AHI zero (!), but still snoring...why???

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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svh
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AHI zero (!), but still snoring...why???

Post by svh » Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:32 am

Why would I still be snoring, and should I do anything about it? I have been at my current pressure for just over a week, and my AHI has gone down nicely over that time. This morning it was zero for the first time, having been almost that yesterday. Yet my snore index is 27. I thought there would be no snoring once I found a good pressure!

Any ideas for me? I suspect I should just ignore the fact that I'm snoring, but as for my husband, apart from the benefits to my health, I thought he could expect not to hear the snoring anymore. It's a bit of a disappointment if that won't be the case.

Don't get me wrong--I know that getting my apneas and hypopneas down is the most important thing, but I am still confused as to why I'd be snoring this much.

--Sarah

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Wulfman
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Post by Wulfman » Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:05 am

Sarah,

My opinion (and shared by a number of others):
Don't worry about the snoring if your AHI is good. The two aren't NECESSARILY connected. Your snoring will probably decrease over time.
This is the way my therapy went. Low AHI and high snores (I mean in the hundreds). Gradually my snoring numbers came down. Now they're in the low single digits.

You're doin' good!

Den

(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
"Passover" Humidification - ResMed Ultra Mirage FF - Encore Pro w/Card Reader & MyEncore software - Chiroflow pillow
User since 05/14/05

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tomjax
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snoring

Post by tomjax » Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:07 am

Many people confuse snoring with apnea or AHI.

This is highly misleading. PAP holds the airway open and prevents it from collapsing.
Snoring is usually stopped to a great degree, but not always.

A person can have their airway open and apnea supressed, but still snore.

Things often get curioser and curioser in apnea. Intuition often does not work.

Stay in touch with yourself.
Tom
Am I being guested?

tomjax


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svh
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Post by svh » Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:13 am

Thanks. 207 snores last night (index of 27.2) seems a bit excessive, but I know the AHI is the important part of all this. I'll make no changes for now and hope the snoring decreases over time.

--Sarah

wolftracker
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did anyone confirm the snores

Post by wolftracker » Fri Nov 03, 2006 10:59 am

my machine registers snores, but my wife says she has not heard me
snore.

did you sig other say you are snoring or not??

maybe your machine is picking up some kind of back ground notice

i wish i could figure it out

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svh
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Post by svh » Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:04 am

Yes, my husband hears the snoring. He says it's much quieter and more regular than it was pre-CPAP, but it is audible.
--Sarah

wolftracker
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breathing thru machine

Post by wolftracker » Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:09 am

i hear my self breathing thru the machine ...
i am leaning toward thinking that is why the machine
is picking up

when you first turn the machine on ... when you get in
bed ... can you hear when you breath in and out ....

that is why i believe ppl say snores dont matter as much

it shows snores even when i believe i am aware and i am leaning
towards it is hearing the breathing through the machine

poopedknot
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Post by poopedknot » Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:39 pm

My girlfriend snores on EXHALATION not inhalation. Clearly not an apnea or hypopnea related event, but would still show up on a snore index.

It just tells me that not all snores are apnea type events but might still be considered a "sleep disturbance" by some.

To me it must be some anatomical issue in the nasal passages that I can tolerate.

I can usually solve the problem by putting my arm around her and nibbling her ear but that can also raise other issues!


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svh
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Post by svh » Sat Nov 04, 2006 7:22 am

OK, this is ridiculous! Last night I had 578 snores! Index was 55, my highest yet (snore index, that is). My AHI was, OTOH, 0.8, obviously good. When I look at the graphs in my encore, it shows that when I increased my pressure to 8.5 (from , my AHI went down, but my SI went up. I just don't understand why that would be. My leak rates are all fine--reasonable for the mask.

--Sarah

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Wulfman
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Post by Wulfman » Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:38 am

Sarah,

You're doing FINE!

Den
(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
"Passover" Humidification - ResMed Ultra Mirage FF - Encore Pro w/Card Reader & MyEncore software - Chiroflow pillow
User since 05/14/05

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Snoredog
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Post by Snoredog » Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:55 am

Your snores didn't go down when you increased pressure from 8.0 to 8.5cm because they are palatal snores, or snores created by the flabby tissue of the soft palate. These snores are created by the cpap pressure itself flowing over the soft palate. When you increased pressure that pushed your tongue farther away and allowed the flabby tissue to increase in frequency.

If you have a extra long uvula that can also contribute to them. Try the 8.5cm a few nights but if you don't feel any better put the pressure back down to 8.0cm and don't worry about the snores.

As mentioned, some snores don't respond to increased pressure. Go by your AHI score.

One thing you might try: Lower the Cflex setting by 1 and see if your snore index doesn't go down.


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svh
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Post by svh » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:53 pm

Thanks everyone. I won't even be able to worry about the snores for now, since my smart card is corrupted AGAIN.....(another post) Perhaps I'm better off knowing less--my machine will tell me AHI and Leak, and that will have to do!

--Sarah