Is it weird that I dont like my pressure too low?

[Treehorn]

I just got a S9 autoset. I used to have straight aPap set to 9.
I put the autoset in 4-20 range but hated the low when the machine started. I felt like I was starving for air. Kinda cloaustrophic.
I turned the pressure up to 6 and turned off the ramp and now I am much more happy.
It is weird that I prefer my pressure turned up, lol?
I guess whatever floats my boat.

[Julie]

Weird? At 6? That's low for most of us... I find it hard to believe you really see it as high, though I suppose compared to 4 it could be, but then 4 is as low as the machines actually go (there is no 1,2,3).

[avi123]

On the S9 Autoset I like to confine the pressure close to the the P95% that it showes. Like this:



I would not set an APAP machine on its top pressure of 20 cm because:

1) I don't need to since the pressure graph does not kiss the upper setting of 13 cm anywhere
2) Even if the pressure graph would kiss the upper line in one or two places I would NOT set the max pressure
higher b/c of hi pressures negative effects such as creating central apneas, raising the blood pressure, etc.

Here are my Stats:



The 13 cm pressure that I set as max has been prescribed recently in a sleep study as optimal for CPAP. But you really can't be sure that the APAP is calibrated properly to match the PSG study.

As to your F&P #431 FF mask I had bad experience with it b/c of leaks. Also the #432. They don't use the double Silicone flaps in their cushions as other more advanced masks do.

[nanwilson]

I just got a S9 autoset. I used to have straight aPap set to 9.
I put the autoset in 4-20 range but hated the low when the machine started. I felt like I was starving for air. Kinda cloaustrophic.
I turned the pressure up to 6 and turned off the ramp and now I am much more happy.
It is weird that I prefer my pressure turned up, lol?
I guess whatever floats my boat.

Since you now have an autoset you can check your stats as often as you like. In my humble opinion, I would check to see where your pressure is sitting (90%) and set the auto at about 3 below that and about 3 above. For example
My straight pressure is 11, so I set my auto at 10 to 15, my 90% is still 11 and I occasionally see it creep up to 12. By setting the pressure at a closer range, if I get any apneas they will be caught prior to them being a problem. By the way I can stand any pressure below 10, so you are not alone, I don't use the ramp either .

[JoeP]

I didnt like 4 either, felt like i was trying to breath through a coffee stirrer.

[Treehorn]

I knew 4 was crazy low but I thought thats how a lot of people set these machines. It would be great to get some tips on my setup.
I have had a really stressfull weekend so Im not sure if these stats are representitive of my normal nights sleep but I am happy to have people look at the numbers. My study is for 9 (4 years and many lbs. ago) but as you can see the autoset pushed me above 19 twice in the night. I suspected 9 wasn't doing the job for me, which is why I bought the autoset.
I have changed my mask to a fx an love it. I need to update my profile. I will do that next.

[chunkyfrog]

Isn't it amazing when our body gets so comfortable with therapeutic level pressure,
that we are miserable without it?
Compliance, or adherence, whatever we call it; it becomes second nature, as it should be.

[Lizistired]

Like Nan said and looking at your pressure graph, I would go about 8-12. But consider just trying cpap at 9, since that's what you are used too.

[avi123]

There seems to be something wrong with this SH software. If you look at the average pressure vs the 95% percent for the Most Recent and Last 7 Days, it's unlikely that it was so unless you had hi pressures in the Most Recent:

................Most Recent.....Last 7 Days
average............9.82...........6.89
P95%..............15.75..........15.36

The above numbers mean that in Most Recent you had a pressure of 9.82 cm during 50% of the time and had up to 15.75 cm during 95% of the time. Or had above 15.75 cm in 5% of the time.



Let me check my:




In my case I discarded the Most Recent data and set my APAP on the data from 7 Days and Last 30 days i.e. 13 max and 9 min.
Switching to your case I would go with a setting of 15 cm max and 10 cm min and check if the pressure graph hugs the the min limit line. I would use same EPRs as I do.

Can you show in ResScan?

[DavidCarolina]

No, I was on straight cpap 9 for a long time, and felt like i was pulling on the mask like a smokers cigarette.

Im at 14 Apap now, and its very comfortable.

Of course, you have to make sure high pressures dont lead to centrals.

Little trick: When putting the mask on just let the air blow into your lungs before strapping on.

[Treehorn]

Here is ResScan from the day that the SH data was questioned and from last night.

July 15th




July 18th

[avi123]

Treehorn, in your graphs, except Flow Limitation (FL) every thing looks good to me. Do you have anything that would cause RERA or UAR or FL such as blocked nose are other anathomy malformations in the mouth, throat, etc?

Check this post:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=79930&p=727208&hilit=rera#p727208

And this:

our-collective-cpap-wisdom/flow-limitat ... BiPAP.html

[Treehorn]

Im at the tail end of a cold and also have summer alergies. My nose has been pretty blocked up, so if I close my mouth I may have had a flow limitation??
I have a large soft pallet and years ago before being diagnosed I went to get a LASER ASSISTED UVULOPALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY (LAUP) for snoring but the doctor stopped half way through the procedure due to me being a big baby (i.e. anxiety caused by the smell of burning flesh).
Flow Limitation is a new term to me. The link you provided was very helpful.

[Treehorn]

Is 8-12 still a good setting based on this data?

For my education why keep at 12 if when set to 20 it creeps up to 18 and 14 on those nights?

[avi123]

Is 8-12 still a good setting based on this data?

For my education why keep at 12 if when set to 20 it creeps up to 18 and 14 on those nights?

Reply,

Now that I know what could cause those hi pressure peaks in your case I would ask you what treatment do you get from the higher pressure? Does the pressure clears something? You hardly have any obstructive events!

For treating my Obstructive apneas events and my level of Flow Limitation I don't need higher pressures than 13 cm. Even if I had an obstructive event, or two, during the night, needing a higher pressure, I still would not raise the pressure b/c of the negative effects of hi pressure. In the above cases I rather wake up and clear them by waking up.

BUT YOUR CASE IS DIFFERENT. I DON"T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU!