Helping Doc to prescribe APAP

[stoveman]

Thanks to many helpful people I am beginning my odyssey, attempting to get an APAP. My doctor is perfectly willing to prescribe (he already has) a REMstar Auto C-Flex for me. What he didn't do was prescribe the setting(s).

My REMstar Plus is programmed for 13 and that has, as I have described, made avoiding mask leaks nearly impossible.

I have a brand new Breeze and a brand new Ultra Mirage Full Face that I will be trying with the REMstar Plus.

With a CPAP prescription for 13, what should the initial APAP settings be?

Thanks

[chrisp]

With a cpap setting of 13 I'd start at 6 & 15. Slowly increase the lower # depending on how you feel. You may decide that 6 is way too low and jump up to 10. We are all different. This game is much easier if you have the software to help you manage your treatment.

Cheers,

Chris

[gailzee]

Setting for APAP

My pulmonary dr. wanted me to do straight cpap at 12. When I forced the issue (see previous quotes of mine, I won't bore you with the LBS) but I insisted on apap. So then they changed the scrip with some grousing by the RT, DME, and when I said it's the apap PB 420E or nothing, I got what I wanted with a big show by the DME of ''changing'' it to APAP, which is so ridiculous, it's not the secret of the universe. Anyway, I started out with 4-14. Too low at 4, so am upping it myself (bought a second set to use for travel and backup) and changed it myself. The DME/RT's will be all over this, but the fact is, the only law is I NEED A SCRIP for the machine. The BS they hand out at our not ''being able to change settings' is bogus, but I won't go too far off the thread of your original question.

I now have my apap at 7-14, have hit a 10-12, a few x's, and consistently have the same amt. of episodes nightly, give or take a few. My AHI is low, which is all the pulmonary guy will want to know anyway. Be your own advocate, I did, and it saved me, quite literally. (I won't bore you with that story either).

But my point is, at the original straight cpap at 12, would've blown my sinuses out my brain and compliance would be zero. APAP has worked for me and the point is you may need a lower pressure number to eliminate or greatly reduce your episodes.

Check cpap.com, they are very helpful and this msg board is great.

Good Luck, I've been apap-ing since Jan. '05. Had 144 episodes at the titration study, now I get as little as zero or under 8-010, combined with hypop's. So I think that's the best I can do.

I didn't like the straight cpap blowing all night a pressure of 12. That resulted in 19 episodes, so at a lower pressure, I'm getting even lower episode numbers. So APAP works for me.

Hang in there, it's a lot to get used to and can get quite overwhelming at times. Vent here....

[quote="stoveman"]Thanks to many helpful people I am beginning my odyssey, attempting to get an APAP. My doctor is perfectly willing to prescribe (he already has) a REMstar Auto C-Flex for me. What he didn't do was prescribe the setting(s).

My REMstar Plus is programmed for 13 and that has, as I have described, made avoiding mask leaks nearly impossible.

I have a brand new Breeze and a brand new Ultra Mirage Full Face that I will be trying with the REMstar Plus.

With a CPAP prescription for 13, what should the initial APAP settings be?

Thanks

[Boomer]

Hey Stoveman,

I was titrated at 13, as well. I got an apap right off, have been on it for just over a month. My pressure settings are 6-15, but I'm still tweaking. I'll be dropping the upper down 1 point every few nights to see how things go. My current problem is, I yank that sucker (err..blower ? ) off my face while asleep and wake up with it next to me on the pillow. I'm thinking this may be due to getting to the upper pressure limit, then a leak, then off it comes!!. Anyway, with auto, you can tweak until it's comfortable, but few events. The Sweet Spot!!

Later,

Boomer