Setting CPAP pressure youself?

twokatmew · Post by **twokatmew** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:10 pm

rooster wrote:If those were my numbers (knowing I have no problems with central apnea), I would bump the minimum to 10 cm and see if the HI would be blown way down. Of course daily monitoring should continue when making changes.

Thanks, Rooster! That was my plan for tonight. I hope that'll make a difference.

Jason S. · Post by **Jason S.** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:17 am

rooster wrote:If those were my numbers (knowing I have no problems with central apnea), I would bump the minimum to 10 cm and see if the HI would be blown way down. Of course daily monitoring should continue when making changes.

Please explain how bumping the minimum helps fend off hypopneas. I may have a similar issue myself.

roster · Post by **roster** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:54 am

Jason S. wrote:
rooster wrote:If those were my numbers (knowing I have no problems with central apnea), I would bump the minimum to 10 cm and see if the HI would be blown way down. Of course daily monitoring should continue when making changes.

Please explain how bumping the minimum helps fend off hypopneas. I may have a similar issue myself.

It's like fighting guerillas. "If you wait until you see the whites of their eyes to shoot, they may be able to choke you first."

When the machines detect events, they take the pressure up very slowly. As an example, say your machine is set at 8 but you need 11 to prevent hypopneas at certain times during your sleep. So at 8 it detects an event and starts raising the pressure. It will raise it very slowly. Quite some time can lapse before the machine gets to 11 and during that time you can have many events.

If you are interested in the technical details of the Respironics algorithm, (i.e. what it responds to, how it responds, and how quickly it responds) let us know and maybe someone will post a link to the algorithm.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:09 am

Dang Rooster ... you are one avid sportsman.

You are quite correct. The Respironics APAP algorithm is slower than ResMeds APAP algorith to respond to events ... as I recall from the discussions of our old friends Snoredog and GoofyUT. A slower response does not mean it is a bad thing though since a more rapid or agressive response can sometimes lead to arousals (awakenings) for light sleepers. So setting the minimum pressure setting up a bit will help keep more of those hypopneas from sneaking into your stats. It is also a good thing to bump up the min pressure (and possibly the max if the min/max range is narrow) if one uses exhalation relief.

apnez · Post by **apnez** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:58 am

marcuss wrote:...I have no clue how to judge what is the correct setting.

Check your figures! The proof of the pudding is in the eating!

apnez · Post by **apnez** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:07 pm

rooster wrote:.....
You need to do a lot more reading here and then you can issue some better opinions (after you get out of the Federal pen for changing your pressure settings ).

Right Rooster!!! Some Americans are difficult to follow. They want to be sure that the Government will "approve" their conduct, they "search" Government approval and they complaint about possible or eventual or future Government controls!!!

treeherder · Post by **treeherder** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:09 pm

I'm a newbie here. I don't even have an official scrip from my doc for a CPAP. He knows that I have OSA from a one night study that was done for free. Plus my wife said I stopped breathing from time to time and otherwise snored irregularly. Anyway, I have no insurance and no great amounts of dough. As it happened, my late brother's wife had a CPAP (ResMed Elite that she was no longer needing or using so she gave it to me to use. It was at a low setting (7) so I figured there would be no harm in trying it and my doc agreed with me. The results were almost immediate. The very first morning after I woke up feeling great! Not groggy or feeling like I haven't even been to sleep. I have just gotten a card reader and am trying to figure out what all the stats mean. My doctor is very supportive and will write me a scrip for parts and such as long as I keep him informed as to my stats. Anyway, the machine as a blessing in its settings being seemingly perfect for me and bringing such speedy results. Thank God the health police don't know about this or they might throw me in jail! As for setting my own pressure, so far, if it ain't broke, I ain't going to fix it. It's working for me, I'll leave well enough alone for now (at least until I understand what these statistics mean from the card reader. Nice forum. I look forward to getting more educated from you folks!

marcuss · Post by **marcuss** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:11 pm

Well, I did a lot of reading, and learned a lot.

