Has anyone's follow-up tritration yielded a lower #?

[hose-head2010]

All,

I've now [religiously] used my cpap therapy since April 1st, 2010. My average monthly AHI is .02 It was assumed my A-Fib was caused (at least in part) by the spouse identified sleep apnea, Subsequently verified by sleep center. My pressure was determined to be 14 and that is what I used all along. I feels like my chest is sore (minor awareness) in the AM. Like it was over inflated at some point Or repeatedly. FYI, A-Fib has abated with anti arrhythmic drugs. Modern living thru pharmaceuticals;-)

So to my question.....I'm wondering if my pressure need has lessened somehow. I can hear you saying "you need to go back for a sleep study in order to tell" so again, I am just interested in knowing if anyone's requirement has gone down since they started CPAP. Thank you ALL!!!! You are a very caring group and I have appreciated all the wisdom that I have gained since arriving several months ago.

Todd

[Wulfman]

All,

I've now [religiously] used my cpap therapy since April 1st, 2010. My average monthly AHI is .02 It was assumed my A-Fib was caused (at least in part) by the spouse identified sleep apnea, Subsequently verified by sleep center. My pressure was determined to be 14 and that is what I used all along. I feels like my chest is sore (minor awareness) in the AM. Like it was over inflated at some point Or repeatedly. FYI, A-Fib has abated with anti arrhythmic drugs. Modern living thru pharmaceuticals;-)

So to my question.....I'm wondering if my pressure need has lessened somehow. I can hear you saying "you need to go back for a sleep study in order to tell" so again, I am just interested in knowing if anyone's requirement has gone down since they started CPAP. Thank you ALL!!!! You are a very caring group and I have appreciated all the wisdom that I have gained since arriving several months ago.

Todd

Most of the people here are going to tell you that if you have the software to monitor your therapy, you won't "need" to go back for follow-up sleep studies or titrations. I see you have a data-capable machine listed in your profile, so if you get the software and a card reader, you'll be all set.

I determined (immediately) that my titrated pressure of 18 cm. was way more than I needed......and reset my own pressure.


Den

[hose-head2010]

Hi Den,

Thanks for the response but, I guess I need to know what are acceptable levels for which indicators? It seems to me (from reading the sleep study) that all they really did in order to determine my pressure was to start at one setting and keep increasing it to see when one of the measured criteria moved to an acceptable level. I did not think to ask this question during my follow up. I hope I've communicated my question/confusion well enough. Thanks again for the info and support.

Todd

[Wulfman]

Hi Den,

Thanks for the response but, I guess I need to know what are acceptable levels for which indicators? It seems to me (from reading the sleep study) that all they really did in order to determine my pressure was to start at one setting and keep increasing it to see when one of the measured criteria moved to an acceptable level. I did not think to ask this question during my follow up. I hope I've communicated my question/confusion well enough. Thanks again for the info and support.

Todd

Hi Todd.

Qualifier:
Depending on how closely you do (or are supposed to) work with your doctor concerning your A-Fib condition........

Since your AHI is very low, you could try lowing your pressure by one centimeter (at a time) and see what your results look like.

The "standard" for AHI to be considered "normal" is to be less than 5.0.
I would say that as long as you can keep it under 1.0, you would be doing well.
So, if that means you could drop your pressure one or two centimeters of pressure and stay in that range, you might try that.

If you don't have the software and are just getting the summary data from the LCD, I would strongly advise investing in the software.


Den