Limiting max pressure?

[joeljjk11]

Does this ever make sense? Will the CPAP machine ever go to pressures that are not needed or is this not likely? Just curious as to why the max pressure would ever be adjusted.

[LSAT]

In most cases it makes no sense to limit max pressure.

[jimbud]

Aerophagia.
Pressure induced Centrals.
JPB

[chunkyfrog]

I limit my max, because letting it go nuts tends to wake me up--RUDELY.
I know my AHI could be better, but it is not worth the misery.
Or the stress. Stressful sleep is not good sleep.

[Wulfman...]

I limit my max, because letting it go nuts tends to wake me up--RUDELY.
I know my AHI could be better, but it is not worth the misery.
Or the stress. Stressful sleep is not good sleep.

Some people GET IT!
It's about finding what works best for YOU.

It doesn't take much pressure variation to mess up my sleep.
Consequently, I use (a moderate) straight pressure and sleep like a rock.......and with very low AHI and other numbers.


Den

.

[billbolton]

In most cases it makes no sense to limit max pressure.

In fact, in very few cases does it make any sense to do that.

The proposition that anyone should let a machine fully auto range all the time is popular with marketers, but it actually works fairly poorly in practice.

Auto operation over a limited range is generally useful, but autoranging over a large range is generally not.

[LSAT]

In most cases it makes no sense to limit max pressure.

In fact, in very few cases does it make any sense to do that.

The proposition that anyone should let a machine fully auto range all the time is popular with marketers, but it actually works fairly poorly in practice.

Auto operation over a limited range is generally useful, but autoranging over a large range is generally not.

I don't think we're talking about full auto range...just maximum.. For all we know the OPs minimum might be 10

[D.H.]

For most, it's probably best to set the max at the machine capacity.

You would want to set it lower if the higher pressure becomes annoying, such as causing sinus pain or waking you up.

[palerider]

In most cases it makes no sense to limit max pressure.

In fact, in very few cases does it make any sense to do that.

The proposition that anyone should let a machine fully auto range all the time is popular with marketers, but it actually works fairly poorly in practice.

Auto operation over a limited range is generally useful, but autoranging over a large range is generally not.

If you're implying that the Max pressure should be limited as a matter of course, you're completely wrong.

The Auto machine will only raise pressure when there is a need to raise it.

The only *valid* reasons to lower the max pressure are if you suffer from aerophagia... then you have to do a delicate balancing act between getting enough pressure to treat your apnea, and having too much pressure that causes stomach pain.

In the rare event you have pressure emergent centrals, then possibly, lowering max *might* be worthwhile, but again, at the cost of more obstructive apnea.

[ragtopcircus]

I have the max (and min) on my wife’s machine set a little lower than what she really needs because of aerophagia. Her AHI and total time in apnea is still too high, but coming down, and it’s still much better than non-compliance. I periodically nudge the max up slightly as she acclimates.

[Wulfman...]

The Auto machine will only raise pressure when there is a need to raise it.

Actually, the Auto machines (running in a range of pressures) will raise pressure when they detect a breathing event that it is programmed to respond to. It doesn't know whether it is a "NEED TO" or not. Some people don't have the breathing patterns that match the pre-programmed algorithms of the APAP machines. Some MAY, but others do not.
Primarily, those precursor/triggering events are........Flow Limitations and/or Snoring........and maybe (depending on the make/model and programming) Hypopneas and/or Apneas. If the minimum pressure is set too low, it may not have time to respond.......and then the event it's supposed to prevent happens anyway. The machine doesn't "KNOW" diddly squat. They're just programmed to respond to precursor events that it detects. And, if an Apnea is already in progress, it won't respond at all.......until it's over with (maybe). It still takes about 10 seconds for these machines to determine what event is occurring.

Bottom line is.......YOU need to find out for yourself by studying the reports from the software what events you're having and how YOUR machine may or may not respond to them.

