Do you loose pressure?

Newbe Pap User · Post by **Newbe Pap User** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 3:30 pm

Do you loose pressure? Or maybe better put do you loose air flow when using a humidifier? Just got a CPAP two weeks ago and tried one night without the humidifier and it was much easier to breath and seemed like a lot more air flow as well. I have a very low setting of 6.

I also had to stop using the ramp up as I felt like I was not getting enough air at 4 and had to breath deeply many times before falling a sleep. It does seem a little better with the heat off but it still doesn't seem to have the air flow that going straight to the machine has.

I'm thinking of setting my S8 Escape to 8 and see if that's better. Any thoughts from anyone?

Sleeping better in SC.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:50 pm

What setting were you advised you needed ?

It helps us when considering advice.

Cheers

DSM

Newbe PAP user · Post by **Newbe PAP user** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 5:02 pm

They recommended a 6. I put that in the post above. The reason I am asking is my sleep study was done without a humidifier and it seems that a 6 is to low when you add the humidifier.

Thanks

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 6:39 pm

The HH does make a small difference, but it is very little. The ramp isn't needed, it just a crutch to help you get started, 4 cm is too low for a lot of people. You shouldn't adjust your pressure blindly, you need software to see what your treatment is doing, too much pressure can induce centrals, however going, 1 cm higher is probably ok. Your setting is in the low range 10 cm is close to avg, but there is no avg, what's needed for you is where you need to be at. Jim

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 1:37 am

NPu, I'm not a doctor and this isn't medical advice of any kind. But if it were me, and I'd been prescribed a pressure of 6, and I felt that I might need more, I wouldn't hesitate at all to try some higher pressures. Again, I'm not a doctor, but I don't think it will hurt a person who has been prescribed "6" to try 7, 8, 9, or 10 -- or even more -- and even without software. Would be easier to monitor what's happening, of course, WITH software.

I wouldn't be the least bit afraid of causing centrals, either. But, yet again...I'm not a doctor.

People in this study were encouraged to tweak their cpap pressure at home. They weren't using software.

Can Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Titrate Their Own Continuous Positive Airway Pressure? Published: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 167. pp. 716-722, (2003)

P.S. The answer (with some provisos) was: Yes.

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 2:32 am

According to my sleep doctor, his sleep techs, the doctor's receptionist and the DME pressures can be adjusted upwards by up to 2 cm without a prescription. All I had to do (when I was on CPAP) was to call the DME or doctor's receptionist, tell them I was having problems breathing during sleep and they would okay the change. Of course it was marked in my medical file. Now if I was to request it again there may be a problem as I have had it done once already. I decided to opt for an APAP where I can make these changes myself based on the data that is recorded. My initial pressure was 6 to 7 when I started.

new pap user · Post by **new pap user** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 2:58 pm

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I did change my setting to 7 and it was much better. Seems like such a small adjustment wouldn't make such a difference but I was able to breath much easier last night and slept much better.

I think the fact that the sleep test was done without a HH made the difference.

Again thanks!!

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 3:32 pm

The most likely difference is probably in the two machines, they are supposed to be check for pressure with a gauge to a standard, more than likely neither machine was, Most HH only lower the pressure .2 to .3 cm, that's not much. The HH also smooths the flow some, (lowers the noise like a muffler) That restriction accounts for the small drop of pressure. Jim

I checked my machine and it is .5 cm less than it's reading.

Sleepless in St. Louis · Post by **Sleepless in St. Louis** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:08 pm

I can feel air coming out between the machine and the humidifier tank. No matter what I do to try and secure it, it still leaks a little. So, I just upped my pressure myself to account of it by 1 cm. I don't feel quite as rested as I would have expected so I've been wanting to up the pressure a little anyway. Now if I can just talk myselft into spending the money for the software and reader, I should be able to tell if I'm moving in the right direction (assuming the software actually works. I'm still a doubting Thomas until I get it and I can see what it's telling me)

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:32 pm

Sleepless,
You should not be feeling a leak between the machine and humidifier. Do you have the piece which installs on the machine to make a seal between the two. It is a loudy white piece really a female coupling which fits over the tube at the machine and at the humidifier, Should have been included with the kit. Since I got the humidifier and machine as one big kit I can't say which part it came with I suppose with the humidifier since it wouldn't be need for the machine and hose alone.

Maybe you'll recognize it still in the box your equipment came in?

TerryB

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:41 pm

And there should have been 2 of those fittings in the package.

Den

Sleepless in St. Louis · Post by **Sleepless in St. Louis** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:40 pm

I think the gasket is installed already. It looks like a white washer type of thing. Not alot of air is coming out by it, but some. I've tried pushing down and in at the same time. Are 2 things supposed to be installed or just one, with one to spare?

Tim

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 5:58 pm

I think you could only install one......the other is a spare. The side with the metal ring sticks out toward the tube that goes into the humidifier (I believe it'll only go on one way). If there's still air leaking, maybe the fitting needs to come out a bit so it is flush with the tube on the humidifier. You might also check the humidifier to see that it's all the way back.

Den

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:41 pm

Sleepless in St. Louis wrote:I think the gasket is installed already. It looks like a white washer type of thing. Not alot of air is coming out by it, but some. I've tried pushing down and in at the same time. Are 2 things supposed to be installed or just one, with one to spare?

Tim

If it is a passover, and you use a hose from the machine to the passover and another hose from the passover to the mask, I think you are supposed to remove the gromlet and hook the hose directly to the machine.

xk3fqix · Post by **xk3fqix** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:57 am

Hi, is it possible to adjust the output pressure of my machine, a remstar pro2, my sleep study setting was 13. It seems now after my sinus congestion has cleared up, the machine setting is too high. I would like to lower it a number or two...just to try it as its blowing head off at present.