Increased minimal pressure then flow limit decreased

[allforone515]

Hi all,

Got my CPAP machine(ResMed S10) with the prescribed pressure : min 4 max 20. I could not take the high pressure when it reached 15/16 or so so I decreased the max down to 13 or 14. I was able to live with this max pressure since then.

I always had a lot of clustered flow limitations for a few months. My AHI was mostly smaller than 1. Sometimes went to above 1 but always smaller than 2. I also found most of the time the pressure reached or hovered around the max pressure.

I recently increased the minimal pressure to 6, 7 and now 8. I still have flow limitations but much less clustered. Also the pressure is not getting to the max anymore. Right now I have the max at 13, the highest pressure was 11 last night. it seems I am better rested than before.

Wonder if you guys have any input regarding this. Why increasing the min pressure did the trick? thanks!

[Okie bipap]

As long as you are sleeping well, don't worry about the upper limit. As long as I stay under 1 for my AHI, I really don't worry about it. As you have seen, the lower pressure is more important than the upper pressure. If the events are prevented from happening, the machine does not have to react to events, and has no reason to raise the pressure.

[LSAT]

If your max only went to 11.5 last night ..it would not have gone any higher if the max was set at 20. You don't seem to understand the min/max settings. Work on your leaks..that's where some of your problem is.

[allforone515]

Hi LSAT,

Thanks for the tip on the leaks. I am a side sleeper and found it leaks more in that position sometimes. Do you know a way to solve this?

What I meant was: when the min pressure was set to 4, a lot of flow limitation happened and ABAP chased the FL and the pressure would max out to whatever max pressure I set at that time, be it 14, 15 or 16. After I increased the min pressure to 7 and 8, ABAP is not chasing the FL anymore and the pressure doesn't max out anymore. Like on July 1st, the max was set at 12.8 while the maximum pressure reached was at 11.8.

[bjhunt01]

Hello and welcome from one newbie to another! That's interesting about the pressure.

What kind of mask are you wearing? Full face, nasal, nasal pillows, Bleep? You haven't posted that info in your profile..can you do that please?

Also read Pugsy's tutorial on how to post your screens at. viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html

[allforone515]

thanks bjhunt01. I did update my profile with the equipment but I guess it wasn't properly saved. It is Okay now.

[bjhunt01]

thanks bjhunt01. I did update my profile with the equipment but I guess it wasn't properly saved. It is Okay now.

You've motivated me to experiment with raising my minimum again. But I need to wait for a few days before I do that or I'll get a lashing from those who have told me to wait a little!

[zonker]

thanks bjhunt01. I did update my profile with the equipment but I guess it wasn't properly saved. It is Okay now.

You've motivated me to experiment with raising my minimum again. But I need to wait for a few days before I do that or I'll get a lashing from those who have told me to wait a little!

meerkat.gif

[bjhunt01]

thanks bjhunt01. I did update my profile with the equipment but I guess it wasn't properly saved. It is Okay now.

You've motivated me to experiment with raising my minimum again. But I need to wait for a few days before I do that or I'll get a lashing from those who have told me to wait a little!

meerkat.gif

[palerider]

Wonder if you guys have any input regarding this. Why increasing the min pressure did the trick? thanks!

Because the min pressure is the one you tune.

I don't have a 'good explanation' for why what you've seen happens, but I've seen it repeatedly... when the min pressure is too low, then the body seems to get into a bad breathing condition, and needs much higher pressures to alleviate it.

However, if your min pressure is high enough, then you're more stable, and never get into that 'bad condition' whatever it is... and pressures never go as high.

So, I'd suggest min 9, max 20.

[allforone515]

Hi palerider,

thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try and see.

[allforone515]

Did min 9 max 16 last night.

ABAP didn't chase FL. Pressure remained under 11.25 the whole night. FL is also less than the night before.

[palerider]

Did min 9 max 16 last night.

ABAP didn't chase FL. Pressure remained under 11.25 the whole night. FL is also less than the night before.

Unless you have to walk that unfortunate delicate balancing act between AHI and aerophagia, the only thing that restricting the max pressure does is prevent the machine from being able to adequately respond to any unusual needs you have.

[ChicagoGranny]

I am a side sleeper and found it leaks more in that position sometimes. Do you know a way to solve this?

Is your head position near the edge of the pillow so that your mask (and nose) are hanging over the edge? The mask should not be pressing into the pillow.

Are you using a pillow between your knees to prevent future problems with your hip flexors and spine?

If you sleep on your side, a firm pillow between your knees will prevent your upper leg from pulling your spine out of alignment and reduce stress on your hips and lower back. Pull your knees up slightly toward your chest. The pillow for your head should keep your spine straight. A rolled towel or small pillow under your waist may also help support your spine.

Full article: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclop ... entID=4460

[allforone515]

Thanks. If I can get my FL # down, I am ready to accept aerophagia to some degree. But the pressure is not as high as before when ABAP was chasing FL so my aerophagia is actually less than before , too.

Unless you have to walk that unfortunate delicate balancing act between AHI and aerophagia, the only thing that restricting the max pressure does is prevent the machine from being able to adequately respond to any unusual needs you have.