I now have committed a terrible act of complete and utter lawlessness: I have changed my CPAP pressure MYSELF from 15 to 13.

I feel a lot better today this morning after waking up.

Okay, where do I go to turn myself in for my prison sentence?

I sent an email to Mr. Obama, as I know now that I have probably violated some sort of health care law (or future health care law) and I'm fully willing to take my punishment like a man.

DoriC · Post by **DoriC** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:40 pm

Marcuss, I just reread your earlier posts and can't believe you're the same guy. I want to tell you that I'm proud of you for taking your treatment into your own hands. Maybe the weight loss does require a lower pressure in your case, who knew! You've come a long way in a short time. It reminded me of the first time I touched one of those reset buttons, I was waiting for some alarms to go off and shut the machine off forever. Looking forward to updates. Dori

roster · Post by **roster** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:49 am

marcuss wrote:........
I sent an email to Mr. Obama, as I know now that I have probably violated some sort of health care law (or future health care law) and I'm fully willing to take my punishment like a man.

Your sentence is five years with the Philadelphia Eagles at $1.6 million per year.

roster · Post by **roster** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:53 am

treeherder wrote:I'm a newbie here. I don't even have an official scrip from my doc for a CPAP. He knows that I have OSA from a one night study that was done for free. Plus my wife said I stopped breathing from time to time and otherwise snored irregularly. Anyway, I have no insurance and no great amounts of dough. As it happened, my late brother's wife had a CPAP (ResMed Elite that she was no longer needing or using so she gave it to me to use. It was at a low setting (7) so I figured there would be no harm in trying it and my doc agreed with me. The results were almost immediate. The very first morning after I woke up feeling great! Not groggy or feeling like I haven't even been to sleep. I have just gotten a card reader and am trying to figure out what all the stats mean. My doctor is very supportive and will write me a scrip for parts and such as long as I keep him informed as to my stats. Anyway, the machine as a blessing in its settings being seemingly perfect for me and bringing such speedy results. Thank God the health police don't know about this or they might throw me in jail! As for setting my own pressure, so far, if it ain't broke, I ain't going to fix it. It's working for me, I'll leave well enough alone for now (at least until I understand what these statistics mean from the card reader. Nice forum. I look forward to getting more educated from you folks!

Good story.

If you have questions for members, please fill out your equipment profile (select "Text" not "Image").

Jason S. · Post by **Jason S.** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:27 am

rooster wrote:It's like fighting guerillas. "If you wait until you see the whites of their eyes to shoot, they may be able to choke you first."

I love this forum. Its chock full of useful information that you never know might come in handy some day. Now I know how to fight a guerrilla. And if I ever need to know how to fight a gorilla, I have the "big cat owner" standing by as a resource I can tap into.

marcuss · Post by **marcuss** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:52 am

rooster wrote:
marcuss wrote:........
I sent an email to Mr. Obama, as I know now that I have probably violated some sort of health care law (or future health care law) and I'm fully willing to take my punishment like a man.
Your sentence is five years with the Philadelphia Eagles at $1.6 million per year.

Amerika! What a place; I love it!

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:56 am

Way to go, marcuss!!! You ARE going to feel better because you have now, officially, taken charge of your own therapy!

SSands · Post by **SSands** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:33 pm

Got on here to find out how to reset the settings on a cpap I got from my aunt after my uncle died.
I am wondering if some of us are maybe still living at home with our mothers? Whatever you do . . .do not tear the tags off your mattress. No it is not illegal to change your own settings , it is illegal for the DME company to though. However if she gets a prescription to she makes some moolah. I as a nurse cannot give you an aspirin without a doctors order - however you certainly can take the aspirin yourself with out involving the doctor. Change your settings, see if you still sleep ok and if so leave it there. If you don't sleep as well set it back.

What would be everyones choice for a nasal mask. This is my problem as well as the waiting game. I actually go ton here to find the CPAP they were recommending and ask around about different masks as they tried two nasal masks on me and want a long term commitment. What has everybody found doesn't work and does work for them? This would help this picky impatient newcomer out a great deal.

Setting CPAP pressure youself?

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