This is also why setting the minimum pressure to eliminate MOST of the events is so important. We don't know how many of the events the minimum pressure prevents from happening, but if you can eliminate the majority of them, then you've gone a long way to improve your therapy.


Den

.

[palerider]

The Auto machine will only raise pressure when there is a need to raise it.

Actually, the Auto machines (running in a range of pressures) will raise pressure when they detect a breathing event that it is programmed to respond to. It doesn't know whether it is a "NEED TO" or not. Some people don't have the breathing patterns that match the pre-programmed algorithms of the APAP machines. Some MAY, but others do not.
Primarily, those precursor/triggering events are........Flow Limitations and/or Snoring........and maybe (depending on the make/model and programming) Hypopneas and/or Apneas. If the minimum pressure is set too low, it may not have time to respond.......and then the event it's supposed to prevent happens anyway. The machine doesn't "KNOW" diddly squat. They're just programmed to respond to precursor events that it detects. And, if an Apnea is already in progress, it won't respond at all.......until it's over with (maybe). It still takes about 10 seconds for these machines to determine what event is occurring.

Your luddite level distrust of automation is noted, you've been beating that dead horse for ages,

We all know that you think that straight pressure with no pressure relief is the way to go.

yadda yadda yadda.

[Wulfman...]

The Auto machine will only raise pressure when there is a need to raise it.

Actually, the Auto machines (running in a range of pressures) will raise pressure when they detect a breathing event that it is programmed to respond to. It doesn't know whether it is a "NEED TO" or not. Some people don't have the breathing patterns that match the pre-programmed algorithms of the APAP machines. Some MAY, but others do not.
Primarily, those precursor/triggering events are........Flow Limitations and/or Snoring........and maybe (depending on the make/model and programming) Hypopneas and/or Apneas. If the minimum pressure is set too low, it may not have time to respond.......and then the event it's supposed to prevent happens anyway. The machine doesn't "KNOW" diddly squat. They're just programmed to respond to precursor events that it detects. And, if an Apnea is already in progress, it won't respond at all.......until it's over with (maybe). It still takes about 10 seconds for these machines to determine what event is occurring.

Your luddite level distrust of automation is noted, you've been beating that dead horse for ages,

We all know that you think that straight pressure with no pressure relief is the way to go.

yadda yadda yadda.

And, your idiotic arrogance has been well known on this forum for years.

But, you left something out......the most important.......as usual. My point has ALWAYS been to get the users to find out what works best for each of them. I found out long ago what works best for ME. I used exhale relief for years, then decided I didn't need it. Tried APAP ranges of pressure, too........decided it didn't work for ME.

Bottom line is.......YOU need to find out for yourself by studying the reports from the software what events you're having and how YOUR machine may or may not respond to them.

This is also why setting the minimum pressure to eliminate MOST of the events is so important. We don't know how many of the events the minimum pressure prevents from happening, but if you can eliminate the majority of them, then you've gone a long way to improve your therapy.

Den

.

[palerider]

But, you left something out......the most important.......as usual. My point has ALWAYS been to get the users to find out what works best for each of them. I found out long ago what works best for ME. I used exhale relief for years, then decided I didn't need it. Tried APAP ranges of pressure, too........decided it didn't work for ME.

Bottom line is.......YOU need to find out for yourself by studying the reports from the software what events you're having and how YOUR machine may or may not respond to them.

This is also why setting the minimum pressure to eliminate MOST of the events is so important. We don't know how many of the events the minimum pressure prevents from happening, but if you can eliminate the majority of them, then you've gone a long way to improve your therapy.

Any *reasonable*, intelligent person would realize that I 'left that out' because I wasn't disputing the importance of people becoming involved in their treatment and learning how to evaluate their data.

[zonker]

The Auto machine will only raise pressure when there is a need to raise it.

Actually, the Auto machines (running in a range of pressures) will raise pressure when they detect a breathing event that it is programmed to respond to. It doesn't know whether it is a "NEED TO" or not.

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oh boy. you guys haven't a good donnybrook in sometime!