Opinion on APAP min pressure

[PhilinOK]

OK, tonight is the first night on APAP. Been on CPAP for five plus years. The DME claims my doctor set my pressure range at 8-20; he previously prescribed my CPAP set at 20. The best I can decipher without software, based on these forums, tomorrow, I want to look at my 90% average and adjust my min pressure to that setting. I was thinking I would go one or two cm H2O below. Is this correct?

[DreamStalker]

OK, tonight is the first night on APAP. Been on CPAP for five plus years. The DME claims my doctor set my pressure range at 8-20; he previously prescribed my CPAP set at 20. The best I can decipher without software, based on these forums, tomorrow, I want to look at my 90% average and adjust my min pressure to that setting. I was thinking I would go one or two cm H2O below. Is this correct?

Did you have a sleep study?

If not, leave the machine just as your doc set it.

If you did have a sleep study. Were you titrated?

If not, leave the machine just as your doc set it.

If you were titrate. At what pressure?

Also read this recent thread ... viewtopic/t48191/APAP-90-creep.html

[PhilinOK]

All I was told was that my new CPAP pressure should be set at 20. Once I asked for an APAP due to swallowing air over the last few days, when I received it, it was set at a range of 8-20. I had a sleep study two weeks ago for the doctor to determine the pressure change.

What makes me curious is the night they did my study they used an 8-20 range, and it was freaking me out in the beginning, because when the machine is on 8 I do not feel like I am getting enough air. It is very uncomfortable to me. Of course, my CPAP has been in the 14-16 range of settings over the past three years, so I am used to a high pressure. 20, though is just nuts. I am sure I could adapt but the aerophagia is killing me.

[Wulfman]

OK, tonight is the first night on APAP. Been on CPAP for five plus years. The DME claims my doctor set my pressure range at 8-20; he previously prescribed my CPAP set at 20. The best I can decipher without software, based on these forums, tomorrow, I want to look at my 90% average and adjust my min pressure to that setting. I was thinking I would go one or two cm H2O below. Is this correct?

What machine did you use before you got this APAP?
Did you have software for it (if it was a data-capable one)?
If so, and you were at 20 cm., how was that working?
Is this the same doctor that you had previously?
Is someone going to read the results from this machine at some point (in the near future)? Or.....are you on your own?

I see nothing wrong with looking at your numbers (90% and any others).
That's a pretty wide-open range.....and a pretty low minimum pressure if you've been at 20 cm. previously.

I would THINK that if you had been at 20 cm., a Bi-PAP would be in order.....unless you've got a new doctor, or you've lost weight, or your (same/old) doctor has some reason to try a more wide-open pressure range.


Den

[Wulfman]

OK. I just read your last post. I guess that makes sense and explains some things.


Den

[PhilinOK]

My last machine was a Remstar M Series Pro.
I did not have software as I never pursued the newer versions of Encore.
I only used this machine on 20 for four nights in which I suffered terrible aerophogia (swallowing air - ? sp)
It is the same doctor.
I am on my own for interpreting the data. However, I have an appointment with the doctor in three weeks where I could get him to interpret the data, but his usual response is "How do you feel?"

I read in other posts how AHI goes down when you get the min pressure closer to the 90% average. It makes sense to me.

[Wulfman]

Let us know what your numbers look like after a night or two and......."how you feel".

Good luck.


Den