Question about prescription

[Snuff-L-Reddy]

I was just looking over my CPAP prescription and noticed that it only has a number "8" in the EPAP spot, nothing for IPAP (it is crossed out). A C-Flex number "3" is also listed. When I called to setup an appt. to get a machine they asked if there was a pressure # on my script. I gave them the EPAP #. When I went to my DME appt. they already had a machine set up for me (did not ask for my script) As I have been gleening as much info as possible from this wonderful forum, I have come to realize that EPAP is expiratory and wonder if I should set my pressure 3cm higher ? I thought that perhaps my Doc. had put the pressure in the wrong spot on the script., but I also have a patient recommendation sheet that has the IPAP crossed out as well and "8" for EPAP. I have been tinkering a bit with the EPR setting and raised the pressure some, but have yet to have AHI #'s lower than 5 and it seems like the Hypo's increase with the pressure. Are scripts ever written, what seems to me as, backwards

[Emilia]

Do you have a copy of your sleep study and its resulting recommendation? Usually the pressure at which you were titrated successfully will be notated. This is the pressure the doctor will prescribe for cpap, or a range based on that number if Rx'ing an apap.

You could just call the doctor's office and ask them to review the Rx and see what the main pressure should be. Then you can adjust the machine yourself via the clinician mode.

[Snuff-L-Reddy]

I did not get a copy of my study---am going to try though. Very busy Sleep Lab is in a local hospital with a loooooong waiting list. My appt. for the 27th sept. was set up in Feb. Perhaps even my primary Doc. can get me a copy as he is in the same hospital-- just thought of that while typing ---if you can call my pecking slowing through
these keys typing

[sleepnationtv]

I would try to use the machine at 8cm for a few weeks and check your AHI every day and for the two week period. If the AHI is low 0-5 than the machine is doing what it should be doing. If not try moving it up a little.

Here is a video I made to show you how to access the clinical menu and change the pressure. http://www.cpaplibrary.com/machine-education

Hope this helps.

Dane

[Lizzzabeth]

Your machine is just cpap, not bi-level. You only need one setting, so that's why they crossed off the IPAP. Even if you have APAP, with a range of settings, it would not be IPAP-EPAP, it would just be expressed as a range (e.g. 8 to 11).

If you were using an APAP machine, you would set the bottom range to your prescribed pressure, however your machine is straight CPAP. You can set the EPR (Exhalation Pressure Relief?) to 3. As I understand, you have a choice of 1, 2 or 3, and you can change that based on your perceived comfort.

[SMenasco]

For those who did not get a copy of their sleep study, you might want to pursue this. After I had been on cpap for a number of years, I wanted to buy a used machine from my DME. They wouldn't sell me one without setting the pressure and all my sleep study documents were purged after 7 years. Had my GP not saved a copy sent to him by the sleep doctor, I would have had to go back through the sleep lab to determine the pressure setting. I produced the old study and was able to get the used machine in nothing flat. Granted, this might have been my specific DME and sleep clinic rules. Just a reminder that it may be a good idea to get a retrive and keep a copy of the study.

[chunkyfrog]

And you could keep the results in either hard copy or on digital media.

[rested gal]

Your machine is just cpap, not bi-level. You only need one setting, so that's why they crossed off the IPAP. Even if you have APAP, with a range of settings, it would not be IPAP-EPAP, it would just be expressed as a range (e.g. 8 to 11).

If you were using an APAP machine, you would set the bottom range to your prescribed pressure, however your machine is straight CPAP. You can set the EPR (Exhalation Pressure Relief?) to 3. As I understand, you have a choice of 1, 2 or 3, and you can change that based on your perceived comfort.

Exactly as Lizzzabeth said. She nailed it.

The machine showing in your equipment profile, Snuffles, is an Elite. That's a straight cpap machine, to be set for one straight prescribed pressure.

[Snuff-L-Reddy]

Thank you all.
I have a tendency to over analyze and take things literally. Thus when I saw both an EPR # and and pressure #(that corresponded to exhalation), I wondered if my machine had been set up correctly. The info provided here has helped me with many tips to make this therapy work and my AHI Graph was looking like a downward staircase but it has leveled out around 7 for about the last 2 wks. I have been slowly increasing the pressure and last night at 10cm my AHI was 2.3 woohoo I hope it lasts.