how am I doing?

[vespagirl]

I'm 3 months in. Began with variable rate of 4-20. Changed to fixed pressure down to 8 at one point (due to various suggestions). After sharing my high flow limits a few days ago, it was suggested i return to variable pressure (4-20). Can someone now look at trends and tell me what else I need to do or if I'm on the right track? TIA
https://sleephq.com/public/ab07dba1-274 ... 854cc11208

[Miss Emerita]

I would suggest raising your minimum to 10, turning off the ramp (unless you love it), and raising your EPR to 3.

The EPR might help with the flow limitations. The FLs may or may not be keeping you from the most restful sleep possible -- one person may be quite affected by them and another affected not at all. So it'd be a good experiment to try.

I'm suggesting the higher minimum pressure partly to compensate for the EPR and partly because that's around where your pressure tends to be anyhow. Depending on how things go, you may want to boost it to 11 or even 12.

Still thinking about the FLs -- do you have a stuffy nose? Do you use a high pillow (or several pillows)?

[zonker]

please try to stay in one thread moving forward. it's difficult for people to look at multiple threads to see your history.

thanks you!

[vespagirl]

please try to stay in one thread moving forward. it's difficult for people to look at multiple threads to see your history.

thanks you!

sorry about that, and thanks for the suggestion. Do you have anything to add to the prior person's suggestions? Thanks

[vespagirl]

I would suggest raising your minimum to 10, turning off the ramp (unless you love it), and raising your EPR to 3.

The EPR might help with the flow limitations. The FLs may or may not be keeping you from the most restful sleep possible -- one person may be quite affected by them and another affected not at all. So it'd be a good experiment to try.

I'm suggesting the higher minimum pressure partly to compensate for the EPR and partly because that's around where your pressure tends to be anyhow. Depending on how things go, you may want to boost it to 11 or even 12.

Still thinking about the FLs -- do you have a stuffy nose? Do you use a high pillow (or several pillows)?

Thanks for your help Miss Emerita. I'll try that for tonight and see what happens. I don't have a stuffy nose and don't use a high or several pillows. Just one, and I'm usually at the edge of it to try to minimize leaks (but who knows once I'm asleep). I have never felt any issues of "good" sleep or "bad" sleep. I usually stay asleep all night except to roll over and reposition the hose if needed. (don't have to get up to use the bathroom). Don't feel tired during the day. Only using CPAP after kids said I snored and had a sleep test that indicated moderate apnea (23). I'm 71 years old if that helps at all.

[zonker]

please try to stay in one thread moving forward. it's difficult for people to look at multiple threads to see your history.

thanks you!

sorry about that, and thanks for the suggestion. Do you have anything to add to the prior person's suggestions? Thanks

thank you.

and no, no suggestions.

[Miss Emerita]

Let us know how the night goes with the revised settings.

[vespagirl]

Set min pressure to 10, top at 20. Raised EPR to 3. Tried turning off ramp but it was too much initial pressure to my liking so put it on auto.
https://sleephq.com/public/dee3ebed-276 ... 73338d4952

[zonker]

Set min pressure to 10, top at 20. Raised EPR to 3. Tried turning off ramp but it was too much initial pressure to my liking so put it on auto.
https://sleephq.com/public/dee3ebed-276 ... 73338d4952

and how did you feel upon wake up?

also, bear in mind that with an epr of 3, you basically have a min pressure of 7.

by the numbers, you seem to be doing fine.

[Miss Emerita]

Zonker has asked the key question: how do you feel during the day using these settings at night? Your FLs are better, and your AHI is fine. You could raise your minimum a little to see whether you can head off a few more OAs, but don't do increases that give you discomfort.

One note: six hours of sleep is not enough for most people. I hope you usually get more!

[vespagirl]

I've never felt 'not good' during the day. And none of these changes in settings have changed the way I feel- not tired, able to exercise.... One question I do have however- why would someone choose a fixed pressure rather than a variable pressure? Wouldn't a variable pressure allow for different pressures needed during the night? While a fixed pressure only allows that particular setting. I don't think I understand this whole thing....

[Miss Emerita]

Most people do best when they use a pressure range rather than a fixed pressure. A few people are bothered by pressure changes -- e.g., they cause awakenings -- and if they can get good results with a fixed pressure, then they'll do better over all with a fixed pressure.