Taking charge of my theropy

[70sSanO]

I would agree with others that you should see how you do at 8-12. I also second the idea of reducing you EPR.

EPR only reduces the pressure when you exhale. If you have been on CPAP for 5 years without EPR you were probably used to exhaling against the 7.6 pressure.

One issue with EPR, and someone can correct me, is I think obstructive apneas are more likely to occur after an exhale than the inhale, or at least between the exhale and inhale. When you use EPR there is less pressure keeping the airway open right after exhaling and I think, once agian someone can correct me, that until you inhale the pressure stays lower.

I have used EPR and have found it to be a detriment to my therapy, with the exception of my venture into higher pressures and used it to adjust to a jump in pressure. For erxample, going from 14 to 15, I would use EPR 1 for a few days until I got used to 15 and then I would turn it off.

John

[Ticman]

Pugsy,
Thank you for the reply. I'm trying to take it slow and not make to many changes at one time. I went and checked an yes the day's data is gone. (good tip thanks again!)

I have a feeling that since my sleep study was 5 years ago things have changed. I weigh 18 pounds less now than I did when I had my study but I'm 51 years old now. I thought the weight loss might reduce the pressure I was running. LOL. I really think that once I get used to the higher pressures and the EPR my numbers will continue to improve.

Geez, this place is great!!

[Ticman]

Pressure setting is (min-8) - (max-12) and EPR -3.

Last night shows more improvement from moving the minimum pressure to 8.

Pressure: 11 - down from 11.4
AHI: 7.5
AI: 1.1
HI: 6.4
Leak: 0.08

I'm going to folllow the advice on here and leave the settings where they are for a few days. If my numbers don't get where they need to be my next move will be turning the EPR down.

Thanks everyone for the replies!!

[Ticman]

Update: Pressure settings = (9 -13) EPR -1

Data from LCD on machine:
Pressure: 11
AHI: 4.4
AI: 0.6
HI: 2.1
Leak: 0.02

I have tried EPR off and numbers where I little higher so I went back to -1. I think until I get my card reader I'm going to leave it as is.

Thanks

[Jay Aitchsee]

Good job!

Jay

[Alathea_Squared]

you can buy a USB card reader that you plug the card into, and then into your computer for about 6.00 at pretty much any Walmart on the planet.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kodak-R120-Re ... s/15268377 etc.

[Pugsy]

you can buy a USB card reader that you plug the card into, and then into your computer for about 6.00 at pretty much any Walmart on the planet.

This is true for ResMed S9 users but not the case for ResMed S8 users. S8 machines use a special smart card that requires a very special card reader to get the data from the smart card to the computer software.

[Ticman]

Thought about starting a new thread but maybe it would be better to update this one so everyone can see where I started.

Following the advice of rested gal , Pugsy, robysue and others here’s where I’m at right now. Thank you all!!!

I switch to straight CPAP mode @ 13 with EPR @ 2. The last three nights like this have resulted in 0 AI’s and around 10 to 14 HI’s spaced out over the night. I even had a three hour period last night with 0 events of any kind. (Including leaks) These numbers are better than when I had it set at 12 & 1 respectively.

I haven’t tried 14 & 3 yet but I’m not sure it would help the HI’s. I realize these are very good numbers but any idea’s on how to lower the HI’s or should I just be happy and leave it alone? I would love to get flow data but the S8 won’t record this without reslink. ($$$$)

Thank you again for all the support!!

[Mary Z]

You might try going back to 7.6 since that worked. I believe 2 cm pressure is too big a change at once. 0.5- 1 cm once a week is the biggest change I would make.

[Pugsy]

he last three nights like this have resulted in 0 AI’s and around 10 to 14 HI’s spaced out over the night.

Over how many hours? What is the hourly hyponea index? Unless you only slept 3 hours...it sounds like you likely will have a very nice low HI number and it may not need to be reduced.

[Ticman]

Pugsy, I usually sleep about 8.5 hours. HI runs between 1.5 and 3.

[Pugsy]

HI on a S8 machine between 1 and 3 is really quite good. I don't know if you are going to improve on that much no matter what the changes. Up to you how much you want to push that envelope but I don't see the need to be in an extreme hurry to try unless you just want to.

With time it might trend downward a little more. You never know. At this point I would only do very minor changes if I was going to experiment anymore.

[Ticman]

Thanks a bunch Pugsy! Yea, at this point I'll only be making small changes.

I'm glad I was reading rested gals post and come across the one about setting CPAP pressures using EPR. Great info that really worked for me.

rested gal thank you for all you do on this site!!!