What should be your CPAPmin?

[bones20]

Hi Guys,
Five days into the therapy, I am seeing 3-4 OSA events every night pressure range (6-14, PS=0).
The events seem to be happening at different pressures in the same nights and between nights (7, 8, 9, 10).
The overall AHI has been less that 1 all nights.
The 90% pressure has also been a variable - overall average of 5 days is 9.8.

So; should I be increasing the pressure (CPAPmin) all the way upto 10+ to see if it eliminates all OSAs or be content with a nice low AHI?

By the way, I have started noticing 3-4 CA (centrals) every night and I am suspecting thats a side effect of CPAP or just a machine interpretation of something else.

thanks!

[Julie]

Hi, first of all if your 'centrals' occur just as you're falling asleep and waking up, those would be normal unless there were very many more and more likely throughout the night. Secondly, if you otherwise feel good and AHI's remain low, unless you're aware of major leaks, I would think you could leave things just as they are. I don't think lightening would strike if you raised your min. pressure to 7 for a few days to see if things change, but pursuing an AHI of zero is probably a bit unrealistic.

[bones20]

Thanks Julie! Just to clarify, I am not talking about AHI but just AI

I will stop chasing the goal of 0 AI. And it makes sense, since less than 5 is considered normal.

Also I did raise the CPAPmin to 7 last night with pretty much the same result.

[LSAT]

Don't expect to eliminate all OSA events...you will drive yourself crazy...3-4 a night is great. An AHI of <1 is great...especially for a new user. My opinion would be to leave your pressure alone for several weeks....load Sleepyhead and study your data.

[Wulfman...]

Hi Guys,
Five days into the therapy, I am seeing 3-4 OSA events every night pressure range (6-14, PS=0).
The events seem to be happening at different pressures in the same nights and between nights (7, 8, 9, 10).
The overall AHI has been less that 1 all nights.
The 90% has also been a variable - overall average of 5 days is 9.8.

So; should I be increasing the pressure (CPAPmin) all the way upto 10+ to see if it eliminates all OSAs or be content with a nice low AHI?

By the way, I have started noticing 3-4 CA (centrals) every night and I am suspecting thats a side effect of CPAP or just a machine interpretation of something else.

thanks!

The general consensus around here from past discussions over many years......is to set the minimum to the point where it eliminates almost all of the Obstructive events.
Since you're having some Centrals, you need to study your reports and note the pressure(s) at which they're occurring.
Some people have been known to have "pressure-induced Centrals", so if they're occurring at higher pressures, it might be a good idea to limit the maximum pressure below that threshold.
On the other hand, some people have "sleep onset Centrals", which have been described as "no big deal".
Since you're very new to this therapy, it can take awhile to see some consistent numbers. We don't sleep the same night after night. At some point, you may even want to try straight pressure and see how that works for you. For some people the changing pressures can be disturbing to their sleep.

Edit:
Rereading your post and profile, I see you're using a bi-level machine. So, in that regard, (again, and the same as before) the recommended minimum setting for EPAP is to where it eliminates almost all of the Obstructive events.


Den

.

[bones20]

Thanks Wuffman.

Sorry, but I am confused now. The response from the other gentleman indicates that 2-3 OE are fine? Also, from what I hear, an AHI < 5 does even merit SA treatment, right?

Also, the centrals are actually all in the low pressure range.

Hi Guys,
Five days into the therapy, I am seeing 3-4 OSA events every night pressure range (6-14, PS=0).
The events seem to be happening at different pressures in the same nights and between nights (7, 8, 9, 10).
The overall AHI has been less that 1 all nights.
The 90% has also been a variable - overall average of 5 days is 9.8.

So; should I be increasing the pressure (CPAPmin) all the way upto 10+ to see if it eliminates all OSAs or be content with a nice low AHI?

By the way, I have started noticing 3-4 CA (centrals) every night and I am suspecting thats a side effect of CPAP or just a machine interpretation of something else.

thanks!

