New machine. No titration study. Where to start?

[CrazyLife]

Hi.

I just purchased a brand new in the box Phillips Resporonics DS 560 with humidifier for $300 off craigslist. Think it was a pretty great deal. I have never used xPAP therapy before and my titration study isn't until later this week so as far as pressure and humidification settings where should I start?

The manual mentions an Auto-trial mode. Should I start here or just dial in an auto pressure range of 4-20 or maybe 6 -12 and let the machine discover the best therapy?

I have a feeling I wont require a lot of pressure. Just looking to finally get some sleep.


Thanks in advance.

[Stevoreno_55]

Why would you purchase a machine before you have a study? That makes absolutely no sense to me.


Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/17/14

[HoseCrusher]

6-12 sounds better than 4-20...

[CrazyLife]

I did have a sleep study in which I was diagnosed with Severe OSA (33.2 AHI). Just haven't been back for the titration study yet to determine the correct pressure for the CPAP. After the titration study I will be getting another machine thru insurance and leaving this one at my girlfriends. That's the plan anyways.

The Auto-trial looks like its a poor man titration study. Thinking about trying it for 3-4 days and seeing what pressure range it recommends for me.

[Pugsy]

Most people find that 4 cm minimum in Auto mode (don't worry about auto trial mode and just use regular auto mode) a bit stifling. While we won't suffocate with that low of a pressure we can sure feel like we do. I would start with 6 cm minimum if it were me and use 10 to 12 for the maximum and see what happens...but if you are okay with 4 or 5 minimum wouldn't hurt anything to try it.

[archangle]

Don't assume that an auto machine is a substitute for a titration study. It may work for some, but even an Auto machine really needs to be adjusted to start at the right pressure, and monitored to see if the therapy is working.

You might be able to figure it out on your own, but it's not just plug in and forget. Even with a titration study, it's not really just set and forget.

[grapeshly]

The advice you're given here is sound. But everyone is different, and to prove my point, I can tell you that I never had a titration study, and I have successfully (and happily) used my Phillips Respironics on Auto for the past year and a half. And, to confound the expert advice given here, my range is set from 4 to 20! Yes, when I start the night the machine runs at 4, and it barely feels like it's doing anything. But it must catch up okay, I guess. My sleep seems fine, and of course, vastly improved from what it was before the machine. My doc has reviewed my data a couple of times, and has not recommended any changes, or that I go through a titration.

As for the humidifier, some people need it, and some don't. Even so, it's better to have it than to not have it. I have only needed it once, when I was badly congested from a cold. (Now that I'm sleeping well, I don't get as sick as often as I used to.)