n00b APAP question

Does APAP mean that there is not a "prescribed" pressure level or setting? The machine regulates itself automatically?

APAPs come with the range of settings from 4-20 and will fluctuate between those ranges, if not set to a specific prescription.

yes, an apap will follow you around breath by breath every night, like a puppy.. every night, all night..

the range is usually set WIDE OPEN from 4 to 20 when you walk home with one..

If your sweet spot pressure to stop events is around 10, you will find it will spend most of the time at that range, but if you have an event
that needs an 11, 12 or 13, it will chase that down for you too.. You may need different pressures in different sleeping positions.
Also when you are NOT having events, the machine lets you breath at a lower pressure.. which is so very nice..

I started with a pressure range of 4 thru 20

I figured out by downloading my data, that my pressure was about ten/eleven and always stayed under 13..

so I changed my settings to 9 - 13 because the machine would not have to go so far from four to reach the tenish area..
However, Im very sensitive to the pressure, and I couldnt exhale at nine, so I turned it back down one notch until I was
comfy again.. now its 6 - 13

Most people tighten their ranges when they get things figured out (by downloading and studying the graphs over time)
It might be about two above and two below the average sweetspot pressure..

The great thing about an auto is you can run it as an auto or a straight cpap too... and you can dial in a closer range, or not..
they are very versatile.

But all that being said, you will (or should!) get a prescribed setting (or settings) from your MD and should start out that way. If after some time (not 1-2 nights!) things don't work out, you then could try (in 1 number moves) different settings, but you won't just get an Apap machine with no script as a matter of course just because you have it.

Thanks everybody! I'm doing all my research so I am prepared.

I did my sleep study on Sunday, and on Monday Aug 30 I see the doctor to get the results. I'm so impatient. During the study, the technician said she "saw stuff", but she's not allowed to tell me. A doctor has to.

I hope we can get to the bottom of this, because I've been so listless and confused and everything. I just want my life back asap so I can be productive and have energy again.

This all started about a month ago when my new bed partner told me about all the crazy behaviour I did at night, which involves screaming, talking, full-body spasms, gasping, etc. Whether it's apnoea (my best guess so far) or something else, I'm dying to attack it.

Patience...

She SAW stuff, that's where the snoring comes from... Jim

Har har Thanks for the smile though.