APAP, should you hit max range (now w/report)

I would not call those little assays to higher pressure a "spike" -- but that may be my misunderstanding of the term.

As Wulfman says: One way to find out....

Lots of changes, Muse. Respironics is trying to supply the lowest pressure possible, and change quickly enough to avoid disruptive obstructive events.

Changing pressure is the name of the game in APAPs, thought they go about it differently. A Resmed Autoset increments and decrements in 0.2 steps -- albeit it can be very fast if necessary. The Respionics doea a "hunt and peck" in bigger steps.

ozij wrote:...Changing pressure is the name of the game in APAPs, thought they go about it differently. A Resmed Autoset increments and decrements in 0.2 steps -- albeit it can be very fast if necessary. The Respionics doea a "hunt and peck" in bigger steps.

I wonder if those who don't do well with the varying pressures of an APAP (I am not one, I love my AutoSet!) are mostly those using Respironics autos...seems to me that larger changes as opposed to small, perhaps more frequent changes would be more likely to cause arousals...the brain in effect saying huh, what was that, something changed and going to a more alert state. Fast is right, I've seen mine go from 6.8 to 8.6 within 3 breaths: turn APAP on while breathing very deeply just shoots that pressure up really fast, I can lie there and watch the increases...fascinating on those nights when I'm really too wired to fall asleep, have since learned to calm brain-breathing then maskup for sleep .

Muse-Inc wrote:... perhaps more frequent changes would be more likely to cause arousals...the brain in effect saying huh, what was that, something changed and going to a more alert state. ...

Greetings, I think the difference is very individual. Those of us with ASV systems can see swings of pressure from 8 to 10cm H2O range to the 20s cm of H2O within just three breaths (if it is clearing centrals or periodic breathing). Most people do become accustomed to it. But not everyone. Normally the pressure change is far less disruptive than the apneas that it remedies. That's the key. Though a fast swing might cause problem, for most people a deep, long lasting apnea is more disruptive.