Rules of thumb for incr. pressure--how much per day/week?

[Sibbs]

Any general rules of thumb for raising pressure settings?

I'm slowly going up to try to resolve some OAs. Increased from 8 to 9 w/ no problems. Left it that way for a month or so. Increased to 9.5, again no problems. Has been a week at that. Last night I went to 10 and my brain didn't like it-- was like a big pressure blast up my nose all night.

Any thoughts on how much to space out increases? Whether there's some upper threshold where it's just uncomfortable and I have to deal with it?

Thanks as always.

[chunkyfrog]

It is probably different for everyone. We are all different.
There is no right or wrong--unless you do not try.

[Pugsy]

This is an area where the preferences are going to be highly personal.
If a week is not long enough for you then try another week.
Generally we suggest at least a week but more for the chance to establish patterns and trends in the results and not so much from a comfort aspect. Obviously if a person can't get comfortable then there's not going to be much chance of establishing good trends and patterns to the results.

You might play with exhale relief to see if it helps or hurts the comfort issue.

[LSAT]

Any general rules of thumb for raising pressure settings?

I'm slowly going up to try to resolve some OAs. Increased from 8 to 9 w/ no problems. Left it that way for a month or so. Increased to 9.5, again no problems. Has been a week at that. Last night I went to 10 and my brain didn't like it-- was like a big pressure blast up my nose all night.

Any thoughts on how much to space out increases? Whether there's some upper threshold where it's just uncomfortable and I have to deal with it?

Thanks as always.

You have an auto machine...do you have it set to CPAP mode with a fixed pressure or do you have it set in a range and you are adjusting the lower number?

[Sibbs]

You have an auto machine...do you have it set to CPAP mode with a fixed pressure or do you have it set in a range and you are adjusting the lower number?

I use APAP mode--I'm increasing the lower threshold from 9.5 to 10.0. Upper is constant at 13. I use a-flex set at 1, suppose I could go up to 2.

Maybe it was just a bad night. Just seemed weird that a 0.5 increase bugged me so much.

[LSAT]

I'm guessing that it was not the change from 9.0 to 10.0, but the machine raising your pressure to chase an apnea. If you would download Sleepyhead and post a picture of a couple charts, it would help.

[CaptainRaven40]

Everyone is different and some can take extreme changes while others have to do it more slowly. In your case maybe you need to take it a little slower. How is your ahi at the range of 9-13? Also why did you set the max at 13? Sorry I am just trying to understand so I can help if I can and possibly learn something along the way.

[Wulfman...]

You have an auto machine...do you have it set to CPAP mode with a fixed pressure or do you have it set in a range and you are adjusting the lower number?

I use APAP mode--I'm increasing the lower threshold from 9.5 to 10.0. Upper is constant at 13. I use a-flex set at 1, suppose I could go up to 2.

Maybe it was just a bad night. Just seemed weird that a 0.5 increase bugged me so much.

Are you using software to SEE what's going on?
Maybe it's not the minimum pressure that's creating the problem......but the changing pressures and specifically when it's going to the maximum. None of those pressures should be problematic by themselves, but maybe the range is what's messing with you.

My "rule of thumb" has always been to change only one thing at a time and if dealing with pressure, make one centimeter change at a time and use it for at least several nights to a week at a time. This is a therapy of "averages" and we don't sleep the same night after night. One "bad" night? One "good" night? Don't focus on ONE.


Den

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