How can I change the pressure on my Remstar CPAP?

Colrdgrn wrote:Changing your own pressure without a prescription from a doctor is like increasing or decreasing the amount of a medication you take and could cause negative side effects in the end.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Colrdgrn,

Please register and join the "hose head club". Hang around and do LOTS of reading. I'm sure it will further your education. We have a pretty savvy and diverse group here.

Best wishes,

Den

Wow,
Ouch..... I never implicated that your group isn't smart etc. - and I know that changing the pressure on your CPAP is for the most part easy... But I still have the same opinion that patients should not be deciding pressure themselves because the simple fact is - you don't really know what you are doing in your sleep. The woman in the post wants to decrease her pressure. She was wearing a full face, which suggests to me she is an oral breather. Now she is going to a nose clip. Probably not a good idea if she is a mouth breather because her nose is going to get even more stopped up with all of the pressure being directed into her nose. Then she says she needs a decrease in pressure. Maybe, but even if she decreases to a "comfortable" pressure - it may not be completely therapeutic. I am all about researching apnea and CPAP - and I think it is great that you have continued with CPAP therapy. Much better than those I see who come to the lab with horrible apnea, swear they don't have it, don't give CPAP a chance, and then leave untreated.
But - I still don't think patients should be deciding their own pressure - based on what they think/feel their pressure should be. I am not really in agreement with the APAP systems either because from what I have experienced with patients, APAP doesn't seem to be effective in treating central apnea. Probably more effective for obstructive apnea....I have read many research articles about apnea and I attend the Sleep conferences... But I also have experience with patients and CPAP. Changing your pressure without OBJECTIVE evidence for the change is dangerous - you could do serious harm to yourself. That's my point.

[quote="teriwinkle"]Thank you to everyone that replied. My model number is 1005960 REMstar Plus Domestic. Amigo I tried to get it into therapy set up mode and it would never beep. So I guess I will have to take it to the office for them to set it up. I wonder if mine is just not the kind that is set up the way your directions list. I sure wish it would be I couldnt sleep very well last nite without it on. Thanks, Teriwinkle

PS It is not Auto.

[quote="colrdgrn"]Colrdgrn,

Please register and join the "hose head club". Hang around and do LOTS of reading. I'm sure it will further your education. We have a pretty savvy and diverse group here.

Best wishes,

Den

Wow,
Ouch..... I never implicated that your group isn't smart etc. - and I know that changing the pressure on your CPAP is for the most part easy... But I still have the same opinion that patients should not be deciding pressure themselves because the simple fact is - you don't really know what you are doing in your sleep. The woman in the post wants to decrease her pressure. She was wearing a full face, which suggests to me she is an oral breather. Now she is going to a nose clip. Probably not a good idea if she is a mouth breather because her nose is going to get even more stopped up with all of the pressure being directed into her nose. Then she says she needs a decrease in pressure. Maybe, but even if she decreases to a "comfortable" pressure - it may not be completely therapeutic. I am all about researching apnea and CPAP - and I think it is great that you have continued with CPAP therapy. Much better than those I see who come to the lab with horrible apnea, swear they don't have it, don't give CPAP a chance, and then leave untreated.
But - I still don't think patients should be deciding their own pressure - based on what they think/feel their pressure should be. I am not really in agreement with the APAP systems either because from what I have experienced with patients, APAP doesn't seem to be effective in treating central apnea. Probably more effective for obstructive apnea....I have read many research articles about apnea and I attend the Sleep conferences... But I also have experience with patients and CPAP. Changing your pressure without OBJECTIVE evidence for the change is dangerous - you could do serious harm to yourself. That's my point.

Guest wrote:And there are a few here who like to play God like Den.

Actually, I meant that invitation to Colrdgrn in genuine sincerity....if that's what you're talking about. If not, please be more specific.

Just because I don't agree with someone, doesn't mean I don't want to hear what they have to say.

Den

colrdgrn wrote:Changing your pressure without OBJECTIVE evidence for the change is dangerous - you could do serious harm to yourself. That's my point.

