Consequences of setting too high?

MTmama · Post by **MTmama** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:56 pm

I'm wondering what the symptoms or consequences are if your CPAP is set too high. Does anyone know?

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:16 pm

I've heard that setting the pressure too high can trigger central apneas if one is prone to have those. And, unnecessarily high pressure just makes it harder to control leaks. I'm sure some of our experts will chime in here with more information as well.

MTmama · Post by **MTmama** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 9:55 pm

really? So setting it too high can make you MORE tired? That's interesting. I've lost some weight and think my settings may be off. I have an old school machine that isn't an auto or anything. Hmmm.. and I've been SUPER tired!!!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:27 pm

It all depends on what the definition of "HIGH" is......

Everything is relative.

Den

DreamDiver · Post by **DreamDiver** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:41 pm

I notice that when I set my pressure over 10, my AHI's start climbing again. Maybe there's a sweet spot where you're AHI is as low as it's going to get at whatever stage of CPAP therapy you're at.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:58 pm

I know for me - I think its because I can't exhale completely that my ahi's go up - but Den is right again. Its all relative.

MTmama · Post by **MTmama** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:16 pm

I'm on an old school machine that has nothing 'auto' about the thing... I've had it for quite awhile and was on 9 but gained a lot of weight and went up to 14. I did notice it is extra, extra noisy and almost sounds like, yes, there is a leak somewhere. Hmmm. I'm also wondering if it's my mask. I have a Mirage Swift (prongs or whatever) but want to go to back to the nasal mask because I felt like I got better oxygen that way.

I'm also aiming at a gastric bypass to help get rid of this problem once and for all! Im a single mom to a 3 year old and 1 year old and just can't bear to be this tired. Going in for sleep studies are not easy for me cuz I have no one to watch them

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:25 pm

If you have your prescription, you could get a data-capable machine from an online supplier like CPAP.COM with which you could monitor your own therapy. That would be a lot less expensive than having to have additional sleep studies. You can get an auto-titrating/adjusting machine with a plain CPAP presctiption, or there are data-capable straight CPAP machines.

If you have insurance and your current machine is at least 5 years old, they might help you get a new one.

Den

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 4:56 am

I had mentioned to my sleep doctor that I had found it somewhat uncomfortable when exhaling at first but over a period of about two months I had adjusted to that and that I assumed CPAP had helped me to begin exhaling more strongly (I have COPD).

The way my sleep doc explained it to me, too high a pressure setting so that exhalation wasn't free and easy would cause arousals and that, of course, would cause less restful sleep and was why I'd still feel tired in the morning.

wildmt · Post by **wildmt** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 1:07 pm

All of the above is correct but I'll add this: If your setting is truly above your prescribed pressure, and if leaks are ocurring as a result, you could be having centrals (which often result in morning headaches), and you will feel drug out all day too.

The leaks need to be controled first, then determine if the higher pressure is causing centrals. This can best be accomplished with a data capable machine. Wulfman's suggestion above is real good.

Good luck.

Arizona-Willie · Post by **Arizona-Willie** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:58 am

How can you tell a central from regular apnea?

dudley_doright · Post by **dudley_doright** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:23 am

I have been playing around with pressure lately and this is what I found.
My lab test shows that my pressure is 8, my AHI is 3.6. I tried 9 and my AHI is 3.8, I tried 8.5 and my AHI is 3.3. All test were done for 7.7 hours and zero leak. So, I am setting my CPAP at 8.5.
I also feel more rested at 8.5. I did try 9.5 and I got a lot of leak, so higher pressure can cause leak and disturbed my sleep.

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:43 am

Arizona-Willie wrote:How can you tell a central from regular apnea?

I think they show up on our data reports as "Non-Responsive" apneas or events.

Arizona-Willie · Post by **Arizona-Willie** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:16 pm

Ummm I think that should have been the name of the software I have.

I have the old autoscan 5.7 for my resmed elite and I don't remember ever seeing anything about non-responsive in the reports.

Maybe I missed it somewhere.

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:38 pm

You're right! Just checked my ResMed program report, no data re non-responsive events. EncoreViewer and EncorePro (and Encore Pro Analyzer) do provide that data. Mine's always been zero with 2-3 exceptions.

Consequences of setting too high?

Consequences of setting too high?

Too high

hmmm

Centrals

Just my opinion.

Re: Centrals

Non-responsive

Mask

Mask

Mask