max pressure as a default

[krl]

after continual suffering w/insomnia even though my cpap works (mind is too active & can't remain or regain solid sleep during 2nd half of the night), I saw a sleep neurologist. She suggested to max the max pressure out. I was last suggest by the lab to go 11-14. She said she didn't understand why we get prescribed lower max pressures, as if the need arises to require more pressure, the machine has the headroom to do so. This seemed so fundamental to me at the time - wondering if this makes sense to all the sage advisors. I'm now at 11-20.

[OkyDoky]

That's the way the maximum works and if the pressure changes don't disturb your sleep there's no problem with the max at 20cm. The minimum is the most important in preventing your apnea but for the times that you need extra pressure the max is what allows for that.
I would recommend getting SleepyHead and see what your pressure does through the night. https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead

[Wulfman...]

after continual suffering w/insomnia even though my cpap works (mind is too active & can't remain or regain solid sleep during 2nd half of the night), I saw a sleep neurologist. She suggested to max the max pressure out. I was last suggest by the lab to go 11-14. She said she didn't understand why we get prescribed lower max pressures, as if the need arises to require more pressure, the machine has the headroom to do so. This seemed so fundamental to me at the time - wondering if this makes sense to all the sage advisors. I'm now at 11-20.

Depends on the individual. Works for some but not for everyone. You need to be in tune with your nightly reports and how you feel. If the pressure changes are disturbing your sleep, a narrower range or single pressure may work better. If your pressure doesn't vary all that much and your sleep is not disturbed, then the upper limit will probably not be a factor.


Den

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[palerider]

after continual suffering w/insomnia even though my cpap works (mind is too active & can't remain or regain solid sleep during 2nd half of the night), I saw a sleep neurologist. She suggested to max the max pressure out. I was last suggest by the lab to go 11-14. She said she didn't understand why we get prescribed lower max pressures, as if the need arises to require more pressure, the machine has the headroom to do so. This seemed so fundamental to me at the time - wondering if this makes sense to all the sage advisors. I'm now at 11-20.

for the most part, she's right, notwithstanding the adamant position taken by some of the ignorant people here.

[Guest]

Not everyone can exhale at 20cm or even higher than 14 for some.
Then there are those who have centrals at the higher pressures.
This was a sleep doc saying this? BEWARE there is no one size fits all.
My Goodness.

[Wulfman...]

Not everyone can exhale at 20cm or even higher than 14 for some.
Then there are those who have centrals at the higher pressures.
This was a sleep doc saying this? BEWARE there is no one size fits all.
My Goodness.

Agreed.
That's why I suggest studying the reports and going by "how you feel". Too many variables.


Den

.

[jtravel]

after continual suffering w/insomnia even though my cpap works (mind is too active & can't remain or regain solid sleep during 2nd half of the night), I saw a sleep neurologist. She suggested to max the max pressure out. I was last suggest by the lab to go 11-14. She said she didn't understand why we get prescribed lower max pressures, as if the need arises to require more pressure, the machine has the headroom to do so. This seemed so fundamental to me at the time - wondering if this makes sense to all the sage advisors. I'm now at 11-20.

Did you or the sleep Neurologist look at the detailed data from your Apap Machine?
Sleepyhead software will show you the Max pressure actually used to treat your events as well as the nightly Med and 90% pressure.
If you have that data you would see if your bumping up against the max pressure you have set.
I really see no problem setting the Max to 20 as the Machine will only raise the pressure when the algorithm decides you need it based on Vibratory snores,Hypopena's and Obstructive events it senses.
The biggest problem i found is when the min pressure is set too low to treat your events. The Machine then must chase after your events and then reset to the lower starting pressure when you turn it off or when events go away.
In my case my original prescription was 5-20 and I had all kinds of events and always felt like i could not breath with the mask on and awake.
I found using sleepyhead and my own comfort that I needed a Min 11 max 18 and a EPR setting of 3
using those settings my AHI is under 1 every night and I can use my mask 100% of the time.