I'm curious to know about the serious harm. Could you please elaborate on what you mean?

colrdgrn wrote:Wow,
Ouch..... I never implicated that your group isn't smart etc. - and I know that changing the pressure on your CPAP is for the most part easy... But I still have the same opinion that patients should not be deciding pressure themselves because the simple fact is - you don't really know what you are doing in your sleep. The woman in the post wants to decrease her pressure. She was wearing a full face, which suggests to me she is an oral breather. Now she is going to a nose clip. Probably not a good idea if she is a mouth breather because her nose is going to get even more stopped up with all of the pressure being directed into her nose.

Changing your pressure without OBJECTIVE evidence for the change is dangerous - you could do serious harm to yourself. That's my point.

I suppose this probably wouldn't be a good time to suggest taping...

colrdgrn wrote:Changing your pressure without OBJECTIVE evidence for the change is dangerous - you could do serious harm to yourself. That's my point.

AND NOW FOR AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT...

"Inappropriate CPAP is harmless. Untreated sleep apnea kills."
-Dr. Barbara Phillips, MD, MHSP

(quoted from the link above from RG's post: "Not Every Patient Needs to Go to the Sleep Lab", page 4 of the .PPT)

But - I still don't think patients should be deciding their own pressure - based on what they think/feel their pressure should be.

Changing your pressure without OBJECTIVE evidence for the change is dangerous - you could do serious harm to yourself.

My sleep doctor did on the first one and prescribed a pressure (apparently without objective evidence) for me that was almost twice what I needed.
Would twice the NEEDED pressure have been dangerous for me? (cause me "serious harm"?)

I am not really in agreement with the APAP systems either because from what I have experienced with patients, APAP doesn't seem to be effective in treating central apnea.

Why would any sleep doctor in their right mind prescribe CPAP or APAP for treating central apneas?


Den

colrdgrn wrote:I am not really in agreement with the APAP systems either because from what I have experienced with patients, APAP doesn't seem to be effective in treating central apnea.

I'm not a sleep doctor,
or a registered sleep tech,
or God,
but I thought a bi-level machine with timed backup was more appropriate than CPAP or APAP for someone diagnosed with Central Sleep Apnea.

colrdgrn wrote:Changing your pressure without OBJECTIVE evidence for the change is dangerous - you could do serious harm to yourself. That's my point.

Ric wrote:AND NOW FOR AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT...

"Inappropriate CPAP is harmless. Untreated sleep apnea kills."
-Dr. Barbara Phillips, MD, MHSP

(quoted from the link above from RG's post: "Not Every Patient Needs to Go to the Sleep Lab", page 4 of the .PPT)

"CPAP is as dangerous as a bowl of cereal. The only way you can get hurt by one is if someone picks the damn thing off the nightstand and hits you over the head with it."
-Peter Farrell, CEO, ResMed

(quoted from the March 2005 ASAA lecture held in Washington D.C. entitled: "Catching Our Breath: Reflections on Diagnosis and Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.")

Teriwnke,

Your pressure may not be too high.

It may feel uncomfortable because of the velocity of the moving air striking the inside of your nose.

It might even be painful.

Please use a mask for the time being.

This has happened to me!!!!!! I am ok with a mask.

Nasal pillows gave me pain which would not allow me to sleep.

This was at the very same pressure as being very comfortable with what the professionals called "nasal pillows"

This was in a sleep lab.

The "professionals" in the lab stated that the nasal pillows could not make the difference. After all it was the same pressure.

One sleep surgeon has put himself through a sleep study despite the fact he had no sleep disorders symptoms. He did it so that he would understand a part of what the patients were experiencing.

Under carefully controlled circumstances, perhaps all sleep professionals should use cpap with different interfaces. In this manner they might bridge the gap between patient and professional.

In the meantime please, please do not lower your pressure.

Look what could have happened to me.

Untreated sleep apnea can kill.



[/b]

To Teriwinkle

from previous post

I was comfortable with a mask

The 7th sentence down should substitute "mask" for "nasal pillows"

What in the world is a "sleep surgeon"?

O.

ozij wrote:
What in the world is a "sleep surgeon"?

O.

A fish