Auto CPAP -

[ravir49]

I am using DV54 Sleepcube auto cpap machine for last 2 years.

Average pressure used to be approx 7-9 Cm water. During the last few weeks , every night the pressure increases to over 16Cm water accompanied by noisy air leak through mask and a very uncomfortable feeling resulting in my waking up.

On removing the mask I do not find any difficulty in breathing.

Can any one explain whether this ppertains to some problem in the machine ?

[Lizistired]

Sounds like the machine is set wide open. Why not narrow the range to closer to what you were using before? Maybe 6-10.

[Bluecat]

Sounds like the machine is set wide open. Why not narrow the range to closer to what you were using before? Maybe 6-10.

But that wouldn't solve the problem as to why the machine suddenly is going so high up.

[Goofproof]

A leak will cause the pressure to rise to it's max limit trying to stop apnea, that's why the machine should have the needed pressure set as a range, usually 1 under your needed pressure and 2 above it. Jim

Control the leaks.

[Julie]

If you have begun to breathe with your mouth open when sleeping (you'd need someone to tell you about it) you'll lose the Cpap air that way and it can register as a leak, which means you may have to look into full face masks like the Quattro to keep your therapy working - but raising the pressure can make the problem worse.

[Bluecat]

What I meant:

There is a good chance that if the machine is now going much higher than it needed to before, it is probably because of leaks: mouth breathing, a hole in the hose, ...
It you just limit the high end of the range without looking for the background reason for the increase in pressure, you will probably be getting sub optimal treatment. (not good!)

I don't agree with "that's why the machine should have the needed pressure set as a range": if the minimum pressure is adequatly set (ie only slightly lower than what would be the prescribed CPAP pressure), the APAP should only need to increase the pressure to deal with:
- difference in needs during the night (REM, back sleeping, etc...)
- leaks

First and foremost, dealing with eventual leaks!

If all is ok from that point, and the pressure is increasing to really deal with apneas but is disrupting sleep, then limiting the top of the range is an idea but it will be at the cost of letting some events slip by. It comes down to a choice between quantity and quality of sleep, and there each person is different!

What I have said above can only be said if the bottom of the range is adequate: if it is too low the machine will often increase the pressure too much because it is late in stopping the events (quite a few posts on that topic).

1) Control the leaks
2) If leaks aren't the answer: has your pressure need changed?

Both answers can at least be guessed at by looking at your graphs for the night.

[ravir49]

Thanks to all who have responded to my post.

I am using a full face mask . To eliminate the possibility of of air leak due to problems in mask , I intent using a new mask shortly.

Will revert trials using new mask

[LinkC]

Keep in mind that changing the type of mask will involve a lot of tweaking to eliminate leaks. Things will likely be worse before they get better. Hang in there.