Most apnea patients require more pressure but.....

[Spirit]

I seem to feel more tired, experimenting with higher pressure. Like when I turned off EPR, I slept horrible, and felt miserable upon waking. I started out at 8cm, adjusted well to the pressure, then doc bumped up to 9cm, I started feeling really tired again. So I started to lower my pressure, back down. It's at 8.4cm right now. But I bounce around between 8.0cm-9.0cm,. And one time, dropped to 7.6cm,.

But as a person recovers and feels better on treatment, could pressure be turned down ?? Or once apnea develops, is it permenant to worse over time ??

I experimented with pressures a few times, and the lower I turn down my pressure, the better I feel. Like when I decreased pressure to 7.6cm,. I actually feel better, then let's say 8.6,.

Also noticed, with higher pressures my tinnitus is worse. Last night, I adjust pressure from 9.0 to 8.4 and feel way better then I did yesturday. When pressure is set to 9cm, no EPR, I feel like the walking dead.

Thanks for any input.

[flylow]

what are your numbers looking like at the various pressures your are experimenting with? Do you know how to look at your daily results?

[Spirit]

what are your numbers looking like at the various pressures your are experimenting with? Do you know how to look at your daily results?

Hi,
Yes, I know how to look at my daily results, but rarely ever do so anymore. Data only discouraged me, cause when I would feel horrible, data produced fantastic results, vice versa. So now I go by, how I feel more then data.

[scrapper]

[But as a person recovers and feels better on treatment, could pressure be turned down ?? Or once apnea develops, is it permenant to worse over time ??
/quote]

A person recovers......if you're talking about sleep apnea due to airway obstruction, my guess is that, no, you do not "recover". The air acts as a splint for your airway, allowing you to breathe. The need for pressure can change for any number of reasons--losing weight, gaining weight, muscles becoming more lax, etc.

experimented with pressures a few times, and the lower I turn down my pressure, the better I feel.

I don't know what your graphs look like, but in the absence of those, I believe you should make a decision based upon how you feel. What other data is there to support this or dispute this? If you've got data you can share, the data should be combined with how you feel.

I commend you on keeping track of your numbers and how you feel.......that's important.

[GaryG]

Since you seem to tolerate lower pressures better, you might want to consider an APAP trial with a pressure range of 6-10, and see where the auto goes... Just a thought. Never give up.

[Gerryk]

Your pressure requirments aren't going to go down just because you are being treated successfully. That is the pressure you were titrated at that provided the best benefit to you such as reducing event's. Perhaps you have mask leaks at the higher pressure which would effect your treatment.

Gerry

[Spirit]

Your pressure requirments aren't going to go down just because you are being treated successfully. That is the pressure you were titrated at that provided the best benefit to you such as reducing event's. Perhaps you have mask leaks at the higher pressure which would effect your treatment.

Gerry

Hi Gerry,
Mask leaks are minimal to none, even at higher pressures. According to DME my pressure is low compared to majority of the patients she see's, most start at 15cm. But your theory does hold true, for lot higher pressures.
Thanks

[Spirit]

Since you seem to tolerate lower pressures better, you might want to consider an APAP trial with a pressure range of 6-10, and see where the auto goes... Just a thought. Never give up.

Hi Gary,
Sounds like a good idea. Will discuss with my sleep doc next visit. I have alot of 0.0 AI readings, only HI has data levels, reason he bumped my pressure up from 8cm to 9cm, I have consistent HI's between 4.0 & 5.0,. But leaks & AI are alway's minimal to none.
Thanks

[Spirit]

I commend you on keeping track of your numbers and how you feel.......that's important.

Hi Scrapper,
My data seemed to be very consistent, no matter how I felt good or bad, only data that records values is HI,. Leaks are alway's 0.0 to .06, same with AI,. 0.0 to .8 etc..... HI is the only data that effects AHI,.

Even with pressure up or down, HI stays consistent 4.0 to 5.0 and sometimes slightly higher/lower, then values given.

My sleep doc is suspcious my enlarged thyroid, may be a factor in HI values. Need to wait at least 6 months, before he investigates further.
Thanks

[Gerryk]

Spirit, it's not a theory if you have a leak your not going to get your optimal therapy, no matter what your pressure is. If your pressure is 7 and you have a leak it will cause you to not get optimal therapy just as if your pressure was 15 and you had a leak.

What is your leak rate? Is your machine programmed properly for your mask? If not it will be showing an imporper leak number.

Also are you changing the settings daily or are you changing them and trying that for a few days to a week?

Gerry