Expiratory Pressure Relief confusion - newbie

[PinkMonkey]

I have a hard time figuring out how to exhale with the cpap. I was just searching for any special tricks or information and found my machine has EPR. Right now this feature is off.
1- If I turn it on will it help with the exhaling through my nose?
2- My pressure setting is Fixed 7 (cmH2O) do I need to change anything?
3- Anything else I am not thinking of ?

I am hoping this will make it easier & reduce my anxiety when I put the mask on Thanks for your input & help!!

[lilly747]

1- If I turn it on will it help with the exhaling through my nose?
2- My pressure setting is Fixed 7 (cmH2O) do I need to change anything?

EPR makes exhaling eaiser.

EPR lowers Min Pressure so raise Min Pressure by the amount of EPR you use i.e.; EPR of 3 + Min Pressure of 7 = Min Pressure of 10


WOOPS I didnot realize you have a FIXED pressure, so forget what I said, ....sorry I saw you had an autoset an assumed it was set in auto........

[Wulfman...]

I have a hard time figuring out how to exhale with the cpap. I was just searching for any special tricks or information and found my machine has EPR. Right now this feature is off.
1- If I turn it on will it help with the exhaling through my nose?
2- My pressure setting is Fixed 7 (cmH2O) do I need to change anything?
3- Anything else I am not thinking of ?

I am hoping this will make it easier & reduce my anxiety when I put the mask on Thanks for your input & help!!

Well, EPR is designed to offer exhale relief.
With ResMed machines, each setting represents the relief in actual centimeters.......1 = 1 cm., 2 = 2 cm., and 3 = 3 cm.

If, in your sleep study, they found that your ideal therapeutic pressure was 7 cm. (as you state that is your setting), then any EPR setting would drop you below that setting on exhale. Some people experience apneas at the point where they complete their exhale cycle and begin to inhale. If that's the case with you, any reduction in pressure may increase the possibilities that you would be below your therapeutic pressure. And, a setting of 7 cm. is quite low to begin with.

And, lilly747 was essentially correct in that to keep a therapeutic pressure of 7 cm., you would need to increase your pressure setting to 10 cm. if you would use an EPR setting of 3.......or 9 if EPR setting is 2.......or 8 if EPR setting is 1.

I suggest trying using your machine while watching TV or other times when you're not in bed and your mind focuses on your breathing. In other words, breathing with CPAP needs to come naturally.


Den

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[SleeplessUK]

On my Elite S9 I have EPR set at 2 which helps a lot. There is a huge difference between on and off, but I would suggest that you only use it till you get used to the machine. I will be looking at turning mine off in a while as I'm fairly used to the pressure by now.

[PinkMonkey]

Okay, so now I have another question. Should I change the setting to auto instead of fixed?

[chunkyfrog]

After six years, I still use EPR, Only it's at 2 now instead of 3.

[PinkMonkey]

I am going to make that change now! Next question...how do I adjust this on my machine? I don't see the setting?

[Wulfman...]

Okay, so now I have another question. Should I change the setting to auto instead of fixed?

It's your therapy. Nothing says you can't at least TRY some ranges to see what happens.

After over a year of straight pressure and tweaking my settings, I bought a slightly used APAP and tried a 10 - 15 cm. range for a week. I found that my existing setting of 12 cm. was pretty "spot on" and I had lower AHI numbers with straight pressure than a range. I also found that the pressure changes disturbed my sleep. But, at least I found out what I wanted to know.


Den

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[PinkMonkey]

Thanks Den. I have been reviewing my pressure & it is consistently at 7 and based on what I have been reading, this is probably too low? I know it is going to be trial & error. I am thinking trying epr at 2 and trying the pressure 6 - 12. Thoughts?

[Wulfman...]

Thanks Den. I have been reviewing my pressure & it is consistently at 7 and based on what I have been reading, this is probably too low? I know it is going to be trial & error. I am thinking trying epr at 2 and trying the pressure 6 - 12. Thoughts?

Try it. You won't know for sure till you do.


Den

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[Hopeful50]

I have a hard time figuring out how to exhale with the cpap.

The best way is to stop thinking about it. Like someone else suggested, if you get used to using the mask & machine while you're awake, possibly watching TV, that makes it easier.

To change the EPR settings you have to get into the clinical menu. Do that by holding in the HOME button and the round button for 3 seconds. This opens up MANY more options than are available to you on the user menu.

Also, download the clinician's manual: https://www.scribd.com/doc/267330029/Re ... ical-Guide

Good luck!

[sptrout]

I have a hard time figuring out how to exhale with the cpap.

The best way is to stop thinking about it. Like someone else suggested, if you get used to using the mask & machine while you're awake, possibly watching TV, that makes it easier.

To change the EPR settings you have to get into the clinical menu. Do that by holding in the HOME button and the round button for 3 seconds. This opens up MANY more options than are available to you on the user menu.

Also, download the clinician's manual: https://www.scribd.com/doc/267330029/Re ... ical-Guide

Good luck!

Unless I missed something, a person has to pay to download the manual at the link provided. Below is a link directly to the pdf file of the manual.

http://www.shermanoaksmedical.com/v/bro ... -CPAP2.pdf

[Hopeful50]

Unless I missed something, a person has to pay to download the manual at the link provided. Below is a link directly to the pdf file of the manual.

http://www.shermanoaksmedical.com/v/bro ... -CPAP2.pdf

Sorry about that. Thanks for correcting!

[Wulfman...]

Here's another link:

https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf


Den

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