Pressure increasing each day

[TheComrade]

In an effort to try to use my machine 'better', I've been keeping a sleep log. I have a crappy ResMed that does not record detailed data but it will tell you last night's AHI and pressure, which is the max pressure I assume.

I've been using a chinstrap in an effort to keep my mouth closed.

First night, AHI was 0 and pressure was 10.
Second night, AHI was 0.2 and pressure was 12.
Third night, AHI was 0.9 and pressure was 13.

Can I come to any conclusions about the effectiveness of the treatment based on this? Does it mean I'm getting better at keeping my mouth closed, or worse, or impossible to tell?

[Julie]

The higher the pressure, the more likely it is that you're losing air through your mouth... other than that it's hard to say if anything much is going on besides normal adjustment.. Without more info it's hard to guess at.

[Pugsy]

and pressure, which is the max pressure I assume.

No, it isn't maximum pressure. The on screen pressure number is a 95% pressure number and all that means is that for 95% of the night you were at OR Below that pressure. People tend to forget the "or below" part of the definition
Of course this also means for 5% of the night you were above that number but we don't know how much above it..and it really doesn't matter much anyway

Your AHI is nice and low. On paper it's fine.
How are you feeling and sleeping?

Does it mean I'm getting better at keeping my mouth closed, or worse, or impossible to tell?

Impossible to tell without leak data. If you are sleeping well and feeling decent then most likely leaks aren't impacting things all that much but without leak data there is no way to know with any certainty.

[TheComrade]

Thanks much for the input. Leaks are definitely possible. It feels today like I've had the best sleep so far, even though the AHI and pressure is up and I was tossing and turning all night.

[LSAT]

When you change pressures you should let it alone for a few days before you change it again. Sleep patterns change from day to day. Changing pressures daily is not a good idea.

[Pugsy]

OP has the S9 Escape Auto. I don't think he is changing his pressures daily. I think he is reporting the pressure from the LCD menu. AHI and pressure is all the S9 Escape Auto will show on the LCD screen.

even though the AHI and pressure is up and I was tossing and turning all night.

that 95% pressure number can and will vary from night to night and so will the AHI. Don't worry about those little variations that you see. It's normal. In fact we don't sleep the same each night and variations are pretty much expected.

[The Latinist]

OP has the S9 Escape Auto. I don't think he is changing his pressures daily. I think he is reporting the pressure from the LCD menu. AHI and pressure is all the S9 Escape Auto will show on the LCD screen.

If that's the case, then the OP should update his profile with the correct model of machine he is using. I had figured it out, but I can understand LSAT's conclusion.

If I understand correctly, the S9 Escape Auto will not increase above 10 for apneas. So this would mean it's snores and flow limitations that are driving his pressures higher.

[Pugsy]

then the OP should update his profile with the correct model of machine he is using. I had figured it out, but I can understand LSAT's conclusion.

Wish I had a dollar for every time the wrong machine is chosen.
It would be nice if everyone got it right but in 5 years of being on this forum...it isn't going to happen and I just deal with it.

If I understand correctly, the S9 Escape Auto will not increase above 10 for apneas. So this would mean it's snores and flow limitations that are driving his pressures higher.

This would be correct. Something besides apneas is driving the pressure over 10. This was always a big discussion and confusing thing back when the A10 algorithm was all we had. People panicked thinking that their machine wouldn't ever go above 10 in auto mode under any circumstances which simply wasn't true.
While a person can have what we call frank, out of the blue, airway collapses that meet the definition for OA without any of the typical warning signs (those snores or FLs) most people will have some sort of FLs or snores along with the OA so the machine can still respond above 10 cm in those cases. So it can still do its job but in a back door approach...targeting FLs and snores when pressures are above 10 cm on those older technology machines.

Obviously I think the new algorithm is better and more appropriate but not everyone gets to get it because DMEs continue to dispense bricks or half assed bricks like the Escape Auto and as long as DMEs sell/dispense them...ResMed will make them. I wish bricks and half assed bricks weren't even made but that's another soap box.
Still the Escape Auto and the limited data it presents is better than no data at all.
It is what it is and in life we don't always get "ideal" and sometimes have to make do with what we have.

[TheComrade]

1) I thought I _had_ updated to the correct model from the list I saw on this site, after initially choosing the wrong model. I'll check again.

2) This is interesting about how the apnea correction will not go above 10, even though the machine as a whole states it will go to (at least 14). I'll check into what you mean by 'flow limitations' and how snoring could push it higher.

[TheComrade]

Just checked again.. This is the only listing I see that says both "S9" and "Escape". Nothing specifically says "Escape Auto" on the selection list.

[Pugsy]

Just checked again.. This is the only listing I see that says both "S9" and "Escape". Nothing specifically says "Escape Auto" on the selection list

Here's the deal with the equipment menu in the profile...it's all tied to either items cpap.com either currently sells or has sold in the past and they have never sold the S9 Escape Auto so it isn't a choice available to you.

To avoid confusion you can do what we suggest others in this situation do or when the links to discontinued equipment are broken....just add your machine to your comments section of the equipment profile manually like I have done mine.
You can still choose a humidifier...the S9 Series H5i
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... ntrol.html
even if you didn't get the optional climateline heated hose.

You can still add your mask if it is listed.
Don't worry about the software choices available...those are old, old choices and not current.

[TheComrade]

Thanks, I will do that.