

[Beej]

I'll be checking out a large wedge pillow tonight. I'll report my observations under Other Product Reviews
tomorrow, under this thread.