Tweak with pressure settings?

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andy2016
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Tweak with pressure settings?

Post by andy2016 » Sun Jul 03, 2016 1:33 pm

Not to be overly picky, I have managed to get my AHI to about 1.7 on a regular basis. My avg. pressure is little over 12 and my min. is 10. I want to get my AHI to below 1, should I increase the pressure to an 11? Could it make a difference?

Thanks!!

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LSAT
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Re: Tweak with pressure settings?

Post by LSAT » Sun Jul 03, 2016 1:38 pm

Are you concerned about the number or how you are sleeping and feeling? If you are sleeping well, you could increase the min pressure...it might make a slight difference. Your pressure is also hitting max 17 for a short period...you might increase that to 18. Personally, I would be inclined to leave it alone since you are so new to all this. Numbers do not stay constant AHI can vary from night to night.
Last edited by LSAT on Sun Jul 03, 2016 1:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

andy2016
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Re: Tweak with pressure settings?

Post by andy2016 » Sun Jul 03, 2016 1:41 pm

LSAT wrote:Are you concerned about the number or how you are sleeping and feeling? If you are sleeping well, you could increase the min pressure...it might make a difference. Your pressure is also hitting max 17 for a short period...you might increase that to 18. Personally, I would be inclined to leave it alone.
No, not so much the number but rather the quality of sleep. The less hypopneas, the better the sleep I am assuming.

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Additional Comments: Started CPAP therapy June 13, 2016.......Sleep study showed AHI of 67.5. I use sleepyhead software. Pressure setting 11 to 14.5.

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Wulfman...
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Re: Tweak with pressure settings?

Post by Wulfman... » Sun Jul 03, 2016 2:05 pm

andy2016 wrote:
LSAT wrote:Are you concerned about the number or how you are sleeping and feeling? If you are sleeping well, you could increase the min pressure...it might make a difference. Your pressure is also hitting max 17 for a short period...you might increase that to 18. Personally, I would be inclined to leave it alone.
No, not so much the number but rather the quality of sleep. The less hypopneas, the better the sleep I am assuming.
If I were you, I'd suspect the pressure changes. I'd suggest narrowing your pressure range to 10 - 13 cm. for awhile. Or, even at some point trying a straight pressure within that range and then tweak from there.
Not all events are worth chasing and sleep quality is of primary importance (along with eliminating as many events as possible). It can be a balancing act, but it's doable.


Den

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palerider
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Re: Tweak with pressure settings?

Post by palerider » Sun Jul 03, 2016 2:54 pm

andy2016 wrote:
LSAT wrote:Are you concerned about the number or how you are sleeping and feeling? If you are sleeping well, you could increase the min pressure...it might make a difference. Your pressure is also hitting max 17 for a short period...you might increase that to 18. Personally, I would be inclined to leave it alone.
No, not so much the number but rather the quality of sleep. The less hypopneas, the better the sleep I am assuming.
generally yes, the less events, the less sleep disturbances. as lsat said, it's a balancing act, more pressure will make for less events but at some point, the pressure may bother you, or the side effects.

feel free to try what wulfman... suggests, he's a big proponent of single pressure, and often repeats his idea that the gradual pressure changes the apaps make disturb sleep.

I think his suggested pressures are too low for you though. but, feel free to try it for yourself... give it a few days, and try what LSAT said, and give that a few days, sleep varies from night to night, contingent upon many conditions.

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andy2016
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Re: Tweak with pressure settings?

Post by andy2016 » Sun Jul 03, 2016 3:13 pm

Perhaps bump my min. to 11 and see if that does anything? Can increasing min. affect how high the max pressure goes throughout the night?

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palerider
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Re: Tweak with pressure settings?

Post by palerider » Sun Jul 03, 2016 3:18 pm

andy2016 wrote:Perhaps bump my min. to 11 and see if that does anything? Can increasing min. affect how high the max pressure goes throughout the night?
yes, interestingly though, raising min to where it needs to be sometimes causes the max reached to be lower, since the machine prevents more things happening in the first place, and is able to reach needed pressures for exceptions faster.

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Wulfman...
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Re: Tweak with pressure settings?

Post by Wulfman... » Sun Jul 03, 2016 3:20 pm

andy2016 wrote:Perhaps bump my min. to 11 and see if that does anything? Can increasing min. affect how high the max pressure goes throughout the night?
Maybe.......maybe not. It depends on the person's breathing characteristics........Flow Limitations, Snores, Hypopneas, Apneas......can all affect what the pressure will do if you're using ranges. If increased minimum pressure alleviates some of those, then there is less chance that the pressure will climb higher. If it doesn't, then it will regardless. No "concrete" answers.


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andy2016
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Re: Tweak with pressure settings?

Post by andy2016 » Sun Jul 03, 2016 3:35 pm

palerider wrote:
andy2016 wrote:Perhaps bump my min. to 11 and see if that does anything? Can increasing min. affect how high the max pressure goes throughout the night?
yes, interestingly though, raising min to where it needs to be sometimes causes the max reached to be lower, since the machine prevents more things happening in the first place, and is able to reach needed pressures for exceptions faster.
Makes total sense. Hope that's the case.

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Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: Wisp Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Started CPAP therapy June 13, 2016.......Sleep study showed AHI of 67.5. I use sleepyhead software. Pressure setting 11 to 14.5.

Cardsfan
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Re: Tweak with pressure settings?

Post by Cardsfan » Sun Jul 03, 2016 7:24 pm

I did the straight CPAP pressure with great results. (thanks to wulfman) I find sleep quality better with limited pressure changes.
Hope you can get your AHI below 1.

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