question about settings - had to get new machine

The tech at my doctor's office thought my machine was malfunctioning and gave me a new one. She set up the new machine and I just checked the settings. One setting is different than before. I took photos of the settings on my machine so I could check it (since I had stomach pain after the doctor increased the pressure and had to adjust the settings a couple of times -hoping that doesn't happen again). The EPR setting was 3 on the machine that I turned in. The tech set the EPR to 2 on the new machine. Is that higher or lower regarding pressure? I know it has something to do with expiration so which number would be better if you want overall lower pressure? Hope someone can help tonight since I just got a chance to plug it in and check the new machine and of course it's the weekend so I can't ask the doctor's office.

LLrry wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 06, 2018 8:04 pm

The tech at my doctor's office thought my machine was malfunctioning and gave me a new one. She set up the new machine and I just checked the settings. One setting is different than before. I took photos of the settings on my machine so I could check it (since I had stomach pain after the doctor increased the pressure and had to adjust the settings a couple of times -hoping that doesn't happen again). The EPR setting was 3 on the machine that I turned in. The tech set the EPR to 2 on the new machine. Is that higher or lower regarding pressure? I know it has something to do with expiration so which number would be better if you want overall lower pressure? Hope someone can help tonight since I just got a chance to plug it in and check the new machine and of course it's the weekend so I can't ask the doctor's office.

It's a lesser pressure drop when exhaling.

I'm guessing you've got an airsense machine.

have a manual: https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf

Yes, it's the same machine - just replaced due to a fault. I have that manual downloaded and read it but don't understand it. It says if EPR is enabled, pressure will not drop below 4 regardless of settings. Yet you can only set the level if EPR is on. I don't get it.

I should say it this way - do you think a setting of 2 is less likely to cause stomach pain if the pain is from too much pressure?

Thank you for helping tonight!

"Expiratory Pressure Relief
Designed to make therapy more comfortable, Expiratory Pressure Relief (EPR) maintains optimal
treatment for the patient during inhalation and reduces the delivered mask pressure during
exhalation.
EPR On—EPR is enabled.
Off—EPR is disabled.
The following settings are only available if EPR is On:
EPR Type Full Time—If set to Full Time, EPR is enabled for the whole therapy session.
Ramp Only—If set to Ramp Only, EPR is only enabled during ramp time.
EPR Level 1, 2, 3 cm H2O
When EPR is enabled, the delivered pressure will not drop below a minimum pressure of 4 cm H2O,
regardless of the settings."

LLrry wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 06, 2018 8:21 pm

Yes, it's the same machine - just replaced due to a fault. I have that manual downloaded and read it but don't understand it. It says if EPR is enabled, pressure will not drop below 4 regardless of settings. Yet you can only set the level if EPR is on. I don't get it.

I should say it this way - do you think a setting of 2 is less likely to cause stomach pain if the pain is from too much pressure?

Thank you for helping tonight!

"Expiratory Pressure Relief
Designed to make therapy more comfortable, Expiratory Pressure Relief (EPR) maintains optimal
treatment for the patient during inhalation and reduces the delivered mask pressure during
exhalation.

That seems pretty straightforward.

LLrry wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 06, 2018 8:21 pm

EPR On—EPR is enabled.
Off—EPR is disabled.

This too.

LLrry wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 06, 2018 8:21 pm

The following settings are only available if EPR is On:
EPR Type Full Time—If set to Full Time, EPR is enabled for the whole therapy session.
Ramp Only—If set to Ramp Only, EPR is only enabled during ramp time.
EPR Level 1, 2, 3 cm H2O

And this, yes? "level" = how much the pressure drops.

LLrry wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 06, 2018 8:21 pm

When EPR is enabled, the delivered pressure will not drop below a minimum pressure of 4 cm H2O,
regardless of the settings."

So, EPR drops the pressure, but, it won't drop it below 4. So, if you have the pressure set to 4, then EPR does *nothing*. If your pressure is set to 5, then the most EPR can drop the pressure is 1, to a pressure of 4.. etc.


As to your question, the more EPR, the lower the pressure in between inhales. Whether a 1cm difference would make any difference with air swallowing? I don't know.