changing settings

should they be changed by user

If you have good reason to think so, absolutely, as long as you know how. Do NOT let the DME or MD tell you you're too dumb or that it's a state secret. If you were diabetic, you'd be doing all kinds of things to deal with your condition, meters, diet, timing, etc., so why not OSA? People just looove keeping their power and mystery!

I had my pressure changed a few weeks ago from 11 to 12. I did not feel like I was getting the same benefits of my CPAP as I was the first Month or two. I called The Sleep Study center and they asked me to bring the CPAP machine, hose and mask in to check it out for pressure and leaks. That was all ok so they called my Physician and he ordered the pressure to be kicked up a level and had me bring home a Oxygen sensor for the night. Everything checked out find and I am now feeling more rested and they did not charge me a thing. I think I will follow the directions of my Physician and Therapist since I am new to this and have limited equipment and data card information.

Do it ..and pull that label off the mattress and pillows too.

brad80728 wrote:should they be changed by user

That depends, if the user has no idea what they are doing, then absolutely not !.
If the user has done some research & homework then the answer can be a qualified 'yes'.

This issue is a sensitive one that has a lot to do with a user's right to monitor & adjust their own therapy
vs getting themselves into a mess.

DSM

montana wrote:..and pull that label off the mattress and pillows too.

That is so radical!

I did over a period of time. Original pressure was 8cm, adjusted it to 9cm for about 3 weeks and still did'nt feel great and I was still snoring. 2 weeks ago set it to 9.5cm and now feel great. Leaks are within range and AHI went from 2.8 to 1.1, Like DSM said, do your research.

BTW, I had contacted my Dr. about the snoring and headaches, he said to go to my primary Dr. to figure out why I was having the headaches, then we will go from their.

brad80728 wrote:should they be changed by user

SHOULD? Depends.....
If the user has some rudimentary idea of WHAT they're doing and WHY......then "yes", they COULD.
Having a data-capable machine and the software to interpret the data gives a clearer picture to justify the WHAT and WHY.


Den

I didn't make any setting changes in my husband's therapy until I found this forum and began to understand somewhat about apnea and cpap . Then I started to ask lots of questions here and the pros came out and took me step by step through the process over a period of months and after my husband began to be more active in his own treatment, I was comfortable enough to make our own adjustments. We also learned here about the right mask and bed pillows. I'm still learning. My advice is to read and ask questions.

I changed mine from an 8 to a 9 the other night. It seems like the experts on this forum know more than some DR's. I find whenever I have a question I always use the search function here and I can find the answer faster than calling my DR and less red tape too.

With a support group like this site and others I see no reason why people can't monitor and control there own therapy. My step father monitors his Diabetes on a daily basis.