The general consensus around here from past discussions over many years......is to set the minimum to the point where it eliminates almost all of the Obstructive events.
Since you're having some Centrals, you need to study your reports and note the pressure(s) at which they're occurring.
Some people have been known to have "pressure-induced Centrals", so if they're occurring at higher pressures, it might be a good idea to limit the maximum pressure below that threshold.
On the other hand, some people have "sleep onset Centrals", which have been described as "no big deal".
Since you're very new to this therapy, it can take awhile to see some consistent numbers. We don't sleep the same night after night. At some point, you may even want to try straight pressure and see how that works for you. For some people the changing pressures can be disturbing to their sleep.

Edit:
Rereading your post and profile, I see you're using a bi-level machine. So, in that regard, (again, and the same as before) the recommended minimum setting for EPAP is to where it eliminates almost all of the Obstructive events.


Den

.

[LSAT]

Ignore the centrals unless there are very large numbers in clusters....You have no problem.

[library lady]

Thanks Wuffman.

Sorry, but I am confused now. The response from the other gentleman indicates that 2-3 OE are fine? Also, from what I hear, an AHI < 5 does even merit SA treatment, right?

Also, the centrals are actually all in the low pressure range.

The goal of cpap therapy is for AHI <5... 1,2,3, and 4 are fine; it is very rare to bring it down to O.

[Hang Fire]

The overall AHI has been less that 1 all nights.
I have started noticing 3-4 CA (centrals) every night

SHADDUP!

[Wulfman...]

Thanks Wuffman.

Sorry, but I am confused now. The response from the other gentleman indicates that 2-3 OE are fine? Also, from what I hear, an AHI < 5 does even merit SA treatment, right?

Also, the centrals are actually all in the low pressure range.

To reiterate, you're new to this therapy and it usually takes some time to get the therapy settled in and the user adjusted to this new way of sleeping. You're going to have "events" no matter what your settings are and no matter how long you've been using this therapy......period.

I'm not clear about what you mean when you ask about the AHI less than 5 not meriting SA treatment.
Did you mean with or without therapy?
Personally, I'd feel like crap if my AHI was that high. My AHI when I had my sleep study was in the mid-40s....."severe".
Many people don't get XPAP prescribed if their AHI is less than 5.0, but depending on the circumstances, the person being diagnosed may also be just starting to experience OSA and their numbers might get worse over time.

If your (treated) AHI is typically less than 1.0 every night, that's GREAT!


Den

.

[Hang Fire]

To reiterate, you're new to this therapy and it usually takes some time to get the therapy settled in and the user adjusted to this new way of sleeping. You're going to have "events" no matter what your settings are and no matter how long you've been using this therapy......period.

I'm not clear about what you mean when you ask about the AHI less than 5 not meriting SA treatment.
Did you mean with or without therapy?
Personally, I'd feel like crap if my AHI was that high. My AHI when I had my sleep study was in the mid-40s....."severe".
Many people don't get XPAP prescribed if their AHI is less than 5.0, but depending on the circumstances, the person being diagnosed may also be just starting to experience OSA and their numbers might get worse over time.

He's asking simple questions. You are making it way too damn complicated.

[bones20]

Thanks Guys! I will continue with this as suggested and get back if I see something new.

My diagnosed AHI was 62 (still find it hard to believe). So, the machine is obviously working well it seems bringing it down to less than 1.

[Wulfman...]

Thanks Guys! I will continue with this as suggested and get back if I see something new.

My diagnosed AHI was 62 (still find it hard to believe). So, the machine is obviously working well it seems bringing it down to less than 1.

I apologize if I was making things sound "complicated", but at least I won't tell you to "SHADDUP!".


Den

.

[bones20]

Thanks Guys! I will continue with this as suggested and get back if I see something new.

My diagnosed AHI was 62 (still find it hard to believe). So, the machine is obviously working well it seems bringing it down to less than 1.

I apologize if I was making things sound "complicated", but at least I won't tell you to "SHADDUP!".


Den

.

Not at all! Details and depth is exactly I am looking for.

I am just a newbie. Somethings I might say may sound immature or uninformed.

[Susie Kay]

I am just a newbie. Somethings I might say may sound immature or uninformed.

Just like some of the ones who have been here for years and made thousands of posts.

Welcome to a very good forum!