What's your pressure?

sunshine2 · Post by **sunshine2** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 3:37 pm

I'm still very new to all of this so I apologize if this has already been asked. I'm very curious to know what pressure your machines are set at? I was determined to need a pressure of 9 and I was wondering if this was considered a "normal" level or maybe a "high" level. All I know about the pressure is that you need to find out what pressure will keep your airway open. Does anybody know what the minimum and maximum pressures are?
Thanks

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 3:42 pm

Everybody is different. I started out at 19.5, then moved to 18. I think most range from 7 to 14....

twistedcherokee · Post by **twistedcherokee** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 6:02 pm

I am at 12, but supposed to be 7

Toby

tater pie · Post by **tater pie** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:30 pm

I'm at 12 also.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:43 pm

Machines generally have a range from 4 -20.

I was titrated at 8, elevated to 10, switched to auto set from 8 -12, screamed and yelled, setting changed to 5 - 12. I generally stay between 5 and 6 most of the night....toward end of night, I might go to 8. My pressures vary depending on the mask type. I would consider 9 pretty average. Request an auto for a month and check your levels....you will be surprised how much they will vary!

TravisTX · Post by **TravisTX** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:25 pm

I was titrated at 15. However, the mask was leaking like a sieve, most likely due to my moustache. With my moustache trimmed back and the mask fitting somewhat better, 15 blew my stomach up like a balloon!

I've been comfortable at 10-12, but I start tonight with an auto, so I'll see where that goes.

lindas88 · Post by **lindas88** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:32 pm

My pressure is set at 11.

elliejose · Post by **elliejose** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:25 pm

14

Currently on Remstar Plus/C-flex. Go back to Dr. Wed. Hope to be able to get auto with C-flex then. I'm still having some problems.

sunshine2 · Post by **sunshine2** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:18 pm

Several of you talked about your pressures changing. Who decided they needed to be change? How did they decide you needed a change? I obviously need to be better educated about all of this. Can anybody recommend some literature or did you all just educate each other? What is an auto-pap? I'm using a cpap and I think it has c-flex although I don't have a clue as to what c-flex is...or what it does. Last question: do you recommend going to a sleep specialist? My daughter goes to a specialist because she has narcolepsy. My family practitioner is who I see. Thanks!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:38 pm

Click on CPAPopedia for all the definitions. The Auto machines automatically change your pressure for you all throughout the night as you sleep based on your breathing and what you need.

The software that comes with the auto machines allows you to see exactly what pressure(s) you were at throughout the night.

You can use an auto machine in straight cpap mode also. Lets say your doc said your pressure is 9. Lets say you have an auto machine (they can deliver pressures from 4-20). You have checked your results via the software over the course of a couple weeks while in the auto mode and see that you consistently use a pressure of 7. So now you may decide to use your auto in straight cpap mode, and you know through your self-titration studies a pressure of 7 is best for you.

C-Flex is a feature on the Respironics REMstar Auto. It allows you to choose a setting for your exhalation at a reduced pressure. Some people have a hard time exhaling against their set pressure (probably not anything you'd notice at a pressure of 9, but would if your set pressure was 18!)

Yes, it is all through self-education. Use the CPAPopedia. Use the Search function. If you want to know about features on machines or masks use the search function or go to cpap.com (one of this board's hosts) and they are all there to see and read about it.

Best of luck to you!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:57 pm

Click on this:

C-Flex vs. Traditional CPAP: Brown University Study

twistedcherokee · Post by **twistedcherokee** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 11:22 pm

Since I don't have ins, I opt to change it myself with the help from my wife. She said that I still stopped breathing and snored, so I up it 1 at a time untill she said that I was breathing even. Since I did it I have been sleeping thru the night. Before that I had to go to the bathroom almost every hour on the hour. Not to mention that I am awake, ussually till 11:00 or 12:00. I used to fall asleep fast fowarding thru the comercials.

Toby

FairSpirit · Post by **FairSpirit** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 11:34 pm

Mine is at 7 right now. They had me at 5 and I was still snoring and having problems. I took it up to 7 myself and have been at that a couple weeks. I see my Sleep Doc Monday, so I'm gonna discuss this with him. I hardly slept any when the sleep center was trying to set my pressure, so, I guess that's why they said it remained on 5. I think I should have been asked to do another study so that maybe they could actually see me sleep some.... I'd try again anyways. Guess it's not easy to set an effective pressure when the person hardly sleeps, eh? LoL You never sleep when you need to. So frustrating!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:32 am

Technically, an auto machine will automatically adjust your pressure based on air-flow limitations from snoring, hypopnea or apnea events. Also it will adjust your pressure throughout the night according to your stage of sleep or sleep position. Also an auto is useful if your weight fluctuates because the amount of pressure required may change depending on if your body mass is increasing or decreasing.

Marie · Post by **Marie** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:07 am

11, on regular cpap

What's your pressure?

What's your pressure?

Levels

follow-up ?