EPR questions

Hi Gang- What exactly is EPR, my loaner ResMed Advantage has the EPR setting on OFF. Would that help my feeling of daytime fatique and if so what should I put the EPR setting on. My Advantage is set in the range of 6-20 (the DME said) and my average pressure lately seems to be between 10-11. I was also wondering if I should close the huge gap on that 6-20 range. What should I change that to and how do I do it? Since this is a loaner machine I am hesitant to fiddle with it too much but I am DETERMINED to get a good nights sleep and begin to feel HUMAN!!!!

EPR stands for Exhale Pressure Relief. It is NOT available on the Vantage in Auto mode. The machine would have to be re-set to CPAP mode (single pressure) and THEN the EPR could be activated/used.

I would hesitate to advise you to re-configure that machine if you're being titrated on it.

If that's the case, I'd suggest looking into the Respironics Auto machines as they DO have exhale relief (C-Flex) in Auto mode AND CPAP mode.
ResMed is WAY behind the curve in the XPAP technology.

EDIT:
OOPS! Just noticed that you have an S8 Elite showing in your profile......which does have EPR as it's their top-of-the-line data-recording CPAP machine.


Den

What is the leak rate since you know your "average" pressure? The reported leak rate has a definite impact on your reported pressure.

The reported pressure on the Resmed's is the pressure AT OR BELOW which you spent 95% of the night. The same for the leak rate.

W/the pressure range at 6-20 you don't need EPR!!! That is why it is turned off. It is also turned off because it is not an option in auto mode and because it affects your data.

EPR is expiration pressure relief. Assuming you spend half the night inhaling and the other half of the night exhaling, that would mean that 1/2 of the night you are breathing 1-3 cms less pressure w/EPR on than the pressure at which you need to inhale and to stop any apneas that occur.

Very few people can breathe comfortably below 6 cms of pressure whether they actually have sleep apnea or not with a mask on. The 20 cms top pressure is to allow the Vantage to provide as much pressure as needed to prevent or stop an apnea.

This loaner autoPAP is to titrate or better titrate you sleep apnea pressure needs. Don't play with it. Leave the settings alone. You will just mess up the entire reason for the loan by messing up the data. (Besides, the data will tell on you when and which changes you made).

WHEN you have your own xPAP and have been given a titrated pressure range, if you still want to toy w/settings is soon enough to learn how to do so.

I have both a Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR straight CPAP and a Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage and I love them. I also have the software and cable reader and I love that too! The software is intended for "professional" use only, not for patients, but ..... Resmed needs to smarten up and provide a software specifically for patients as Respironics just recently did. Until then innovative, determined patients will find a way to obtain the "professional" software.

How long have you had your loaner? How long will you have it on loan?

Oh, I don't know, Den. At least Resmed knew how to design an integrated humidifier, can't say the same for the Respironics M Series!!! And they knew how to make it easier to access data via the LED screen. And they knew before Respironics how to make a good size, easy to read, LED screen too. Oh! Yeah! They even know how to make a CPAP w/integrated humidifier that doesn't require a platform and bunch of wires. Goshes, if we could just take the best of the Resmed's and Respironics' features and put them all in one package. *sigh*

Well, you all answered my questions. I have the loaner Advantage for about another week. I just KNOW that there is something I need to "tweak" to begin to feel better. I have fairly good readings every morning but I still feel crappy and tired. What about UARS?? Could that be a factor? And if my doc. decides to put me on straight CPAP at a pressure of 10 after this two week APAP loan (original pressure 12) is that going to help or hurt matters. I am totally frustrated!!! I do think I like the APAP much better and I like the Opus mask so far.

Slinky,

Maybe Puritan Bennett needs to hire US (some of the members of CPAPTALK) as consultants.....we could come up with one heckuva machine to put them in first place. The two "R" companies have (BOTH) had their share of screw-ups in the last few years. Yeah, and ResMed was first on the market with the ASV machine, too.
You know me.....I just had to take a shot at the one I dislike the most.....after all, they were also FIRST with the perverted Internet policies to protect their DME base.

Den

grumpygirl wrote:Well, you all answered my questions. I have the loaner Advantage for about another week. I just KNOW that there is something I need to "tweak" to begin to feel better. I have fairly good readings every morning but I still feel crappy and tired. What about UARS?? Could that be a factor? And if my doc. decides to put me on straight CPAP at a pressure of 10 after this two week APAP loan (original pressure 12) is that going to help or hurt matters. I am totally frustrated!!! I do think I like the APAP much better and I like the Opus mask so far.

How long have you been on this therapy?
Even after things fall into place, it can take weeks and months to see/feel results. A lot of it depends on how long you've suffered with this condition.

Den

And just remember......there are other possible reasons for feeling like poop...........like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, certain food intolerances, SAD, etc.). I find that too many carbs and sugar and caffeine can make me so exhausted, even if my CPAP numbers are good.
Maybe I ask how old you are?
And I agree......if this is for a home-titration study, you really shouldn't change anything just yet.

Wulfman wrote:Slinky,

Maybe Puritan Bennett needs to hire US (some of the members of CPAPTALK) as consultants.....we could come up with one heckuva machine to put them in first place. The two "R" companies have (BOTH) had their share of screw-ups in the last few years. Yeah, and ResMed was first on the market with the ASV machine, too.
You know me.....I just had to take a shot at the one I dislike the most.....after all, they were also FIRST with the perverted Internet policies to protect their DME base.

Doggone it, Den, I was gonna slip Puritan Bennet in there! But I'm not familiar w/them or their software except that none of the PBs offer any type of pressure relief on exhalation. I know everyone who has one loves the PB GoodKnight 420E but .... I couldn't point to any of the PB virtues except the software coming w/the device. So you were one step ahead of me AGAIN! Sheesh!

I agree, tho, MOST WHOLEHEARTEDLY, some of the members of cpaptalk ARE the ones the companies SHOULD be listening to. Duh! I wonder why they haven't been able to figure that out???