New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
palerider
Posts: 32300
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:43 pm
Location: Dallas(ish).

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by palerider » Thu Jul 07, 2022 12:17 pm

kidchameleon wrote:
Thu Jul 07, 2022 10:38 am
These are my charts from the past 3 days.
https://imgur.com/a/1VZZwfy
The first day I woke up and looked at my phone thinking it was already time to get up for work. Unfortunately it was only 3am and the bright light kept me up and I couldn't get back to sleep. The days after that were the same as usual.
Lesson learned, don't pick up your phone until the alarm goes off.

if you *must* look at the time, get an alarm clock that has red numerals.

_________________
Mask: Bleep DreamPort CPAP Mask Solution
Additional Comments: S9 VPAP Auto
Get OSCAR

Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.

User avatar
kidchameleon
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2022 3:45 pm

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by kidchameleon » Thu Jul 07, 2022 4:57 pm

I know, that was pretty dumb of me to do but I'll wait until the alarm rings next time.
So, how much should I increase the minimum pressure now? Clearly what I have now isn't doing so well.

User avatar
palerider
Posts: 32300
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:43 pm
Location: Dallas(ish).

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by palerider » Thu Jul 07, 2022 5:32 pm

kidchameleon wrote:
Thu Jul 07, 2022 4:57 pm
I know, that was pretty dumb of me to do but I'll wait until the alarm rings next time.
So, how much should I increase the minimum pressure now? Clearly what I have now isn't doing so well.
I'd go to 14 and leave it for a few days and see.

_________________
Mask: Bleep DreamPort CPAP Mask Solution
Additional Comments: S9 VPAP Auto
Get OSCAR

Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.

User avatar
kidchameleon
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2022 3:45 pm

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by kidchameleon » Sun Jul 10, 2022 3:55 pm

I think I'm actually seeing some progress here! I still feel the same, but my AHI has been decreasing unlike I've seen before. I've rarely ever gotten an AHI of 1 and the last few days I've gotten 1s!
I set my minimum pressure to 14 and left my EPR to 2 and I got around an AHI of 2. The next day I decided to turn off the EPR, to see how my AHI would be and I got around 1. I thought it might have been a fluke but I got it even lower the next day. I got a little aerophagia when I woke up, but nothing awful. Today I didn't feel any at all. I also decided to sleep without a shirt on after reading on Reddit how someone was able to lower his AHI after doing so. I have no idea if that even works but it didn't hurt to try. Everything else is still the same. I'm still using the side sleeping backpack as well.
Here are my charts
https://imgur.com/a/i1cz5jA
Should I lower my pressure a little more or keep it as is?

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63941
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by Pugsy » Sun Jul 10, 2022 4:33 pm

Is there some special reason you just have to go changing things every 2 or 3 days???

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

User avatar
kidchameleon
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2022 3:45 pm

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by kidchameleon » Sun Jul 10, 2022 5:20 pm

Honestly, it's a mixture of making bad decisions and desperation. I go on the Sleep Apnea subreddit a lot and see tips on how people treated their own problems and that gives me ideas. I know I shouldn't rush things, but seeing how life is passing me by and being unable to grow physically and mentally because of lack of sleep is really painful. It's so hard to enjoy anything. Not to mention how embarrassed I get at work when my brain doesn't function like it should.
I'll refrain from making any more changes on my own. I realize now rushing all of this will just make it take even longer.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63941
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by Pugsy » Sun Jul 10, 2022 5:37 pm

kidchameleon wrote:
Sun Jul 10, 2022 5:20 pm
I realize now rushing all of this will just make it take even longer.
We don't sleep the same each night, every night and it is entirely possible that what works great one night won't work so great for 2 night and then work great for 3 nights. We just don't know if what we are seeing is a trend or pattern or just a fluke.

If you continue to want to change something for tonight based on last night's results you will drive yourself crazy.

At a MINIMUM you should refrain from changing anything for at least 7 nights...preferably 14 nights (unless results are horrible is the only time I don't tell people to give it some time).

I know there is that little devil on your shoulder whispering "just change this and you will feel better" but he's lying.
Don't listen to him.

Pick something that gives you good results and you sleep decently with it and give it at LEAST a week. Don't change anything...not EPR...not anything. You are bouncing around all over the place and not giving the brain/body a chance to ever adjust to the new way of doing something. There is a lot of truth in the old adage "give it time"....I know it's hard to do but you just have to do it. The brain and body just has to be given time to adjust.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

User avatar
kidchameleon
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2022 3:45 pm

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by kidchameleon » Sun Jul 10, 2022 5:54 pm

Yeah, it really does feel like I have a devil on my shoulder. I'll be sure to come back in 4 days. I'll leave the settings exactly as they are unless I'm told to change them by someone here. Thanks for all the help and I apologize for the inconvenience.

