Pressure range that makes sense

It seems like the larger range the pressure our settings have the more problems it can cause getting adjusted. My range was first set at 8 to 14. I hated waking up feeling like a hurricane blowing in my face and my mask flopping around. I tweaked my pressure until I got my numbers closer together. What range seems to work best for most users? I learned that I can use higher pressure but not the fluctuation. I haven't tried the straight cpap because I think I may need higher pressure at times. Now I have my setting with a 3 point range. It seems to work best for me. What does experienced users think?

It seems the AVG number for pressure is 10 CM, so if you have no idea of what pressure to use to find the best pressure 8 to 12 would be a good place to start. Using the software data will let you know where you need to go from there. Remember for the data to be correct your mouth must remain sealed, and your leak rate total should be under 40 LPM, 35 to 36 is a nicer number. Jim

I am at 15CM.

I go 18.5 to 20.0

I would set the top number higher, but it doesn't go any higher.

Thanks for the replies. My husband's pressure is supposed to be 6 to 12. I think that will be too varied even when I get his pressure up to the prescribed low.

My pressure is set at 10.5 mimimum and 13 maximum. It's just a difference of 2.5 cm but boy does it work well for me! Most of my night is spent at 11 and 12 and, once in a while, I hit 13 cm.

Stormynights wrote:It seems like the larger range the pressure our settings have the more problems it can cause getting adjusted. My range was first set at 8 to 14. I hated waking up feeling like a hurricane blowing in my face and my mask flopping around. I tweaked my pressure until I got my numbers closer together. What range seems to work best for most users? I learned that I can use higher pressure but not the fluctuation. I haven't tried the straight cpap because I think I may need higher pressure at times. Now I have my setting with a 3 point range. It seems to work best for me. What does experienced users think?

Maybe it would be worth a try.......

What pressure range are you using?

I use the (single/CPAP) pressure that allows me the greatest comfort, yet takes care of almost all of my events. Pressure changes disturb my sleep.

With only a 3 pressure spread, you could practically go "eenie, meenie, minie, moe" and select ONE of them. Then if you need to adjust, you could easily move up or down by one or two centimeters.


Den

I also used the eenie meenie method for selecting the best pressure for my husband. He does well on auto at 10.5-13 like Hawthorne with 90% at 11 or 12 and rarely 13, but I observe and he confirms that he's less restless on a straight pressure so I chose 12cms. His titration was 13cms. His AHI and Leak Rate is also slightly lower on straight pressure. A wider range of pressures disturbed him, caused arousals and large leaks.

It seems strange that the doctors would set your prescribed pressure with such a large range when it seems most of us like a more narrow range. I think this probable keeps some from ever getting adjusted to cpap.

There are many doctors that don't understand APAPs, or at least the current generation of them. Some decide that they are useless and will only prescribe straight CPAP. Others prescribe APAPs wide open and totally trust the machine's algorithm to make all pressure decisions.

Both of these approaches are misguided, in my opinion.

Stormynights wrote:It seems strange that the doctors would set your prescribed pressure with such a large range when it seems most of us like a more narrow range. I think this probable keeps some from ever getting adjusted to cpap.

Unfortunately, most doctors don't know how they work, either. The ones who DO prescribe them think the machines "automatically" go to the pressure that's needed.
The problem is that without a data capable machine, the software to use with it and a user (patient) who is willing/able to monitor their own therapy, there are just too many possibilities for any and all of the parties to cause the user to fail.


Den

Now, range is 9.6 -- 15; at first it was 6-15 and slowly over time I've increased the initial pressure. I need the wide range to handle occasions my airways unpredictably narrow due to congestion, my biggest challenge to successful CPAP therarpy. When I can go back to side sleeping (gotta wait for shoulders to heal), I will drop back to 9-15 where my numbers were best. I discussed the intial pressure range with my sleep doc when I bought the APAP; and again as I've increased it -- he listens and advises.

A suggested range normally is 1-2cm below and no more than 3cm above your titrated pressure.