[CPAP] Newbie setup questions

[staceyburke]

Here is an example of a night where the flow limits are controlled.  Compare it to the chart you have.  Your AHI is great but you may be able to sleep better if you use EPR...

[IAWH]

HELP! Day 4-5. Made recommended adjustments, Min pressure is 6, EPR to 3 full time and no ramp up and my AHI went thru the roof. Flow rate is more steady and I am sleeping better than day 1-2-3 but this doesnt look good?? What do I do?? Should I go back to original settings??

[Gideon]

Set EPR=2

No other changes.

[Dormeo]

Please follow Gideon's advice -- just the one change, dropping EPR to 2.

With EPR of 3, your flow limitations improved some, though I'm more intrigued by your report that you slept better. This may be because your FLs were down some, or it may just be that you're continuing to settle in. At any rate, it's encouraging.

But no matter what the story there is, you do need to address the major change in CAs by dropping your EPR. Again, start by dropping it to 2, as Gideon recommends.

[IAWH]

Well before I read your recommendations I set min. pressure to 4 and EPR to 1 last night. Didn't sleep great. Would wake up with pressure running out my mouth a few times. Very confused.
Here is result.

[Crimson Nape]

The lowest pressure that your CPAP will produce is 4 cm. A setting of any EPR value at this pressure is the same as not using it. The minimum pressure for each EPR value can be calculated as 4+EPR value. This means for an EPR setting of 1 to have any effect, your minimum pressure has to be 5 cm.

- Red

[IAWH]

My CA improved drastically but my flow rate spikes came back. I read CPAP can actually cause CA in patients that normally don't have CA's. This seems to be the case with me. Whats the disadvantage to flow rate spikes? What if I don't use EPR? Like you say it wasn't even effective last night with low pressure min.
What if I raise min pressure and shut off EPR?

[Crimson Nape]

Your chart suggests a minimum pressure of 7.6 (Resmed's only increment by .2 cm) would be a good starting point. You can leave the EPR to 1 and see the results.

- Red