What Maximum Pressure?

[Muzz]

I purchased a Resmed Autoset S9 in October 2012.
My clinician set the unit up with a minimum pressure of 5cm and maximum pressure of 10cm.
My readings were averaging medium 7.9, 95th percentile 10, maximum 10.
As I was reaching the maximum set pressure consitently I have raised the maximum pressure to 15.
My pressure now medium 8.8, 95 percentile 12.2, Max 14.
Can someone tell me what effect this will have on my sleep by raising the pressure, the only difference I have noticed is I have had to increase the tension on my mask straps to prevent "face farts"
My AHI is really good, averiging only 0.3 over 90 days.

[49er]

I purchased a Resmed Autoset S9 in October 2012.
My clinician set the unit up with a minimum pressure of 5cm and maximum pressure of 10cm.
My readings were averaging medium 7.9, 95th percentile 10, maximum 10.
As I was reaching the maximum set pressure consitently I have raised the maximum pressure to 15.
My pressure now medium 8.8, 95 percentile 12.2, Max 14.
Can someone tell me what effect this will have on my sleep by raising the pressure, the only difference I have noticed is I have had to increase the tension on my mask straps to prevent "face farts"
My AHI is really good, averiging only 0.3 over 90 days.

Hi Muzz,

The question is how do you feel? If you feel good, that is all that matters in light of your AHI being low.

My only concern is you having to tighten the mask considerably could effect your comfort and your sleep. But if that isn't an issue, I wouldn't worry about it.

49er

[chunkyfrog]

It looks like you've got it nailed!
Congratulations.

[johnthomasmacdonald]

I get 0.3 even once and I'm doing the happy dance

[jweeks]

Muzz,

It looks like you nailed it based on the numbers you posted above. Excellent job. Running at these slightly higher pressures means that it is a little harder to manage as far as preventing leaks. You are getting into the boundary area where BiPAP starts being the preferred machine, which is around a pressure level of 15. If you haven't already done so, turning on exhale pressure relief (or FLEX) can help make it a little more comfortable to breathe.

In the mean time, celebrate hitting these low AHI's. It looks fantastic.

-john-

[SleepingUgly]

Is there a need for the minimum to be so low? Do you find it difficult to breathe on the 5cm?

[Muzz]

It never seems to operate at the minimum pressure of 5cm.
The lowest that shows up during the night is about 7 to 8cm

[SleepingUgly]

Then I'd move the minimum up to 7 or 8 if it were me.

[Elle]

I struggle with this one. I was having higher AHI with higher pressure. I recently had it lowered from 16 to 13 and my AHI this morning was 0.0 and I felt rested. I think my machine was ramping up for leaks caused by higher pressures. The reason it was at 16 in the first place was because my 95% was hovering at the max number at each pressure raise. I kept having it reset higher and higher to keep up.

I finally decided to start lowering it because I was feeling like my head was full of fur and I was dizzy. The dizziness hasn't improved that much so likely unrelated but I don't feel as fuzzy and have much lower AHI. I wish I was younger and still had a functioning brain so I could understand it.