used cpap for the first time

Last nite I usd cpap for the first time. Its a issued by VA and is a respironics auto a flex. My starting number (preset by VA) was 4 and goes up automatically as needed. I woke up last nite to potty and noticed it said 8.3 and upon waking up for the morning I quickly glanced at it and it said 9.1 I am NEW at this so I am trying to understand the readings. I know that I at at a 5.0 sleep which is why they set mine low but why then did it go up 2x? am I really then a 9.1 on the machine and it auto recognized that and slowly bumped me up to what is needed. I probably should also mention I am on 2L o2. and as far as the water for humidity what is a good number to have it on during spring and summer? they have it reset at 3 but when my oxygen rep came to switch out my concentrator since my old one wouldn't work with the cpap he said he recommends I turn it to 0. Any advise on any of this? thanks

The machine was most likely set at minimum 4 and maximum 20. The unit will determine the necessary pressure while you sleep. In your case it looks like 8-10 is your average range. If this continues, your lower pressure should be raised to about 7. The humidifier is for comfort. You set it to the most comfortable setting. In humid areas 0 may be appropriate if it is comfortable for you.

I do keep in mind that its the first nite and I been on o2 for 2 years. Based on the fact that I guess im right at the tippy toe of needing a cpap in addition to my o2 they had it preset at 4. I know that there is a micro card in the back and in 2 months im suppose to go to them for adjustments. Is there a way that I can pull that out and read it without compromising the data for them? VA don't take kindly to YOUR advice they want to read it themselves as if a vet is stupid. I know that I have lung issues and have no problem using the cpap since im use to oxy already I guess just want to feel comfy in my mind about it sinc asking them questions is equal to talking to my walls.... either way your not getting an answer. If it stays in that area..... how long should I allow that before telling them? as it is it will be 2 months before they read it and perhaps 2 months is too long. AND I would like to say THANK YOU for quick replies.

Welcome to the forum.

vandeusen wrote:Last nite I usd cpap for the first time. Its a issued by VA and is a respironics auto a flex. My starting number (preset by VA) was 4 and goes up automatically as needed. I woke up last nite to potty and noticed it said 8.3 and upon waking up for the morning I quickly glanced at it and it said 9.1

Are you noticing these numbers on the LCD while the machine is running? Or are you checking the AHI number on the LCD after turning the machine off? It makes a big difference since the meaning of the numbers varies depending on what numbers you are looking at.

I am NEW at this so I am trying to understand the readings. I know that I at at a 5.0 sleep which is why they set mine low but why then did it go up 2x?

Are you saying that your diagnostic sleep study showed that you had an AHI = 5.0 (very mild OSA) or are you saying that the titration sleep study showed that a pressure of 5cm H2O was enough to control your apneas?

If you don't have copies of your sleep studies, you should get them. Until we know what you mean when you say you were "at a 5.0 sleep" we really can't help you very much.

am I really then a 9.1 on the machine and it auto recognized that and slowly bumped me up to what is needed.

The APAP you are using will respond (by increasing the pressure) to clusters of OAs, Hs, snores, machine-scored RERAs, and flow limitations. Without seeing the actual data recorded by your machine, we can't tell you why the machine increased the pressure.

I probably should also mention I am on 2L o2. and as far as the water for humidity what is a good number to have it on during spring and summer? they have it reset at 3 but when my oxygen rep came to switch out my concentrator since my old one wouldn't work with the cpap he said he recommends I turn it to 0. Any advise on any of this? thanks

The humidity setting is something that is highly personal. You should use a setting that makes your nose happy.

Some people (like me) need a lot of humidity, regardless of the time of the year. My humidifier is always set to 5 (its maximum setting.) Hubby's nose doesn't like that much humidity and he does fine with his humidifier set at 3. My brother's nose can't stand any extra humidifier and he has actually taken his humidifier unit off his blower unit.

You'll need to experiment. If you start with the humidity set to 0 (off) and you wake up with a dry nose, you know that you need some extra humidity. You can then bump it up to 1 and see if that makes the nose happier. Basically keep increasing the humidity setting by 1 every night that you wake up with a dry nose until you no longer wake up with a dry nose. It's worth noting that if your nose doesn't like to much humidity, you can wake up with a pretty significantly congested nose if the humidity setting is too high. But you can also wake up with a pretty significantly congested nose if the humidity setting is too low.

Yes, there is easy to obtain and use software (and it won't mess with the data files on the SD card at all)
Sleepyhead will work and you can also use Respironics Encore....but you need to send me a private message to get information on Encore and to send me a message you have to register here at the forum.
I have Sleepyhead information in my signature line and you can also find it here
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment

It won't hurt a thing for you to pull that SD card and use the software to see what is going on.
No one will ever know unless you tell them.