How much should I bump my pressure?

[Jason S.]

I am using CPAP at 8 cm, suspect I could benefit from a higher pressure. I was thinking 9 cm.

[sagesteve]

Try going in halves instead. Do it for at least a week at the new setting with each step up. I'd try 8.5cm next.

[Kiralynx]

You don't have a data-capable machine, so whatever you're doing, you're flying in the dark... without instruments.

No more than half a CM change, and keep it there for at least a week.

[Jason S.]

Try going in halves instead. Do it for at least a week at the new setting with each step up. I'd try 8.5cm next.

Thanks, I'll try 8.5 instead of 9.0

[roster]

You don't have a data-capable machine, so whatever you're doing, you're flying in the dark... without instruments.
..........

Ditto.

Jason,

Without data how will you know if the pressure changes you make are improving your therapy or making it worse?

"How you feel the next day" is a subjective measure influenced by dozens of factors besides CPAP therapy.

I rarely recommend pressure changes without the capability to monitor data.

Regards,

[Jason S.]

Without data how will you know if the pressure changes you make are improving your therapy or making it worse?

I'll know, the same way I knew the new mask wasn't working. It might take a few more days, but I'll know.

[DreamStalker]

Without data how will you know if the pressure changes you make are improving your therapy or making it worse?

I'll know, the same way I knew the new mask wasn't working. It might take a few more days, but I'll know.

Well, in that case, you can use this handy device to determine pressure settings ...

http://www.random.org/ ... I would keep that max value under 100 though to mitigate severe flatulence.

What's a few more days eh?

[roster]

.........
I'll know, the same way I knew the new mask wasn't working. It might take a few more days, but I'll know.

So you have the impression that you can make these types of pressure changes and "just know" whether the new pressure is working?

You are free to make any changes you decide to make. But please be aware that you did not receive advice from the members of cpaptalk.com to change pressure without monitoring data before and after.

[El Pap]

I'll know, the same way I knew the new mask wasn't working. It might take a few more days, but I'll know.

If you don't feel better after raising your pressure, how will you know whether it's because you didn't need the pressure increase, or because the higher pressure caused your mask leaks to increase to an unacceptable level?

[DreamStalker]

I'll know, the same way I knew the new mask wasn't working. It might take a few more days, but I'll know.

If you don't feel better after raising your pressure, how will you know whether it's because you didn't need the pressure increase, or because the higher pressure caused your mask leaks to increase to an unacceptable level?

Easy. He can set up a scale like this ...

1 = feel worse (higher pressure caused mask leaks)
2 to 99 = have no idea what is happening
100 = don't feel better (didn't need the pressure increase)

Then ...

http://www.random.org/

... click the button and after a few days, he'll know.

[LinkC temp]

Can I have your mask when (not if!) you die??

[boston]

Give the guy a break, he does not have a data capable machine.
If he wants to improve his therapy, either because he isnt feeling great now or he just wants to try for the best therapy possible, this is the only way he can do it.
The only measure he will have is if he feels better or not.
He has been a member here for some time, hes well informed, hes not going to kill himself for raising his pressure a bit.
He knows how he feels now, he knows how he has been feeling up to this point, he knows how he felt before cpap.
After a week of bumping the pressure up 0.5 he should know if hes feeling better, the same, or worse.
I say go for it, 0.5 increments for at least 5-7 nights. That said, I raised my pressure once by 0.5 and had the worst night ever, so the next night I went back down.
Youve got support here, just take it slow on the pressure and make intelligent decisions, youll be fine.

[wlenz]

fixed errors, see below

[wlenz]

I strongly believe in flyling with instruments. An auto machine with true data could be too expensive or difficult to get. But, buying a pulse oximeter is a good way to evaluate your therapy. There have been a few discussions on this and searching the archives could help.
Hope you have success.
Bill

[ConnieM]

Jason, Can you tell me how to bump up my pressure please? I have the same machine. Thx!