User avatar
Dog Slobber
Posts: 3954
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 2:05 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by Dog Slobber » Sun Jul 10, 2022 6:37 pm

Take a look at my Stats page.
OSCAR_Stat.png
OSCAR_Stat.png (368.74 KiB) Viewed 2245 times
Notice the constant progression of my AHI from high 3.xx down to my current average of 0.16, which I haven't touched for 975 days.

Now look at, look at how I progressed my pressure settings, and the days I left on each of the settings. The stats are meaningful.

Now go look at your statistics page. What can you derive from the data. Nothing. Your pressures are all over the place, there is no statistical significance to what numbers you do have.

You are not going to find some magical setting by pressing buttons and turning dials, with different settings everyday.

Set your pressure to something close. Then don't touch it, leave it for a couple weeks. Increase your pressure, repeat.

If you can't go to your stats page and see patterns you're doing it wrong.

User avatar
kidchameleon
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2022 3:45 pm

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by kidchameleon » Sun Jul 10, 2022 6:56 pm

Wow, that's very impressive! I just looked at mine and it's an unorganized mess. Do you recommend I come back in 4 days like I planned or a couple of weeks? I'm thinking 4 days since I already used the same pressure for 3, but I might need more time to try it out. As I said before, I won't touch anything besides the on button but I want to be sure I won't screw up again. It seems you made some changes in less than a week and others less than 2 weeks.

User avatar
Dog Slobber
Posts: 3954
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 2:05 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by Dog Slobber » Sun Jul 10, 2022 7:19 pm

kidchameleon wrote:
Sun Jul 10, 2022 6:56 pm
It seems you made some changes in less than a week and others less than 2 weeks.
Yes, sometimes the changes were shorter than a week. When I had established the increasing pressure was lowering my AHI, as well as flattening my pressure trace, reducing Flow Limitations, and then I saw a consistent change after increasing my minimum I moved up again with less of a wait time.

There are some other things I was doing that don't show up in the stats page. I was also experimenting with The Soft/Standard response. When you see the minimum stay the same and a slight change in the max pressure, I was toggling the Response setting. The reason I tweaked the max is to force a new stat line so I had numbers.

Not only did I target my optimal pressure, I also learned that the Standard Response was preferred for me.

User avatar
kidchameleon
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2022 3:45 pm

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by kidchameleon » Sun Jul 10, 2022 7:38 pm

I see, i didn't even know what a soft/standard response was until I looked it up. That's great that you found the setting that works though.
How do you know exactly when you hit your optimal pressure? Is it based on numbers or on how you feel or both?

User avatar
zonker
Posts: 11011
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2015 4:36 pm

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by zonker » Sun Jul 10, 2022 10:13 pm

kidchameleon wrote:
Sun Jul 10, 2022 7:38 pm
I see, i didn't even know what a soft/standard response was until I looked it up. That's great that you found the setting that works though.
How do you know exactly when you hit your optimal pressure? Is it based on numbers or on how you feel or both?
both. though, really, it's more how you feel.

i don't have the same numbers as dog slobber (damn him!) but they are what is right FOR ME. and yours will eventually be right FOR YOU.

patience is very hard. i know, because i was an impatient guy. but it's very important to realize you're in it for the long haul.

now, let's see what dog slobber has to say....
people say i'm self absorbed.
but that's enough about them.
Oscar-Win
https://www.apneaboard.com/OSCAR/OSCAR-1.5.1-Win64.exe
Oscar-Mac
https://www.apneaboard.com/OSCAR/OSCAR-1.5.1.dmg

User avatar
Dog Slobber
Posts: 3954
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 2:05 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by Dog Slobber » Mon Jul 11, 2022 5:19 am

I agree with Zonker.

Both how you feel and your numbers. Once your numbers are close, then adding more pressure you get diminishing returns.

User avatar
kidchameleon
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2022 3:45 pm

Re: New to CPAP, need help choosing right pressure.

Post by kidchameleon » Mon Jul 11, 2022 10:10 am

Alright, that's very good to know. I'm so excited to get to that point someday. It's something I've been wishing for for more than a decade.
Unfortunately, I broke my 1 AHI streak today and woke up with an AHI of 3.71. To be fair, I accidentally fell asleep while reading a book and I didn't put my mask and backpack on until a little later when I woke up in the middle of the night. Maybe that caused me to sleep a little more uncomfortably last night. I'll be more careful though, I feel like I'm pretty close to a 0 AHI and I don't want to continue screwing up.
Here's my chart from last night just in case.
https://imgur.com/a/pxqNCam