Pressure goes up, my numbers go down! i am a human yoyo!

[reducha]

Hey everyone! Just looking for another opinion again. I'm going on a couple of years of cpap now, with no restorative sleep yet.
I've gone through many changes on my masks,cpap pressures,epr adjustments,,etc,etc,,and the list goes on and on.
You know, when i raised my cap pressure settings, my reading numbers from my machine go down. But,,i've gone to the maximum pressure on my machine, 20, yes, my readings go further down, but the lowest i've gotten them down to is ahi: 3.5 ai:.1 and hi: 3.5 and,,surprise,,surprise,,i still feel exhausted in the morning.
I dropped the pressure down to 18 a few days ago, and yes,, the numbers,readings on my cpap went up,,but i still feel terrible every day.

Any suggestions/input, as usual i always apprciate your advice. Tim

[GumbyCT]

If I were your RT, I would tell your doc to put you on an auto Bi-pap set to 21/18.

The bi-pap is needed bc you have moved to the upper limit your current machine plus it will provide some needed exhale relief which not having (exhale relief) may keep your AHI a bit high. You need the auto & data capable to make sure you find the correct pressure settings for you. You do have the software correct?

This info is provided purely for your entertainment - my entertainment is provided by the Control Techs who will respond.

GumbyCT - who thinks you are on the right path

[ozij]

What does you pulse oxymeter report?

Are you running your Vantage as straight cpap?

O.

[reducha]

I have been running on cpap for some time. A while back someone suggested that the autopap mode, might be causing me arousals,so i've been on cpap mode for quite some time now. Pulse oximeter registers 99% oxygen levels.
i don't have the software currently, does anyone have one they recommend for the resmed machine? i tried getting some a while back,, but getting pretty much anything,out here in Dubai is next to impossible. Even if i did,how would it help? So it might tell me about "micro-arrousals" i've read about..so..even if i find out about these micro arousals..what can i do about it?????
Tim

[Snoredog]

I think you need a Bipap also at least with it the current pressure would be easier to tolerate.

It has to be your tongue causing the blockage requiring that high a pressure to dislodge it, I would try sleeping on your side.

If you have a manometer I would also check the machine to make sure it can deliver 18 cm pressure.

[billbolton]

but the lowest i've gotten them down to is ahi: 3.5 ai:.1 and hi: 3.5 and,,surprise,,surprise,,i still feel exhausted in the morning.

Those numbers are fine and since you also indicated that your oximetry is at 99%, all the numbers strongly suggest that there is something else besides Obstructive Sleep Apnea which is disordering your sleep.

Changing to a Bi-Level (or any other different sort of) flow generator is unlikely in itself to provide any better sleep outcomes IMO. This is a situation where you really do need to be discussing your sleep disorder issues with an experienced sleep clinician.

Cheers,

Bill

[ozij]

Those numbers are fine and since you also indicated that your oximetry is at 99%, all the numbers strongly suggest that there is something else besides Obstructive Sleep Apnea which is disordering your sleep.

Yes.

At 99% oxgenation, you're not suffering from lack of oxygen.

Microarousals can come from problems that are not breathing related. For example, leg jerks, which may be masked by sleep apnea, and appear when it its properly treated.

You may be having other medical things going on the make you feel bad in the mornings.

O.