Wrong Pressure Setting

I don't understand why my doctor lowered my pressure even though my AHI is still not changing. I have an AHI of 10. I was on a pressure setting of 7. I had my follow up and she decided to lower the pressure instead to a 5. My pressure started at a 6 4 months ago. I don't understand why she'd lower the pressure instead of increasing it. Last night I woke up because I was having an event. Now I have to be on this setting for 6 weeks before she sees me again. I have obstructive sleep apnea. I can't afford an apap machine, and besides my doctor says they don't work. Anyone have any ideas?

Please change your doctor - she's appallingly ignorant!

And why can't you change your own pressure? We all do it, and if you need advice, we can help you do it.

What is the event category breakdown of that AHI that is too high?
How much is the central/CA index?
How much is the hyponea index?
How much is the Obstructive Apnea index?

It would help if we could see the daily detailed report from whatever software you are using...
so it would also help if we knew exactly which machine you were using so we could hopefully point you to some software if you don't have any right now.

If the AHI is primarily central in nature then the reduction in pressure might be warranted to see if the centrals reduce with the pressure reduction. We don't treat centrals with more pressure with cpap/apap machines.

Sleepy Grandma wrote:I don't understand why my doctor lowered my pressure even though my AHI is still not changing. I have an AHI of 10. I was on a pressure setting of 7. I had my follow up and she decided to lower the pressure instead to a 5. My pressure started at a 6 4 months ago. I don't understand why she'd lower the pressure instead of increasing it. Last night I woke up because I was having an event. Now I have to be on this setting for 6 weeks before she sees me again. I have obstructive sleep apnea. I can't afford an apap machine, and besides my doctor says they don't work. Anyone have any ideas?

You don't necessarily "need" an APAP machine. But, you do need a data-capable one.......and monitor your own therapy.
What is the exact brand and model of machine you have? (Should be a name/model on top or model number on the bottom....be careful if you look under it.)
If you know what your AHI is, you may already have one that collects data. If that's the case, you need to get the software and monitor your own therapy.
I'm sort of inclined to agree that you need to think about replacing your doctor.....or do like most of us have and take control of your own therapy. Many of us have been subjected to doctors that have proved they care more about their own income than their patients' therapy.


Den

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I agree that your doctor is a dud!

Pugsy wrote:If the AHI is primarily central in nature then the reduction in pressure might be warranted to see if the centrals reduce with the pressure reduction. We don't treat centrals with more pressure... .

In which case the doctor might not be an appallingly ignorant dud. We need to know the makeup of that AHI. If the problem is too many centrals then the doctor's comment about APAPs "not working" might have meant that APAP won't work better than a CPAP when centrals are the problem (admittedly granting the doctor the benefit of the doubt for now ).

I agree with Den about getting set up to monitor and manage your own therapy. If you already have a data capable machine you can find out what types of events you're having that are keeping your AHI so high.