A couple of newbie questions

[paulag1955]

Thanks!

[paulag1955]

[Sleeprider]

Good job on the chart. I think you need to continue dropping maximum pressure, and if the AHI event rate does not significantly improve, I think you might be heading to a bilevel with backup (ASV) eventually. Stay in touch with your doctors and providers so they are aware of your continuing issues with mostly central apnea events. Best wishes, and good luck!

[paulag1955]

What does a bilevel do that the APAP doesn't?

[kiwii]

Until someone knowledgeable comes along to answer your question, here is the link to the wiki page on bilevels:

http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ure_(BPAP)

[Crimson Nape]

What does a bilevel do that the APAP doesn't?

A bilevel allows the inhale and exhale pressures to have a greater separation than a regular CPAP.  The Resmed CPAP allows for a maximum separation of 3cm (EPR=3).  A bilevel CPAP can go much higher.  Also, normally a CPAP maximum pressure is usually around 20cm.  A bilevel's maximum is usually around 25cm and an ASV is 30cm.  .  .  Just in case the topic comes up at your next cocktail party.

[paulag1955]

I'm sorry, I need the benefit of that spelled out for me.

[paulag1955]

Since my results are jumping around all over the place, I think my best course of action right now is to return the machine to the settings recommended by my doctor and then leave it there so I can get a baseline of response over a few nights. Thoughts?

[sonicboom]

With your stated intent to have EPR at 2 there is nothing to lose by raising the minimum pressure to 5 as I suggested in a prior post. This is because the machine can't go below 4 so even at EPR of 2 you won't go below 4 when machine is at 5. But you will get -2 relief on exhale at the higher pressures. So, if max is 12 with EPR of 2 your exhale pressure is 10. You can see that visually on your pressure graph - red line (inhale) vs green line (exhale). Raising the minimum pressure will provide further information on your therapy (we would expect the AHI to drop at least some) but leave it there for a few days. One night does not establish a trend.

[paulag1955]

I had EPR set to 2 last night.