Approaching Zero AHIs for most people

track · Post by **track** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:10 pm

In theory should you be able to find a pressure that eliminates all AHIs assuming you have a mask that doesn't leak? If not then why not?....assuming we are not talking about centrals.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:10 pm

Hi Track,

Yes in theory it is very possible to have an AHI of zero.

Also in reality it is possible.

In the post: A Zero AHI Really IS Possible. by CollegeGirl

You can see her beautiful chart showing just that.

viewtopic.php?t=19012&highlight=

Now for us all to get there and restful sleep no matter what sleep disorders we have will be a great thing to think about and strive for.

track wrote:In theory should you be able to find a pressure that eliminates all AHIs assuming you have a mask that doesn't leak? If not then why not?....assuming we are not talking about centrals.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:00 pm

Looks good....but I seriously doubt there is a pressure that many could ever reach zero on a daily basis. I base my assumption on my own observations. One night might be very good and the next night might have 3 times the events and we are talking apap so if pressure was the key then the machine should have responded to the events and it didn't. Nothing on the machine changed..I changed for some reason and there is no correlation to events and leaks.

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:18 pm

My average for the past three nights is 0.2 AHI, so maybe I'll get to zero some time!

Pam

ColoZZZ · Post by **ColoZZZ** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:36 pm

I've found my best nights are when I've really played hard during the day and worn myself out.

-Andy

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:19 pm

I average a couple of zeroes a week. The rest of the time my AHI is under 1.0 usually under 0.5 so it is possible!

Brenda

Sammy_J · Post by **Sammy_J** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:47 am

I asked my GP and my sleep doc about this. Having such a low AHI index is rare. It was suggested that maybe all of you should go out and buy a lottery ticket.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:58 am

I think people here get lower AHI scores than the general population because they're willing to try different masks, pressures, and all kinds of things to get the best therapy possible. Of course you're not going to end up with an AHI of 0 if you just take your titration pressure and whatever mask they give you and walk off into the sunset.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:59 am

blarg,

I totatlly agree with you.

The fact that an AHI of 5 or less is normal, does not show an incentive to reduce the AHI.

Also the worse diservice is the 4 hour complinace. Many people give up saying the are compliant for 4 hours but do not feel good, so why bother. Well if you take the mask off and go back to bed becasue you did your 4 hours, of course you are not going to feel good, because your body would have been miserable for what ever time you went back to bed. Just like before treatment.

blarg wrote:I think people here get lower AHI scores than the general population because they're willing to try different masks, pressures, and all kinds of things to get the best therapy possible. Of course you're not going to end up with an AHI of 0 if you just take your titration pressure and whatever mask they give you and walk off into the sunset.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:43 am

Sammy_J wrote:I asked my GP and my sleep doc about this. Having such a low AHI index is rare. It was suggested that maybe all of you should go out and buy a lottery ticket.

Dang! ... are you saying I could have won the lottery 5 times in the last 2 months?

I would suggest you go out and find a more encouragaing doc.

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:51 am

There are an incredible amount of variables that make up good sleep. Sleep hygiene being one big group. Just having your AHI close to zero doesn't make you have a restful night. What about antidepressants that surpress REM sleep or the stresses in your life? Also there is how much caffeine you consumed during the day and a host of other sleep hygiene issues that could make for a restless night.

Having a low AHI is always good, but there are so many more factors to consider.

Any thoughts?

Ted the Titrator

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:25 am

All very good points Ted and I am in total agreement ... but getting the AHI taken care of is one less obstacle to worry about in that quest for a restful night's sleep.

BTW - I believe I have the caffine and stress parameters taken care of and I have never taken antidepressants ... which only leaves me with tweaking the sleep hygiene and PAP treatement ... I know, not as exciting but oh well.

stages3n4 · Post by **stages3n4** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:26 am

Of course you're not going to end up with an AHI of 0 if you just take your titration pressure and whatever mask they give you and walk off into the sunset.

Amen to that Blarg!

I've never met my sleep Dr. He did send complete report to my GP, who did his best to explain, and wrote Rx. But...

My stop by the DME to get my stuff was probably all of 10 minutes. Quick explaination of machine and humidifier. Asked if I wanted to try different masks, I said I'll start with the one I used during titration, she said "ok, just connect that here and the other end there" and that was it.

No explaination about leak rate and the importance there of. Machine was set so user data only showed hours used, like if that was all there was to it.

Many thanks again to all those on this site that helped me access usable, important data that gives me some idea of what's going on and is this being effective (yes, of course, ultimate judge is how I feel, which I do believe is slowly improving).

If mine is the common experience, it is no surprise at all that a high percentage of people just stop therapy. It is just so hard to believe that for something can alter a persons life so drastically in two ways (absolute discomfort followed by improved health), so little time seems to be spent on education.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, Titration, DME, AHI

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:32 am

Ted,

I totally agree with you that there are many different reasons for "bad", "disturbed" sleep or fatigue. I was refereing for AHI of zero and better sleep, I was thinking of straight Obstructive Sleep Apnea and no other conditions.

There is a long list of sleep disorders that can cause problems.

Medical reasons, common ones and less common illnesses.

Simple things like alcohol can make you sleepy but will disturb restful sleep.

What about vitamin/mineral deficiencies, diabetes.

What may help, exercise (like posted by ColoZZZ, Andy).

Does diet play a role in sleep issues?

Titrator wrote:There are an incredible amount of variables that make up good sleep. Sleep hygiene being one big group. Just having your AHI close to zero doesn't make you have a restful night. What about antidepressants that surpress REM sleep or the stresses in your life? Also there is how much caffeine you consumed during the day and a host of other sleep hygiene issues that could make for a restless night.

Having a low AHI is always good, but there are so many more factors to consider.

Any thoughts?

Ted the Titrator

track · Post by **track** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:41 am

I think sleep position plays a roll in numbers too. When I sleep on my back and my tongue falls back my machine is not able to keep the pathways open....and no amount of pressure changes that. Typically my numbers can double when I sleep on my back versus on my side. If I start on my back I typically stay there and vice versa if I start on my side.

Interesting the amount of air I swallow is drastically reduced when I sleep on my back....win /lose or lose/ win.

Mask	Software

Additional Comments: Strictly a side sleeper

Mask	Software

Additional Comments: Strictly a side sleeper

Approaching Zero AHIs for most people

Approaching Zero AHIs for most people

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