APAP-A-Flex Respironics: average pressure high first night

[norm]

After 15 years of sound-shattering snoring and poor sleep I finally yielded to my wife's pleading that I get a sleep study. Had the study, starting using the ResMed Elite 8 and my quality of life (and my wife's) improved immeasurably, magically, immediately. (This was in late October.)

Had some funds left over in my cafeteria plan this year and adecided to purchase a new machine. After much reading and consulting with a few others, decided on a Respironics automatic, A-flex machine, which came yesterday (with integrated humidifier--I do see why there are problems with the humidifier, but that is not the subject of this post). (As an aside, I like the Elite 8--just thought I would try a different kind of machine for comparison's sake.)

Used the new machine last night and it was quite wonderful--barely felt that I was using a machine. But I woke up with a slightly more sore nose than usual and checked the readouts and saw that my average pressure was 15.5, while my sleep study said I need 12 units of pressure. (Is that the correct terminology?) My ResMed is set for 12 units and seems to be doing its job.

So my question is: why does the APAP determine a higher pressure level? is this necessarily bad (or good)? do I need a new sleep study? should I just not worry about it?

By the way, this forum has been extremely helpful and I hope to be able to contribute once I get a little more experience behind me.

--Norman Stein, sleeping well finally in Maine

[marvod]

This is so weird. I just switched from a APAP with C-flex to one with A-flex and my pressure went up. Not 3.5 points but 1.5 from 10 to 11.5. I'm wondering if it has something to do with A-flex or something.

I also had a sore nose but I had surgery a month ago so i think that might be my problem.

[wolftracker]

if so what are your settings

on cflex my pressure went down when i went down one cflex
setting

might try that

my .02

i am not a doctor ... just a thought
wolf

[Guest]

My A-Flex setting is 3. Thats what I had on C-flex so I didn't change. I do want to say that it was like not having anything blowing in my nose all night. Other that having the mask on it was great.

I'll try moving the A-flex down to 2 and see what happens.

Thanks

[Goofproof]

Without the software and reader you won't know for sure what's going on, The LCD reads GOOFY AVG's unless zeroed every night. (PITA)

And even then mouthleaking must be corrected for the numbers to show the truth. Jim

[jskinner]

So my question is: why does the APAP determine a higher pressure level? is this necessarily bad (or good)? do I need a new sleep study? should I just not worry about it?

What is the range set on your APAP? If your feeling well I wouldn't worry about the APAP going higher.

I would recommend getting the software so you can see exactly what is going on. Could be that you just need the higher pressure (always or occasionally) but can't know for sure without the software.

You could try limiting your APAP to your old pressure to see how that feels.

[andy88488]

I had the same experience. I was titrated during two sleep studies at 11. I got my APAP yesterday. I just read the smart card and found out that I spent most of the night at 15, and that was only because I set that as the maximum! I raised the maximum to 20, to see what the APAP ends up wanting to do, but I am quite puzzled.

[roster]

[quote="Anonymous"]My A-Flex setting is 3. Thats what I had on C-flex so I didn't change. I do want to say that it was like not having anything blowing in my nose all night. Other that having the mask on it was great.

I'll try moving the A-flex down to 2 and see what happens.

Thanks