What is the worst that could happen...?

[Rev. Trask]

Hi. I have been using CPAP for a short time, about 6 months. I was titrated at 9cm, my AHI (according to the REMstar) is 2.2
However, I still feel pretty terrible during the day (exhausted). Using the Sleepyhead software, I have found that I am still having 5-10 apnea episodes per night, and I am thinking of upping my pressure to 9.5 cm's to see if the episodes go away, and if I feel better. I am scheduled for a sleep Dr. appt in a few weeks, and I am wondering what is the worst that could happen if/when he discovers that I 1) accessed the set up mode on my machine, and 2) changed the pressure?
Will I lose the machine? Will the Dr. stop treating me?

Thanks.

[Vader]

Hi. I have been using CPAP for a short time, about 6 months. I was titrated at 9cm, my AHI (according to the REMstar) is 2.2
However, I still feel pretty terrible during the day (exhausted). Using the Sleepyhead software, I have found that I am still having 5-10 apnea episodes per night, and I am thinking of upping my pressure to 9.5 cm's to see if the episodes go away, and if I feel better. I am scheduled for a sleep Dr. appt in a few weeks, and I am wondering what is the worst that could happen if/when he discovers that I 1) accessed the set up mode on my machine, and 2) changed the pressure?
Will I lose the machine? Will the Dr. stop treating me?

Thanks.

You may get a scolding, but I highly doubt you would lose the machine or get refused treatment.

[Pugsy]

Will I lose the machine?

No

Will the Dr. stop treating me?

No

At worst you might get a butt chewing or you might get what my doctor said when I did exactly what you want to do..

"that is exactly what I would have suggested you do" "good job" "keep those settings..they are working perfectly for your situation"

[apneawho]

I don't think you can lose your machine. Every doctor will not respond the same way, but if you have the software and want to experiment by small increments to see the effects, I don't see anything wrong with you being proactive in managing your condition. Personally, I would take whatever the doctor wants to say about it, good or bad.

[BlackSpinner]

You "Own" the machine. You pay the doctors salary (maybe through your insurance).
If the doctor gives you any flack for taking control of your health FIRE HIM! He is not working in your best interest.
Start working with your software to make your therapy effective.

Please sign up and fill in your equipment (user control panel - upper left side of the screen) and people can help you fine tune your therapy.

[robysue]

Will I lose the machine?

No

Will the Dr. stop treating me?

No

At worst you might get a butt chewing or you might get what my doctor said when I did exactly what you want to do..

"that is exactly what I would have suggested you do" "good job" "keep those settings..they are working perfectly for your situation"

Pugsy,

How did you find such an open minded doc? Sheer luck? Or some other secret? Because I'm in need of the secret ....

[carbonman]

I am wondering what is the best that could happen when I have 1) accessed the set up mode on my machine, and 2) changed the pressure?
Thanks.

YOU will be on the road to becoming
your own best therapist and
taking control of your therapy.

Pretty cool, huh?

[Pugsy]

How did you find such an open minded doc? Sheer luck? Or some other secret? Because I'm in need of the secret ....

Luck I suppose. Wasn't because of any special contacts that I had in the medical field. Those had long since dried up.

I think agreeable because of the way I presented my data..why I did so and so. Working with doctors for 30 years sort of helps someone dealing with those monster egos. I presented it such a way that no toes were stepped on and in such a way that the only reasonable option was for agreement. I played those games with doctors for many years.

Plus I was lucky. Plan vanilla OSA with sleep fragmentation due to pain. I didn't feel hugely improved on cpap but I was somewhat improved and I had a realistic expectation as to what my other problems were and how they impacted things. Other than reaffirming what I had discovered there really wasn't a whole lot that could be offered differently.

I didn't have your complicating factors though. Other than my headaches stemming from my cervical spine issues I had none of the problems you have had. I had sleep maintenance insomnia due to pain and the pain had to be treated anyway or else no sleep at all. Pretty much mundane common sense stuff.

I made their job real easy since I essentially did it for them. Most docs are happy to take the easy way out.

[xenablue]

Ditto on what others said. When I told my neurologist I was 'messing' with my pressure (she 'set' it at 9) in small increments between 9 and 10, she congratulated me on taking charge of my health.

She did advise against making any large or radical changes without first discussing with her, but felt I am capable of making good decisions.

cheers,
xena

[NightMonkey]

I've looked at many pressure settings with lust. I've committed pressure change in my heart many times. God knows I will do this and forgives me.

[BarfVader]

Go for it! AHI > 0 is too high!! Remember, apnea is a lack of breathing... same as drowning... apnea KILLS!

[robysue]

I've looked at many pressure settings with lust. I've committed pressure change in my heart many times. God knows I will do this and forgives me.

NightMonkey,

Thanks for bringing a smile to my face and giving me a good, hearty warm laugh!

[The Reverend Trask]

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and advice, 9.5 here I come...!

[archangle]

The main risk is causing central apneas. If the pressure is too high, some people will develop central apnea, which is where your airway stays open, but your brain stops telling your lungs to breathe for short periods of time. Increasing the pressure makes this worse.

If you do increase the pressure enough to get CAs, reducing the pressure should make the problem go away.

5 to 10 apneas a night is no big deal. Look at the waveforms and see how long they are, and how severe they are. "Apneas" are not all the same. A 120 second apnea is worse than an 11 second apnea. Some apneas are no breathing at all, some are just reduced levels of breathing.