can you change your settings while renting CPAP?

[kwcrnp]

I have adjusted very well to CPAP and really like my Quattro FX mask.

Initially my AHI was always 1.06-1.7 with leak readings around 0-1. Last week I started seeing some AHI's in the low 2 range. Same leak rate.
This week, my AHI was 1.5 one night and 2.2 -2.9 the other nights. Still a leak rate 0-1. My hubby also said I've started snoring again this week.

So I figure my pressure needs to be increased slightly. I'd really like to make my Autoset work like an auto and not a CPAP (currently set at 11).
I don't see my sleep doctor (never saw him yet, just the tech) until mid March.

Are you allowed to change your settings while you are still under rental status? I'm guessing while in the rental status that the insurance wants all changes
done by the sleep doctor. Overall I feel much better, even today after my 2.9 AHI night, but I would like to optimize my therapy.

[Pugsy]

Most of the time all that ever gets looked at by the DME to satisfy insurance requirements is hours of use. Insurance companies don't evaluate the data, they only want to know that you aren't wasting their money by not using the machine.

Now the DME would see if you change something and they might squawk and they might not and they might not even look at anything more than compliance hours of use. Worst thing that would happen would be a butt chewing. They won't come and get the machine and take it away.

If you are using EPR...that is considered comfort setting and if you are using EPR of 3...you could try reducing to 2 and this will increase your overall average pressure just a bit and might be enough to kill the snores and no one will even care at all if you mess with EPR.

[kwcrnp]

Thanks Pugsy....I was on EPR of 3 and saw a similar comment on another thread and I figured I would turn it down to 2 and see if I went back to the low 1 AHI's.
I went up! How weird....I could try going to 1 for a week and see.

[hades161]

I changed mine 2 times now and the second time the lady on the phone started sqawking about it but as the RT only comes to the office in my area on Tuesdays and the 2 other people in the office are to stupid to turn on a PC and even DL data properly, I didn't feel like waiting. She didn't much like it when I told her this. She said she would note it and I told her do so and not to call about it in the future. I have about 10 months left on my unit. If they whine I'll dump the unit on their desk and go to a different supplier and use my old machine. The motor is slowly dieing but it will last a few days.

[LSAT]

Don't get anal about an AHI of 2-2.5...that's a great number if you are feeling good. I would not touch the pressure. Many people spend too much time trying to fine tune their numbers. The numbers will change from night to night from many factors other than your pressure.

[hades161]

Don't get anal about an AHI of 2-2.5...that's a great number if you are feeling good. I would not touch the pressure. Many people spend too much time trying to fine tune their numbers. The numbers will change from night to night from many factors other than your pressure.

I agree on the pressures thing, I changed mine only after adjustments ordered by my Sleep Doc. She knows I do my own adjustments and monitor my therapy, she is very OK with it. I wouldn't adjust them willy nilly until I have it fully paid off. But as far as DME's go don't let them BS you or push you around they are there to SERVICE you not the other way around.

[Pugsy]

AHI can and will vary from night to night a lot more than people think (or want it to vary) for any number of reasons. So any changes made to anything needs a few nights to see how things are going to trend when we are doing very minor changes like reducing EPR by 1 cm.
Though, you might do better for some reason with EPR of 3. Some people do better with EPR and some people do better with it reduced or even turned off.
I turned off AFlex one night and things blew up everywhere on me. Bad mistake. AHI went sky high, pressure went sky high and I slept horribly. Felt like I hadn't even used the machine.

I was only thinking of the newly reported snoring....like if you did need a little more pressure. I wouldn't change anything based on a change in the overall AHI of 1 or 2 or even 3...unless it put me over 5 and for more than 1 night at that. Especially for new users. Even now after nearly 3 years I see AHI variations anywhere from AHI 0.4 one night and 3.5 the very next night and I changed nothing and then the next night...down to 1.2.

[chunkyfrog]

I have to agree that it's best to do any changes very slowly;
--very small increments, allowing several days--even a week or so--to observe trends.
Too many variables can affect events--stress, a big or late meal, any small change in routine--
and even completely random factors.
As long as you are feeling good, you can afford to give yourself time to get used to your therapy.
Maybe even watch the numbers for a week or so before making any changes.
Under 3 AHI is very good as new as you are to this.
Give it time.