How Low Can You Go?

[Zeke351]

Good Evening All,

I am just coming up on my 2 year mark "on the hose" and all I can say is I love it! While I never got the extra energy many others get, the rest of my body/systems have certainly noticed the difference.

Now my question: What is the lowest anyone lowered their pressure to and maintained comfort and quality therapy?

The reason I ask is that I have lost 40 lbs over the last 3 months and have been able to lower my pressure from 10 to 8 while maintaining my AHI level at a 1 or better. I AM NOT assuming I will ever be off the hose for good. My brother, who has never been overweight, had OSA as bad as I do, he opted for the surgery and I believe will end up back on the hose eventually.

I have just noticed that a pressure of 8 seems fine to me, but any lower and it feels a little uncomfortable, almost like it is hard to breath. Is there a minimum pressure with these things? How low can you go?

Thanks,

Zeke351

[Julie]

Everyone's different... most of us are ok at about 7 or higher, not happy any lower, but why are you concerned about lowering it as if it were a race?

For one thing, the amount of pressure anyone needs to keep their airway open has no relation to e.g. how many times they stop breathing at night, which is more meaningful, and everyone's anatomy is different. Even if you lose more weight, it doesn't mean you can stop using Cpap, and unless your prescription is for very high pressure, e.g. more than 15, it's rather a non-issue.

[Zeke351]

why are you concerned about lowering it as if it were a race

LOL..No race, just managing my healthcare. No need for extra pressure if it isn't warranted.

the amount of pressure anyone needs to keep their airway open has no relation to e.g. how many times they stop breathing at night

I will disagree with you slightly here. The pressure is exactly what keeps my breathing from stopping. Too little and therapy is ineffective, too much can cause centrals and discomfort.

it doesn't mean you can stop using Cpap, and unless your prescription is for very high pressure, e.g. more than 15, it's rather a non-issue

As per my post I am not looking to be off CPAP. As for it being a non-issue, I personally feel that knowledge and learning is never a non-issue. I am curious by nature and would like to find out information that I don't have that others might have.

most of us are ok at about 7 or higher, not happy any lower

See what I mean? I just learned something new!

Zeke351

[Julie]

[zoocrewphoto]

I am new, so I don't know much about it yet, but I feel like I am smothering if I use the ramp option. So, my machine goes straight to 11, and then can go up to 17 as needed. I see from the data that it has gone up into the 16s occasionally, and once all the way to 17. But I have never noticed the pressure being too much, so even if I don't need it that high later, I would rather just leave it open ended to do its job, and the 11 minimum is comfortable enough for me.

[Zeke351]

I feel like I am smothering if I use the ramp option.

LOL...I know what you mean. My starting pressure was 10 so if I used the ramp it starts at 6 or so! I tried it once on the first night 2 years ago and NEVER used it again. It felt like I couldn't get enough air.

Zeke351

[pap4life]

As long as I am getting the best possible pressure that reduces my apneas to as low as possibly with the greatest amount of comfort, the pressure number dosen't matter.

[Slartybartfast]

As mentioned earlier, the pressure required to keep your airway open is individual to you. It would only be a coincidence if that number was also someone else's lowest effective pressure. In order to find yours, lower the minimum pressure a little at a time and keep track of your events. When you start seeing a relationship with the number of events and lowering pressure you know how low you can go.

For me, at 11 cm fixed pressure, I can go several nights and not record any events at all. But at 9 cm I'll record plenty of them. So I stay in auto mode with a minimum of 9 cm pressure and let the machine analyze my breathing and adjust the pressure and it will record 1 or two events each night, which I think is a good compromise.

[Lizistired]

Conngratulations on losing 40 pounds in 3 months! That's terrific!

[BlackSpinner]

the amount of pressure anyone needs to keep their airway open has no relation to e.g. how many times they stop breathing at night

I will disagree with you slightly here. The pressure is exactly what keeps my breathing from stopping. Too little and therapy is ineffective, too much can cause centrals and discomfort.

What was meant is that the severity of OSA has no relationship to the pressure required to treat it. Mine was extremely severe and I dropped to 56% O2 but I only need 9 cm to get my AHI down to near zero. Even 7cm will drop it to around 5.

[chunkyfrog]

The ideal pressure for each person is the lowest pressure that will provide
effective therapy without excess negative side effects.
Lucky is the person who can achieve that with a low pressure.
Others have to deal with a higher pressure and all that goes with it.
Fortune has smiled upon you.

[Pugsy]

Not sure what your lowest setting on your machine is...mine is 4 cm and for me that is simply not enough air movement to be comfortable (no matter if it took care of my events or not).
I could be comfortable with 6 cm pressure if it took care of my events (but it doesn't).
I suppose you could go backwards with your pressure until you are either uncomfortable with air quality or the events start to increase per your reports.