Changing Pressure - Good Idea or Bad?

WifeIsHappyNow · Post by **WifeIsHappyNow** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:50 pm

I got my CPAP machine before finding this board, so I was pretty ignorant, and ended up with a machine that doesn't report any real useful data. So, I'm not real sure how my therapy is going.

It started off well; I was feeling more energetic and less sleepy. That was about 5 months ago. In the past two weeks or so, I have started feeling more tired and more like I did pre-CPAP. I've also been taking my mask off during the night, which I never used to do.

So, last night, I bumped my pressure up one cm to 9 cm. I don't like doing things blindly like this, but I'm not sure what else to do. My doctor doesn't seem like he knows a whole lot about OSA, but I know that is no excuse.

So, my question is: Is it a bad idea to blindly raise my pressure a bit and see if it helps or is this an okay thing to do?

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:23 pm

If you started feeling bad again after you started taking your mask off at night, that is probably why you're feeling bad now, (unless you're putting it back on again and going back to sleep). Are you taking any different meds, different pillows? Is your mask leaking at all? If the weather has changed in your area, you might need to change the humidity setting on your machine.

You said you bumped up the pressure last night--did it help any? I wouldn't have a problem bumping the pressure up 1 cm, especially since you're pressure isn't that high to begin with, but I personally wouldn't do it any more than that without a thorough discussion with your physician. Even better, somehow getting an APAP machine to see if your pressure needs have changed, and if so, how much.

Good luck!

Pam

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:46 pm

I think you should talk to your doctor and/or DME and request a different machine -- like an M Series Pro or Auto. At least that way you can get some important info. You haven't had your machine so long that they can't switch it out.

Just tell them that you aren't responding to the therapy and need to find out why. It's possible that your titration wasn't correct regarding what pressure is best for you.

If nothing else, ask to use an M Series Auto for a couple of weeks. That should help you get some info and narrow down your required pressure.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:23 am

Can Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Titrate Their Own Continuous Positive Airway Pressure?

WifeIsHappyNow · Post by **WifeIsHappyNow** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:28 pm

Thanks for the replies...I knew I'd get some good suggestions.

I was taking my mask off, but then I would wake up and put it back on for the most part. So, I don't think I started feeling bad due to that.

The first day after raising my pressure 1cm, I woke up very drowsy, similar to when I first started treatment. Today, after the 2nd night at the new pressure, I feel much better! I woke up and felt ready to go and was not tired at all throughout the day. I did have the worst aerophagia that I've ever had this morning, but it could still only be described as moderate at worst. (I feel lucky about this)

I did talk to my DME about getting a different machine. They said that my insurance (Aetna) is one that actually pays different prices for different machines, and I can see in my statement that the amount that is billed is quite a bit higher than what is actually paid, so they would not just swap my machine out without insurance approval. I called the insurance company and their answer was that the machine I have was providing the therapy that was prescribed. Can't really argue there either. I have not been back to my Doc to talk about getting a new prescription. I suppose I ought to do that, but I figure that if I can find the pressure that seems to be working and it is not too far off of what was prescribed than I'd be alright.

Do DME's generally allow you to "borrow" or rent a machine for a couple of weeks to help out with therapy? Or would this be something that would be requested through insurance or paid out of pocket?

Thanks again for the help!
Mike

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:48 pm

Just make sure you tell your doctor about the aerophagia -- and how horrible it is (you can exaggerate alot). An Auto will help relieve the aerophagia because you would be at a lower pressure most of the night. Complain until he gets sick of you.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:32 am

WifeIsHappyNow wrote:Do DME's generally allow you to "borrow" or rent a machine for a couple of weeks to help out with therapy? Or would this be something that would be requested through insurance or paid out of pocket?

Mike,

I'd suggest the most important questions you want to ask are what's your time worth and what's your health worth. If your machine's already paid for, then you could waste a lot of time fighting conventional medical practices and end up with little or nothing to show for it.

A number of us concluded that buying out-of-pocket for a good machine made a lot of sense.

Regards,
Bill