How to determine min/max pressures 4 Respironics M ser Auto?

I've been playing around with the pressure settings on my machine. I have all of the software and card reader and have PDF reports from all of my time with this machine which has been more than 6 months. I'm wondering how I relate data points, such as 90% average pressure to what I should set on my machine. I've googled and read about 10 pages. There's plenty of input about how to push the two buttons to change settings, but does anyone know of what I can use to have this data guide the settings?

Relevant input appreciated. Thank you.

I have been doing the same thing until it is all getting foggy now--like u i need to sort and pick--check out montanauser--he is a sleep tec and maybe can help--i am getting info together to sort-

Guest - with the M Series auto - if you would register and post Page 4 (Daily Details) for a week or so here on the forum, we could see trends in your sleep data and where events are happening.

With that info many people here can give you good advice on possible setting changes that would be better for you.

We need to see that data though to answer your question in any helpful way.

Guest wrote:I've been playing around with the pressure settings on my machine. I have all of the software and card reader and have PDF reports from all of my time with this machine which has been more than 6 months. I'm wondering how I relate data points, such as 90% average pressure to what I should set on my machine. I've googled and read about 10 pages. There's plenty of input about how to push the two buttons to change settings, but does anyone know of what I can use to have this data guide the settings?

Relevant input appreciated. Thank you.

Did you have a titrated pressure from a sleep study?
If so.....have you tried THAT?

Using the 90% number can be misleading if you have leaks driving up your pressures.

Sounds like you've been wasting alot of time if you haven't gotten a workable pressure figured out by now.

You also haven't given us very much to go on.

Den

The pressure that the sleep lab set me up on was pretty general. I've been using the machine for quite a while with good results. I'm not sure why anything I said would mean I haven't got a workable pressure.

Nobody here has any guidance on how you set the pressures? I would prefer to actually understand the methodology behind how this gets set instead of posting data and learning nothing. Does anyone have any guidance on how to set the pressures? I can then read, learn and set my pressures based on the data.

Any help appreciated.

Guest wrote:The pressure that the sleep lab set me up on was pretty general. I've been using the machine for quite a while with good results. I'm not sure why anything I said would mean I haven't got a workable pressure.

Nobody here has any guidance on how you set the pressures? I would prefer to actually understand the methodology behind how this gets set instead of posting data and learning nothing. Does anyone have any guidance on how to set the pressures? I can then read, learn and set my pressures based on the data.

Any help appreciated.

Set your machine in CPAP mode and then pick a pressure somewhere between the "Average Pressure" and the "90% Pressure" and then see how your numbers look. If there's room for improvement, increase the pressure. If the numbers get better, you know you're going in the right direction. Give each pressure change 3 to 5 nights before making any other changes. Make only one change at a time.


Den

Here is the graph from Encore Pro Analyzer that enabled me to set my optimum pressure range. I set my Auto pressure min to 8.5 and max to 10.0.

Find a machine that does auto mode set the range from 5-20 and never worry about it again.

leonardlake wrote:Here is the graph from Encore Pro Analyzer that enabled me to set my optimum pressure range. I set my Auto pressure min to 8.5 and max to 10.0.

That is indeed the very best way to optimize pressure ... and that is exactly how I got mine optimized to a long-term sub-zero AHI almost 10 years ago.

Guest wrote:I'm wondering how I relate data points, such as 90% average pressure to what I should set on my machine.

Using data points, such as 90% pressure, is not the best way to do it.

Since you say you have all the software, I'll assume you use Sleepyhead and know how to read the daily detail graphs. You also say

Guest wrote:The pressure that the sleep lab set me up on was pretty general.

, so I'll assume this is something like 4 - 20 cm pressure.

Look at the pressure line for a typical night. If the machine is spending very little time at lower pressures, then set your minimum pressure at the lowest pressure where it spends significant time. Then set the maximum pressure to 20 - the machine won't raise the pressure any higher than what you need.

After a night with the new settings, repeat the process. You may have found the right settings already, or you might have to raise the minimum again.

Pressure needs will vary throughout the night depending on body position, sleep stage and other factors. Setting the minimum pressure nearer the pressure that you will need most of the night reduces the amount of time it takes the machine to reach higher pressures when they are needed.

If you find the machine spends significant time at the minimum pressure, you can experiment with a lower minimum pressure setting.

This is assuming you have unintentional mask leaks under control. Significant leaks can distort the data.

Of course, keep an eye on the chart to see what events occur each time you change the pressure. Also, make at least a mental note of how you feel and any side effects.

If you have problems, you can post a daily graph here and get additional advice.

BTW, You don't say anything about how you are doing. For all we know, your therapy might already be perfect, or it might be very poor.

Wulfman wrote:Set your machine in CPAP mode and then pick a pressure somewhere between the "Average Pressure" and the "90% Pressure" and then see how your numbers look.

That's the old way to do it and fails to take advantage of the advanced technology of an APAP.

Wulfman wrote:Give each pressure change 3 to 5 nights before making any other changes.

If a patient is suffering because the pressure settings are not correct, there is no reason to suffer for three nights. Change it right away and check the results the next day.

Wulfman wrote:Make only one change at a time.

If you use the software tools, the minimum pressure and the maximum pressure can be changed at once without any loss of transparency on what is happening.

WarmBodies wrote:

Wulfman wrote:Set your machine in CPAP mode and then pick a pressure somewhere between the "Average Pressure" and the "90% Pressure" and then see how your numbers look.

That's the old way to do it and fails to take advantage of the advanced technology of an APAP.

Wulfman wrote:Give each pressure change 3 to 5 nights before making any other changes.

If a patient is suffering because the pressure settings are not correct, there is no reason to suffer for three nights. Change it right away and check the results the next day.

Wulfman wrote:Make only one change at a time.

If you use the software tools, the minimum pressure and the maximum pressure can be changed at once without any loss of transparency on what is happening.

That's incorrect advice. If one changes more than one parameter and without adequate sampling (ie. sufficient nights of data to get a representative average) .... they will just end up chasing their tail and have to start all over.

Interesting concept, but some of you are responding to a post that is 6 years old....

LSAT wrote:Interesting concept, but some of you are responding to a post that is 6 years old....

The ones I responded to were posted today .... including yours.

Or maybe not ...

leonardlake's post is worth bringing it back to life though ... IMO.

DreamStalker wrote:That's incorrect advice. If one changes more than one parameter and without adequate sampling (ie. sufficient nights of data to get a representative average) .... they will just end up chasing their tail and have to start all over.

it's fine advice when one is trying to get in the ballpark. once in the ballpark, then it makes sense to take it slow.