Help.. with apap i am snoring again what to do?

[desforsleep]

Pugsy, as far as the pressure range, it was just out of my head. I just can't imagine being able to fall asleep with a presure less than 10. I was reading on the S9. I think I really need the EPR feature. I sleep so good with my nasal mask, but if my nares are the least bit stuffy I find it so hard to exhale. This what I told them my problem was when they gave me the APAP. But not sure this APAP. has the feature.

I am not familiar with your machine at all. From what I have read the Sensawake thing keeps the pressure low while "awake" or if you wake up but I don't know if it can be changed. It may seem smothering to someone used to the higher pressure. It sort of works like ramp but with my machine or the ResMed machine the ramp is optional. EPR might be easier because it is tied in to the higher more optimal pressure with its reduction on exhale.

If there is some way to either adjust the Sensawake pressure or turn it off, then you might find that you will be better off and much more comfortable. I understand the theory behind the feature but a low pressure is not always comfortable as you have found out.

Any members out there that use this machine know if the Sensawake feature can be turned off or altered?

Pugsy, I apologize for lack of information on my part. I have turned the sense awake off. But the pressure is still very low when I start on the apap. I want the apap setting to basically start at 15 or so and then be able to go up or down as needed. Is that a resonable expectation?

*** I just opened an EOB from my insurance company. They are paying only 268 dollars on my machine and mask... OMG!! I might just purchase the S9 I saw listed for 850 dollars!! Or I owe the DME ANOTHER THOUSAND DOLLARS!!! Literaly disgusted right now. Not only does i not work.... but I woe more and more. I have alread been out 12 hundred dollars. Testing and all.

[Jayjonbeach]

Pugsy has a bit of a point here, which is why I clearly put "supposed to be" and "if" in my original post.

IF you have only had a one night sleep study that told you your pressure is 15, you might want to double check it by running the APAP machine from say 9 to 17 for a couple of nights or even a week. You then need to see what your average is for those nights and what your 90-95% pressure is. THEN you will need to set the pressure accordingly, which would be the AT that pressure for the low number or maybe 1 below and about 4 above.

I am also not familiar with the machine you have but if you are having trouble breathing out against the pressure at 15 then EPR or C-Flex/A-flex will help by lowering it up to 3 when you exhale.

Again a pressure of 3 at low number should not even be entertained, and would explain your snoring, possibly being tired, etc, even 6 is considered pretty low.

[Pugsy]

I want the apap setting to basically start at 15 or so and then be able to go up or down as needed. Is that a resonable expectation?

It is very reasonable expectation.
When you get the software and can actually see what the pressures want to go at you can tinker with things a bit. If it were me I would probably start the minimum at 13 and leave the max open for just a while to see where it wanted to go. It won't go where it doesn't think it should go. Now, that said, leaks will make it want to go up... So have to make sure the leaks are well controlled. And some people find even minor variations in pressure disturbing so narrowing the pressure range can help control that. For new people sometimes a narrow range is better because of all the other stuff they are getting used to. No sense in adding another annoyance to the mixture.

Again you really need to see the software reports to have a good idea what impact any changes are making.
Without the software I would make much smaller changes and monitor the data I get of the machine very closely.

[desforsleep]

Obviously I can't spell when I am literally disgusted!!!

[Pugsy]

Obviously I can't spell when I am literally disgusted!!!

Don't worry about it. I have lots of typos. Most because my mind goes faster than my fingers and then several of my keys are sticking and I don't notice till I see my post with words missing letters. We can read through them easy enough.

[robysue]

OP says:

I got an apap to try from my DME a few weeks ago. The pressure would not go up instantly which I need to breath through my nose. So I went back to my cpap. I have to turn one in next week.

In addition to the useful suggestions from other users about where your APAP pressure range should probably be, I want to point out that it is possible (easy) to set an APAP in CPAP mode---or effectively do that by making min pressure = max pressure = desired CPAP pressure. But you cannot turn a straight CPAP into an APAP. Given these facts, I'd recommend keeping the APAP and if you felt better on the CPAP, just set the APAP in CPAP mode.