Finding the right pressure with APAP

Hi guys--

Got my new S8 Vantage Autoset two days ago after complaining to sleep doc that cpap pressure of 8 didn't seem high enough, and after five years, it's time for new machine. Sleep doc did cpap reitration sleep study--only problem was the sleep techs didn't go over 8 to see what would happen then. Just confirmed that 8 was great.

So first night on autopap set 6-10, the machine said I was at 10 for 95% or less time (which may not mean too much because 95% or less covers a lot of ground). AHI of 2.0. vs 3 in sleep study. So last night I increased it to 6-11. During first part of sleep, when I woke up after 5 hours, machine said I was at 10.8 during the 95% or less period. Then during second part of sleep I was at 11, both with AHI of 2.3. Waking may not mean an apnea/hypo event, since I had mostly ideopathic awakenings in my sleep study. I have been waking up every night for weeks. Today I feel terrifically rested for the first time in many months, maybe even years. But because the machine said I was at 11, I thought I would try 6 to 12 as my range tonight. (If this increases any more, I could just increase the bottom of the range to 7, since my sleep study showed that 6 was terrible for me.)

My question is, where does this stop? I know you don't want it too high because you could bring on centrals, but my AI was .2 last night. My sleep study showed no AI at 8, and there was no AI when machine was set at 10 night before last. So I realize that I may be in a caution mode, but .2 vs 0 doesn't seem like much of a difference. And I don't have a lot of data, but what's the best way to do this? Don't want to go overboard, but do want to get this right.

Thanks.

Caroline

leave it set to 6 to 12cm and use it a couple nights. As long as it doesn't hit the 12cm you'll be fine.

what you DON'T see from the LCD is "possible" central apnea they may have seen on your PSG and reason they stopped at the 8cm. You would have to study your PSG results to determine that.

Go by how you feel, if you are feeling better then go by that.

I would ignore the results from the study that showed you did terrible at 6cm, that may be true but on your current machine that is just the floor pressure. The Max. pressure is what really treats you.