Adjusting For Weight Loss

[ChicagoGranny]

What is Flex?

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What is Exhalation Relief like C-Flex, A-Flex, EPR, and SmartFlex?
Exhalation relief is the ability of a CPAP machine or BiPAP machine to reduce the inspiratory pressure during exhale, making it easier to breathe out against the pressure. Manufacturers have different names for exhalation relief, but they mostly work the same way. Pressure can be adjusted up to 3cm for comfort.

Respironics calls their pressure relief C-Flex, A-Flex, or C-Flex+. C-Flex lowers the pressure on exhale and quickly ramps back up to the prescribed pressure. A-Flex, available on Auto CPAP machines only, lowers the pressure on exhale and gradually increases the pressure during inhale.

[owleyes]

Unfortunately I woke up far too early, unable to go back to sleep, but that's been happening lately, not related to cpap.

As you know, sleep is not all about CPAP ------------------->

What I meant was, I've made a drastic change to my diet, for the better. I've been waking much earlier than usual sometimes, but don't feel terrible as I would have in the past. I've often woken in the early morning (6 or 6:30) and I would remove the mask, roll over and get another hour or two in. I'm wondering if maybe I'm sleeping better, and 6:30 is the new 7:30. Meaning, I'm not fully rested, but too rested to go back to sleep.

I was taking melatonin, but ran out a few weeks ago. I don't like to be dependent, but everyone says it's safe. I just noticed on the forum, there's a time-release version. I wonder if that would help.

[owleyes]

Here's my recent report. Does this show anything useful?

Does it mean I can set my machine to 11 from 12? I'm not clear on how the graph works.

Thanks.

[ChicagoGranny]

Does it mean I can set my machine to 11 from 12? I'm not clear on how the graph works.

You are learning! Your pressure (IPAP) stayed at the minimum (12.0) for much of the night. If that were my chart, I would drop the minimum to 11.0 and check the results the next day.

Which position(s) do you sleep in?

[owleyes]

I sleep on my back unless/until I wake with the morning light and take off my mask. Then I roll over and sleep on my front (or side).

Thanks!

[Dog Slobber]

Does it mean I can set my machine to 11 from 12? I'm not clear on how the graph works.

By all means, drop to 11, but then leave it at 11 for a week or so.

Then compare the AHI for the week against the AHI while you were at 12. This way you aren't comparing a single night that may not be representative.

Also make note of how you slept and felt.

The OSCAR statistics page will make a new entry every time you change your machine therapy settings. Handy for comparing changes.

[owleyes]

I’m on the road, so I don’t have my detailed results. But I’m using the Sleepmapper app.

My minimum pressure is set to 11.
The report says 90% pressure: 12.6,
Average CPAP pressure 11.3.

That seems odd to me.

[ChicagoGranny]

That sounds normal. What seems odd to you?

What was your AHI?

[owleyes]

If it’s running at 12.6, 90% of the time, wouldn’t that be the average?


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[Julie]

That's 90% and BELOW... up to 90%, possibly only hitting it once in all.

[ChicagoGranny]

If it’s running at 12.6, 90% of the time, wouldn’t that be the average?

It means the pressure is 12.6 or less 90% of the time. The "or less" is the important part.

[owleyes]

So I've lowered my pressure to 9.5, based on results from previous settings. Does this look as though I'd be safe to continue going lower?

Out of curiosity, what is the result of going too low? Or how do I know when I get there?

Thanks.

[zonker]

So I've lowered my pressure to 9.5, based on results from previous settings. Does this look as though I'd be safe to continue going lower?

Out of curiosity, what is the result of going too low? Or how do I know when I get there?

Thanks.

when you go "too low", your ahi will increase.

[owleyes]

So I've lowered my pressure to 9.5, based on results from previous settings. Does this look as though I'd be safe to continue going lower?

Out of curiosity, what is the result of going too low? Or how do I know when I get there?

Thanks.

when you go "too low", your ahi will increase.

Thank you, that's helpful.

Does the graph show anything about whether I've gone too low, or have more to go?

[Dog Slobber]

One of the most helpful ways to dial in therapy, make decisions based on trends and not single night anecdotal numbers is to take advantage of the Machine Setting information under the Statistics tab.

It tracks your AHI and machine settings and does the math for you?

Ensure your time frame at each level is for a few weeks.
Keep an eye on the Monthly columns to ensure your not substituting CAs for OAs (or reverse)

Machine_Settings.jpg (753.33 KiB) Viewed 1105 times