sierragail wrote:Last night was my 20th night with the cpap. I started out this hose-trip adventure with a big bang~~~felt like I was 10 years younger! Sleeping like a rock at night! Waking up all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! My AHI at sea level with the machine was 1.5! Things were great!
Now I'm back home, at 8,000 feet, and things seem to be going downhill. The last 3 nights I've gone from AHI of 4.9 to 6.8 to 8.4 (last night). I've had PB of 1% as well.
I talked to my doc 3 days ago. He said things sounded okay to him (?). He recommended I try my Ativan or Ambien again. I don't like those meds. The whole idea of sleeping with a cpap, to me, was to get away from the meds and do some real sleeping for the first time in decades.
I took 1 mg of Ativan last night to see if that would help with the PB bc I read an article online that showed Temazepam as effective against PB at high altitudes, but I actually slept worse than the night before.
My pressure is set to vary from 9 to 11. 90% has been at 10.5. Last night the 90% was 10. I'm kind of baffled by it all and don't know what to think. I don't go back until January for a re-check. In the meantime, my socks are dragging the ground again, in the words of Earl Long. What a drag!
This machine is supposed to adjust for 8,000 feet. Now I"m wondering if maybe the DME doesn't know what he's talking about?
Anyone out there have any thoughts on my situation?
Out of curiosity, what was the altitude where you were titrated?
If it were me, I'd be raising the minimum pressure and either setting the maximum pressure higher or go with CPAP mode.
Without the software, you don't know what's happening during the night. My opinion is that trying to use an Auto in a range of pressures without the software is like shooting in the dark.
Most data-capable machines are SUPPOSED to compensate for altitude, but there is also an accuracy factor with the air pressure delivery of plus or minus 1.0 cm.
If you increase your pressure and your numbers keep going down, you know you're going in the right direction.
Den
