British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

I have had my cpap since july 09 and have been constantly tired ever since.When i got sacked in march this year it was from problems i had with my cpap.Each time i visited the sleep clinic the nurse told me my apnoeas were 6/hour and that was why i was still tired,they turned the machine up from 13 to 15 and it leaked like mad and i couldn't sleep because of it,my wife slept on the couch it was that bad,i asked them to turn it down again and they did.
When i went to the sleep clinic they said my apnoeas that week were 9/hr.They gave me a automatic machine and i went back a couple of weeks later and was told by the specialist that they were 7/hr and he said he was happy with that How can they tell me 6 is too high but 7 is ok????
What should my apnoeas be down to when using cpap?
Thanks Jimmy.

The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is an index of severity that combines apneas and hypopneas. Combining them both gives an overall severity of sleep apnea including sleep disruptions and desaturations (a low level of oxygen in the blood). The apnea-hypopnea index, like the apnea index and hypopnea index, is calculated by dividing the number of apneas and hypopneas by the number of hours of sleep. (AHI values are typically categorized as 5-15 Mild, 15-30 Moderate, and above 30 listed as Severe.)

These pauses (apneas) in breathing must last for 10 seconds and are associated with a decrease in oxygenation of the blood. In general, the AHI can be used to classify the severity of disease (mild 5-15, moderate 15-30, and severe greater than 30).

Taken from wikipedia.org.

If you are having 7 p/h then you still have mild osa .

My figure for last night for the whole night was 8.2hrs on the machine ahi was 1.8 .

Its either pressure or the mask that you need tweaking .

Regards,

I had the same question as you about 6 months ago, and this led me to a lot of soul-searching and unhappiness. I was averaging 6 or 7, and where I live I was told that under 10 meant acceptable.

I started tinkering with my settings and found that I was getting lower readings with a tad higher pressure. NOTE THAT I AM NOT ADVISING YOU TO DO THIS. PLEASE DON'T. SEE YOUR DOC!!

Then my sleep tech brought me a ResMed S9 instead of the S8 I'd been using and the levels dropped to 2.0 max immediately!!! It can be linked to the machine. I'd read this, and saw this for myself but can't give a tech explanation.

Make sure your mask fits and there are no leaks (or try another type of mask), get your machine checked and persevere. And, as people told me, if you're feeling better and sleeping better than the actual number is less important. (And if you don't feel comfy with this, and I certainly didn't, talk to your sleep team until you do feel happy.) BUT it's NOT a low number competition - at least not in itself.

I'm not having a go at anyone who has a 'low score' ... though I'd envied each and every one of them for years!! But it does seem to have a bearing on your machine, and if you started with a high score of AHIs, as I did (over 80!) then a drop to 6 or 7 is worth it!!

I have 3 masks,2 of them always leak pretty bad,the one i am using doesn't seem to leak but it does disturb me as the oxygen seems to make just over my top lip itch,so i stick my finger in to scratch it.I tried a nose pillow??,i think thats what they are called,goes just in the nostrils,was ok until machine got to around 8 then i felt like i couldn't breath properly so had to take it off.Have to admit though with that it did seem to leave my nose clear,i can only actually breath proper through one nostril.My nose is out of shape and has a smaller passage in my left nostril,if i hold my right nostril closed i can't breath through my nose at all.
The doctor at the sleep clinic doesn't seem to be very helpful,when i told him i was still tired a lot he just said its not the sa and left it at that,he didn't offer any suggestion what it might be,if i go to my gp he just says its the sa.
I have pretty much given up on doctors,i reckon i am just gonna have to put up with feeling really tired all the time,not a good thing as i am still driving for a livig,as a man & van,so still carrying heavy furniture,sometimes upstairs,but i have no other job options.

That sounds like a whole new ball game ... and you should make your doc even more aware of it if he doesn't know about it already.

It is quite normal to have phases where one feels disaffected with one's doc. Do try to persevere as with them on your side you can get access to help and second opinions and without ......... well life becomes even more difficult.

Have you considered a short planned nap in the afternoons? It may not be the typical behaviour in the job you do, but you might do your job better as a result. Hope things get better for you soon.